Daily Music Headlines

• MEGADETH landed its first-ever No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with its final, self-titled album, released via Dave Mustaine’s Tradecraft imprint. The album also topped charts in Australia and Austria. A farewell tour is planned for 2026.

• Courtney Love’s documentary Antiheroine premiered at Sundance without Love in attendance. Told in her own words, the film spans her career, marriage to Kurt Cobain, move to London, and return to music.

• Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical, starring Michael Paynter, opens in Sydney on Nov. 15, 2026, focusing on the creation and legacy of Farnham’s landmark album Whispering Jack.

• K-pop made Grammy history as “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, performed by HUNTR/X, won Best Song Written for Visual Media. The track also earned multiple major nomination

• The Cure won their first Grammys after 50 years, taking Best Alternative Music Performance for “Alone” and Best Alternative Music Album for Songs of a Lost World. The band missed the ceremony due to a funeral for Perry Bamonte.

• 2026 Grammy highlights: Album of the Year (Bad Bunny), Record of the Year (Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA), Song of the Year (Billie Eilish), Best New Artist (Olivia Dean). Lady Gaga won Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Dance Pop Recording.

• KnuckleBonz announced a limited-edition Paul Di’Anno Rock Iconz figure honoring the late Iron Maiden vocalist, available now for pre-sale.

• Billboard Hot 100 Top 5:

No. 1 “I Just Might” – Bruno Mars

No. 2 “Man I Need” – Olivia Dean

No. 3 “The Fate of Ophelia” – Taylor Swift

No. 4 “Golden” – HUNTR/X

No. 5 “Ordinary” – Alex Warren

billboard.com/charts/hot-100/

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The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will air this Sunday with performances from nominees and first-timers including Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, Rosé in her first solo Grammys appearance, Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber returning after four years, all Best New Artist nominees, and special collaborations from Clipse and Pharrell Williams, plus a star-studded In Memoriam tribute.

rollingstone.com

Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour has become the highest-grossing Hispanic tour of all time, earning $421.6 million from more than 3.3 million tickets sold across 86 shows, surpassing Luis Miguel’s previous record and earning Shakira a Guinness World Record for the most successful tour by a Latin artist.

music-news.com

Harry Styles will debut new music live at the BRIT Awards on February 28 at Manchester’s Co-op Live, performing songs from his forthcoming fourth album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally., marking his first BRITs appearance in three years and the first televised performance of his new era.

music-news.com

Mötley Crüe has won arbitration in its legal dispute with former guitarist Mick Mars, with the arbitrator rejecting all claims, upholding the band’s actions, and ordering Mars to repay more than $750,000 in unrecouped tour advances.

variety.com

Sony Pictures has released first-look images from Sam Mendes’ four-film Beatles biopic project The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, revealing Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, with all four films slated for release in April 2028.

digitalmusicnews.com

New Releases

Streets of Minneapolis – Bruce Springsteen

Apple Music

The Great Divide – Noah Kahan

Apple Music

Body – Don Toliver

Apple Music

Starlight – Cannons

Apple Music

1+1 – Maluma & Kany García

Apple Music

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Tom Morello is organizing a benefit concert titled A Concert of Solidarity & Resistance to Defend Minnesota! at First Avenue in Minneapolis on January 30, with all proceeds going to the families of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed in separate shootings involving federal immigration agents.

Billboard

Grammy-nominated singer Teddy Swims will headline the 2026 Super Bowl LX Tailgate Concert on February 8 outside Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, with the performance livestreamed on Peacock and broadcast on iHeartRadio, while Bay Area rapper LaRussell opens and serves as the in-stadium house band.

Billboard

Lady Gaga appears in a new Super Bowl commercial for Redfin and Rocket Mortgage, performing a heartfelt cover of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”, the theme from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, in a campaign centered on kindness and human connection.

Pitchfork

Harry Styles has expanded his 2026 Together, Together tour with a record-breaking 12-night residency at Wembley Stadium, surpassing Coldplay’s 10-show record and Taylor Swift’s eight-show solo-artist mark at the iconic venue.

Billboard

Paul McCartney’s documentary Man on the Run, which focuses on his post-Beatles career and the formation of Wings, will receive a one-night-only theatrical release worldwide on February 19 ahead of its Prime Video streaming debut on February 27.

NME

Justin Bieber will perform at the 2026 Grammy Awards on February 1, marking his first major live television appearance in more than four years, as he enters the night with four nominations including Album of the Year for SWAG.

Variety

J. Cole has surprise-released a five-track EP titled Birthday Blizzard ’26, hosted by DJ Clue and available on a pay-what-you-want basis, serving as a prelude to his upcoming album The Fall-Off, due February 6.

Pitchfork

Worldwide Billboard chart leaders:

Japan: “Lulu” by Mrs. Green Apple

Apple Music

UK: “Raindance” by Dave & Tems

Apple Music

Italy: “2 Giorni Di Fila” by Geolier feat. Sfera Ebbasta & Anna

Apple Music

Taiwan: “Sun & Earth” by Crowd Lu

Apple Music

Colombia: “LA VILLA” by Ryan Castro, Kapo & Gangsta

Apple Music

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Morgan Wade and Carter Faith have dropped off the Rock the Country tour, following Ludacris’ earlier removal, leaving Kid Rock and Jason Aldean headlining the eight-city U.S. run.

billboard.com

BMG founder Hartwig Masuch has joined Swedish startup Hyph, a remix-focused music platform launched in 2025 that offers a free sound catalogue with optional commercial release subscriptions.

musically.com

Jeff Buckley’s “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” has entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 97 nearly 30 years after his death, driven by renewed popularity on TikTok.

rollingstone.com

Philip Glass has withdrawn his Symphony No. 15, Lincoln, from the Kennedy Center, citing a conflict between the work’s message and the institution’s current direction under Trump-approved leadership.

musicradar.com

Benson Boone will make his Super Bowl commercial debut in an Instacart ad alongside Ben Stiller, and says he is excited for Bad Bunny’s halftime show to reach a new audience.

billboard.com

Spotify paid $11 billion in royalties in 2025, bringing total payouts to $70 billion, with half of last year’s payments going to independent artists and labels.

hollywoodreporter.com

Wilco announced their 2026 tour, An Evening With Wilco, beginning in April with U.S. and European dates, with presales starting today and general sales on Friday.

ultimateclassicrock.com

Billboard Hot Alternative Songs Chart

5. Punk Rocky - A$AP Rocky

4. 12 to 12 - Sombr

3. Nice to Meet You - Myles Smith

2. End of Beginning - Djo

1. Back to Friends - Sombr

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Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson say new Rush music is possible after their 2026 reunion tour, with Lee telling MusicRadar that if they survive the tour and get some rest back in Canada, he suspects some music will eventually come out.

guitar.com

Harry Styles will donate £1 from every ticket sold on his 2026 UK stadium tour to help support struggling grassroots music venues, a move welcomed by the Music Venue Trust.

bbc.com

Neil Young is offering a year of free access to his music catalog for residents of Greenland, saying he hopes it helps ease stress caused by President Trump’s interest in the territory, while reiterating that his music will not return to Amazon as long as Jeff Bezos owns it.

techradar.com

Zac Brown won a legal battle against ex-wife Kelly Yazdi, who was ordered to return 170 confidential business emails and files she took after being fired, with Brown’s attorneys arguing she breached her employment contract.

pennlive.com

Sly Dunbar, the legendary drummer and producer who formed one of music’s most influential rhythm sections with Robbie Shakespeare, has died at the age of 73.

musicradar.com

Zach Nahome, executive producer of Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving, has signed a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group and NWS Music Group.

billboard.com

Hoodoo Gurus condemned the use of their music at a One Nation rally, distancing themselves from the far-right party and urging it to stop using their songs.

billboard.com

Phil Collins said in a new BBC interview that he hopes to make music again despite ongoing health struggles, noting that he has both unfinished and completed material.

everettpost.com

It’s Tuesday, and here’s a look at the Billboard 200 Album Chart this week:

5. With Heaven on Top – Zach Bryan

4. I’m the Problem – Morgan Wallen

3. Debí Tirar Más Fotos – Bad Bunny

2. The Sin: Vanish – ENHYPEN

1. Don’t Be Dumb – A$AP Rocky

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Dave Grohl announced that the Foo Fighters have finished their new album and will return to Australia before his birthday, sharing a new single, “Asking For a Friend,” and performing in Tasmania for the first time since the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins.

rollingstone.com

Universal Music Group’s 1824 has launched Universal Music Live, a new Twitch livestreaming channel designed to amplify music events and help artists build a presence on the platform, debuting February 1 from the UMG GRAMMY Afterparty red carpet.

universalmusic.com

YouTube Music now syncs the Now Playing queue across Android, iOS, and web, letting users seamlessly continue listening across devices.

routenote.com

Loudwire has ranked the 25 best prog rock albums of the 2000s, with the top three including two Spock’s Beard albums, V and Snow, and Gazpacho’s Night.

loudwire.com

Chad Hugo is suing Pharrell Williams over unpaid royalties from the 2017 N.E.R.D. album No One Ever Really Dies, alleging withheld financial documents and up to $1 million owed, following an earlier trademark dispute in 2024.

musicradar.com

Spotify has launched Directed By, a new documentary-style series about the making of music videos, debuting with an episode featuring Maisie Peters and director James Ogram.

newsroom.spotify.com

Slipknot has dismissed its lawsuit against the anonymous owner of Slipknot.com, a bootleg merchandise site, with the case dropped without prejudice, allowing it to be refiled in the future.

rollingstone.com

And since it’s Monday, here’s a look at today’s Billboard Hot 100 top five:

1. Ordinary – Alex Warren
2. Man I Need – Olivia Dean
3. Golden – Huntrix
4. The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
5. I Just Might – Bruno Mars

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One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson talked about his new album How Did I Get Here? on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, including his creative process, a mix-up where Taylor Swift fans misread his Easter eggs, and his upcoming global arena tour starting March 23 in Hamburg.

billboard.com

Raye will release her second album, This Music May Contain Hope, on March 27, a four-season concept record following her UK No. 1 single “Where Is My Husband!” surpassing 600 million streams.

musicweek.com

Pharrell Williams debuted unreleased music during a Louis Vuitton men’s runway show at Paris Fashion Week, using new tracks and collaborations as atmosphere pieces with no announced release plans.

talk995.com

Bruno Mars’ virtual concert inside the Roblox game Steal A Brainrot drew 12.8 million concurrent players, setting a platform record, and generated 53 million social media views.

musically.com

Victoria Beckham’s 2001 solo track “Not Such An Innocent Girl” hit number one on the UK digital charts after a viral fan campaign tied to online jokes and a family-related social media moment.

newsweek.com

Scorpions bassist Francis Buchholz has died at 71 following a private battle with cancer, with the band honoring his contributions to albums including Fly to the Rainbow and Crazy World.

ultimateclassicrock.com

New Releases

Boycott Heaven – The Format – Nate Ruess reunites with his pre-fun bandmates for a new album.

World Gone Wrong – Lucinda Williams – A return to her blues-rooted sound for a turbulent moment.

ElectroSoul – DJ Harrison – A genre-blending release featuring Yazmin Lacey, Yaya Bey, and Fly Anakin.

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Bret Michaels responded to claims by Rikki Rockett that his pay demands derailed Poison’s planned 40th anniversary tour by congratulating Rockett on his Metal Hall of Fame induction and declining to address the accusation directly.

ultimateclassicrock.com

The 2026 Academy Award nominees for Best Original Score include Jerskin Fendrix for Bugonia, Alexandre Desplat for Frankenstein, Max Richter for Hamnet, Jonny Greenwood for One Battle After Another, and Ludwig Göransson for Sinners.

pitchfork.com

The Best Original Song nominees include tracks from Diane Warren: Relentless, KPop Demon Hunters, Sinners, Viva Verdi!, and Train Dreams, with winners to be announced March 15 at the 98th Academy Awards.

inmusicblog.com

A new Rolling Stone report details how urgent-care executive Mike Smith allegedly used bot accounts to generate fake streams of his own music, earning more than $10 million in royalties in what prosecutors say is the first U.S. criminal case tied to streaming fraud.

rollingstone.com

A study published in Nature Communications suggests genetics may play a major role in musical passion, finding that about 54 percent of variability in how much people enjoy music can be linked to DNA.

americansongwriter.com

Nearly 800 artists including Cyndi Lauper, Bonnie Raitt, LeAnn Rimes, R.E.M., and OneRepublic signed an open letter titled “Stealing Isn’t Innovation,” criticizing AI companies for training on copyrighted work without permission.

musicbusinessworldwide.com

Def Leppard released a new song called “Rejoice” ahead of their upcoming Las Vegas residency, describing it as a hard rock anthem built around a tribal drum loop.

ultimateclassicrock.com

And finally, actor Ashton Kutcher says he’s writing a country music album despite admitting he’s not a great singer, explaining that he’s doing it simply because it’s something he’s always wanted to do.

wideopencountry.com

And taking a look at Billboard’s Official UK Singles Chart today:

So Easy to Fall In Love – Olivia Dean

Where Is My Husband – RAYE

The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift

Raindance – Dave & Tems

End of Beginning – Djo

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Harry Styles will release his first new music in nearly four years with the single “Aperture” on Jan. 23. It’s the lead track from his fourth album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally., due March 6, 2026.

A$AP Rocky has announced the 2026 Don’t Be Dumb World Tour, supporting his first album in eight years. The 42-date run starts May 27 in Chicago and spans North America, the UK, and Europe. Tickets go on sale Jan. 27.

Sabrina Carpenter and all eight Best New Artist nominees — Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, SOMBR, and The Marías — will perform at the 68th Grammy Awards on Feb. 1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Taylor Swift has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at age 36, making her the youngest woman ever to receive the honor. While a record for female inductees, she joins a small group of songwriters inducted at 42 or younger.

Rob Hirst, drummer, songwriter, and founding member of Midnight Oil, has died at 70 after a nearly three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was a key creative force behind songs like “Beds Are Burning” and “Blue Sky Mine.”

Kim Petras has publicly criticized Republic Records, claiming months of no support, no release date for her finished album Detour, and unpaid collaborators. She says she’s asked to be dropped so she can release the album independently.

Bruno Mars’s “I Just Might” has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, his tenth career chart-topper and his first to enter directly at the top. The milestone adds momentum to his upcoming album The Romantic.

With Mars, 87 songs have debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100. The first was Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone,” followed by hits like Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy,” Baauer’s “Harlem Shake,” Taylor Swift’s “Cardigan,” and BTS’s “Dynamite.” Drake holds the record with nine No. 1 debuts, starting with “God’s Plan” in 2018.

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Produced by Hammond Chamberlain and Anthony Lemos. Written and hosted by Brian Ibbott and Eileen Rivera. Executive producer Tom Merritt. Theme music by Lex Dallas and the State Street Players. Thanks for listening.

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Shania Twain is close to finishing her seventh studio album, the follow-up to 2023’s Queen of Me. Work began in early 2024, paused for touring after her Vegas residency and U.S. dates, then resumed in the studio.

Scottish singer-songwriter Jacob Alon wins the 2026 BRIT Awards Critics’ Choice. His debut album In Limerence, also shortlisted for the 2025 Mercury Prize, helped him beat nominees Rose Gray and Sienna Spiro, marking him as a major emerging artist for 2026.

Sphere Entertainment plans a second U.S. venue at National Harbor near Washington, D.C. The proposed 6,000-seat “mini-Sphere” will feature the same immersive tech as Las Vegas, including a 16K x 16K LED screen, spatial audio, haptics, and 4D effects.

Morrissey has canceled his St. Petersburg, Florida show at the Mahaffey Theater, his fifth canceled date of 2026. The concert had already been rescheduled from 2025 before being scrapped again.

Peso Pluma announces his 2026 Dinastía Tour, launching in March with dates across the U.S., Latin America, and Europe, including Los Angeles, Miami, Mexico City, Bogotá, Madrid, and Amsterdam.

Tori Amos reveals her 18th studio album, In Times of Dragons, arriving spring 2026. Described as a metaphorical exploration of democracy and resilience, it will be supported by her largest UK and European tour in a decade.

Sinatra The Musical will premiere in London’s West End this summer. Previews begin June 3, with an official opening June 24 at the Aldwych Theatre, featuring over 20 Frank Sinatra classics.

Flight of the Conchords reunite for their first live show in eight years at the 2026 Netflix Is a Joke Festival. Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement perform May 9 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles; tickets go on sale January 23.

Top Billboard Albums This Week:

5. KPop Demon Hunters Soundtrack

4. Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl

3. Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving

2. Morgan Wallen – I’m the Problem

1.Zach Bryan – With Heaven on Top

Stay up to date every weekday at DailyMusicHeadlines.com. Email [email protected]. Join the Discord: http://tiny.cc/dmhdiscord. Produced by Hammond Chamberlain and Anthony Lemos. Written and hosted by Brian Ibbott and Eileen Rivera. Executive producer: Tom Merritt. Theme music by Lex Dallas and the State Street Players.

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