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183. Daily Music Headlines December 16, 2025
05:19||Ep. 183Mariah Carey will perform at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Feb. 6 at San Siro Stadium in Milan, marking a high-profile kickoff to the MilanâCortina Games.Wham!âs âLast Christmasâ hits No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 for the first time with 95.3M streams, becoming only the second holiday song to top the chart since its 2020 launch.Bret Michaelsâ memoir, Unbroken â Then, Now and Forever, will be adapted into a biopic slated for 2026, chronicling his life, career, and perseverance.Native Instruments revives cult-favorite Absynth with version 6 after 16 years, adding MPE support, AI-assisted preset browsing, surround sound, and new presets from Brian Eno and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith.Texas prog-metal pioneers WATCHTOWER are producing a feature-length documentary, Energetic Resistance, exploring the bandâs legacy, influence, and reunion, with new music also under consideration.Big Big Train singer Alberto Bravin released a solo cover of âHave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,â recorded entirely by Bravin as a fan thank-you.Morgan Wallen becomes the highest RIAA-certified country artist ever with 265.5M units, five diamond singles, and a quadruple-platinum album, ahead of his 2026 tour supporting his foundation.New research finds music therapy significantly reduces stress and anxiety in hospitalized children, improving emotional well-being and supporting broader pediatric care integration.Dalstrong launches an ultra-limited KISS knife collection, including Gene Simmonsâ Hellfire Demon Axe, celebrating 50 years of the band with just 650 units produced.Top Albums of the Week (Billboard 200):No. 1 Taylor Swift â The Life Of A ShowgirlNo. 2 Morgan Wallen â Iâm The ProblemNo. 3 KPop Demon Hunters SoundtrackNo. 4 Stray Kids â DO IT (EP)No. 5 Wicked: For Good Soundtrack.Want to stay up to date on whatâs happening in music every weekday? Subscribe at DailyMusicHeadlines.com. And tell us how youâre doing in Whamaggedon. Email us at feedback@dailymusicheadlines.com. And join the whole DMH crew for a livestream year in review tomorrow December 17, at 6pm eastern, 3pm Pacific.The show is produced by Hammond Chamberlain and Anthony Lemos. It's written and hosted by (me) Brian Ibbott and (me) Eileen Rivera. Tom Merritt is our executive producer. Theme music by Lex Dallas and the State Street Players. Thanks for listening.
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182. Daily Music Headlines December 15, 2025
04:37||Ep. 182⢠Taylor Swiftâs The Life of a Showgirl logs a ninth week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Holiday albums dominate half the Top 10, led by Michael BublĂŠâs Christmas at No. 4.⢠Garbageâs Shirley Manson addressed the antisemitic attack at a Hanukkah event in Bondi Beach during a Sydney Opera House show, offering condolences and calling for unity after 15 were killed and 29 injured.⢠Lizzoâs former backup dancers are appealing a ruling that allows their sexual harassment lawsuit to proceed to trial. Arguments are expected in 2026.⢠Reports suggest The Rolling Stonesâ expected 2026 European tour has been canceled, raising questions about future plans.⢠Fergie reunited with will.i.am, Taboo, and Apl.de.Ap to celebrate milestone birthdays, marking the Black Eyed Peasâ first public reunion since 2018. ⢠Lady Gaga paused her Mayhem Ball show in Sydney after dancer Michael Dameski slipped off the stage. He confirmed he was uninjured and dancing again shortly after. ⢠The Weeknd and Lyric Capital Group formed a joint venture covering his music catalog through 2025, allowing the artist to retain creative control and ownership.⢠An updated audiobook edition of Slayer 66 2/3 by D.X. Ferris is now exclusive to Bandcamp, featuring new chapters on SLAYERâs 2025 reunion and expanded research.⢠ENHYPEN announce their seventh mini-album, THE SIN : VANISH, arriving January 16 as part of their expanding âdark fantasyâ storyline.⢠Holiday music dominates the Hot 100. The only non-Christmas song in the Top 5 is âGoldenâ by HUNTR/X at No. 5. With All I Want For Christmas at number 1.Want music news every weekday? Subscribe at DailyMusicHeadlines.com. Tell us how youâre doing in Whamageddon at feedback@dailymusicheadlines.com.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.
181. Daily Music Headlines December 12, 2025
06:10||Ep. 181Jay-Zâs Marcy Pen Capital Partners has partnered with South Koreaâs Hanwha Asset Management to launch a $500 million joint fund aimed at scaling Korean beauty, food, entertainment, and other K-culture brands globally.koreaherald.comEurovision 2024 winner Nemo has returned their trophy to the EBU in protest of Israelâs participation in Eurovision 2026, saying it contradicts the contestâs stated values amid the ongoing Gaza war.nme.comSpotify has begun beta testing a new AI feature called Prompted Playlist in New Zealand, allowing users to generate and refine playlists using natural-language prompts.musicbusinessworldwide.comSnoop Dogg has been named the first-ever honorary coach for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milano Cortina.music-news.comLenny Kravitz is making his video game debut in 007: First Light, voicing and portraying Pirate King Bawma in the upcoming James Bond title set for release on March 27, 2026.music-news.comTimothĂŠe Chalamet has declined to confirm or deny online rumours linking him to British rapper EsDeeKid, playfully fueling speculation during a UK radio interview.nme.comThe Sundance Film Festival 2026 lineup includes music-related premieres Antiheroine, a Courtney Love documentary, and The Moment, a Charli XCX-led hyper-pop mockumentary satirizing pop stardom.stereogum.comRolling Stone â Top 5 Songs of the Year#5 Kehlani â âFoldedâmusic.apple.com#4 Bad Bunny â âBaile Inolvidableâmusic.apple.com#3 KPop Demon Hunters/Huntr/x â âGoldenâmusic.apple.com#2 MJ Lenderman and This Is Lorelei â âDancing in the Clubâmusic.apple.com#1 Lady Gaga â âAbracadabraâmusic.apple.com
180. Daily Music Headlines December 11, 2025
05:44||Ep. 180BeyoncĂŠ will co-chair the 2026 Met Gala alongside Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, as the event aligns with the Costume Instituteâs âCostume Artâ exhibition exploring fashionâs relationship to the human body. billÂboard.com Diana Ross will headline Dick Clarkâs New Yearâs Rockinâ Eve 2026 with a live Times Square performance, part of a record-long broadcast featuring 39 artists across multiple cities. billÂboard.com Taylor Swiftâs The Life of a Showgirl has been named the RIAAâs top certified album of 2025, following Mondayâs noted chart gains and capping a year of recurring returns to No. 1. billÂboard.com Micky Dolenz has announced a 2026 â60 Years of The Monkeesâ tour, performing hits chronologically and honoring his late bandmates through stories and archival memories. billÂboard.com Gene Simmons told the Senate that U.S. performers are unfairly excluded from radio royalties, urging lawmakers to pass the American Music Fairness Act to ensure compensation for airplay. billÂboard.com Iceland has withdrawn from Eurovision 2026, with public broadcaster RĂV protesting Israelâs inclusion and joining Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia in exiting the contest. digitalÂmusicÂnews.com Billie Eilish has released the trailer for Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), a James Cameronâdirected concert film premiering in theaters on March 20, 2026. nme.com Billboardâs 2025 Year-End Global 200 â Top 5 Songs5. âBeautiful Thingsâ â Benson Boone music.apple.com 4. âOrdinaryâ â Alex Warren music.apple.com 3. âBIRDS OF A FEATHERâ â Billie Eilish music.apple.com 2. âDie With A Smileâ â Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars music.apple.com 1. âAPT.â â RosĂŠ & Bruno Mars music.apple.com179. Daily Music Headlines December 10, 2025
05:24||Ep. 179Spotify rolls out music videos for Premium users in the U.S., Canada, and select markets, adding video toggling to compete more directly with YouTube. Christina Aguilera told JHud sheâs at work on a deeply personal album and documentary, reflecting on Whitney Houstonâs praise and her BET tribute performance. Coldplayâs Music of the Spheres World Tour leads Billboardâs 2025 year-end Boxscore for the second year, grossing $464.9M with 3.5M tickets across four continents and record Wembley runs.Kehlani earns their first No. 1 as lead artist on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay with âFolded,â ending Chris Brownâs nine-week run. They also chart with âSafeâ and âOut the Window.â Johnson Wen, previously jailed for charging Ariana Grande at the Wicked premiere, was removed from a Lady Gaga show in Brisbane before it began. Shakira returns as Gazelle in Zootopia 2, writing and performing âZooâ with Ed Sheeran and Blake Slatkin. The film follows Judy and Nick probing a hidden reptile population. A new analysis finds backlash to Taylor Swiftâs The Life of a Showgirl was driven by a coordinated misinformation push, with 4% of accounts generating nearly 30% of messaging, amplifying false extremist ties. Gwen Stefani draws criticism for promoting prayer app Hallow, with concerns over âpay-to-prayâ features and conservative ties as she and No Doubt gear up for a Vegas residency. ABBA Voyage has produced ÂŁ2.06B in turnover for the UK since 2022, supporting 9,739 jobs a year and boosting London tourism with strong ancillary spending. NYT Best Songs of 2025: 5. Brandon Lake & Jelly Roll â âHard Fought Hallelujahâ 4. B Jacks ft. Zeddy Will â âGet Jiggyâ 3. EsDeeKid, Fakemink & Rico Ace â âLV Sandalsâ 2. Katseye â âGnarlyâSleep Token â âCaramelâStay current: DailyMusicHeadlines.com. Tell us your Whamaggedon status: feedback@dailymusicheadlines.com.Produced by Hammond Chamberlain and Anthony Lemos. Written and hosted by Brian Ibbott and Eileen Rivera. Executive producer Tom Merritt. Theme by Lex Dallas & the State Street Players.178. Daily Music Headlines December 9, 2025
03:58||Ep. 178Stray Kidsâ HOP leads the 2025 World Albums year-end chart after seven weeks at No.1, with KARMA close behind at No.2. 21 Savage sets Dec 12 for What Happened to the Streets?, a 14-track follow-up to his Billboard 200-topping American Dream. Trisha Yearwood announces The Mirror (Deluxe) for Jan 23 plus âThe Mirror Tour,â an acoustic storytelling run with Leslie Satcher and Bridgette Tatum. Two Metallica fans receive fines and lifetime bans from Perthâs Optus Stadium after scaling a speaker tower during a show. Converge drummer Ben Koller survives a hit-and-run that flipped his car; ID recovered from the fleeing driverâs bumper. Mariah Careyâs âAll I Want for Christmas Is Youâ regains No.1 on the Hot 100 for a record-tying 19th week; Taylor Swiftâs The Life of a Showgirl holds the Billboard 200 top spot for an eighth week. Major 2025 industry deals included Tencentâs $2.4B purchase of Ximalaya, Chord Musicâs $2B fundraise, Concordâs $1.76B securitization, and a $1.4B Pershing Square UMG sale, alongside moves by Warner, Pophouse, and Live Nation. Sumerian Pictures debuts the Dec 9 teaser for The Wolf, The Fox & The Leopard, featuring Bad Omensâ âLeft For Good.â KATSEYE named TikTokâs 2025 Global Artist of the Year after 30B views and 12M creations, expanding from platform success to Grammy nods and Hot 100 entries. TOP Albums (Billboard 200): 5. Wicked: For Good (Soundtrack) 4. DO IT (EP) â Stray Kids 3. KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack) 2. Iâm the Problem â Morgan WallenThe Life of a Showgirl â Taylor SwiftStay current: DailyMusicHeadlines.com Tell us your Whamaggedon status: feedback@dailymusicheadlines.comProduced by Hammond Chamberlain and Anthony Lemos. Written and hosted by Brian Ibbott and Eileen Rivera. Executive producer Tom Merritt. Theme by Lex Dallas and the State Street Players.177. Daily Music Headlines December 8, 2025
04:56||Ep. 177Taylor Swift Tops Billboard 200 Again The Life of a Showgirl returns to No. 1 for an 8th non-consecutive week with 99k units. Holiday albums by Michael BublĂŠ, Bing Crosby, and the Vince Guaraldi Trio re-enter the Top 10. Zac Brown Fans React to Sphere Imagery Photos and videos from Brownâs Las Vegas Sphere show sparked concern, with some calling the visuals âdemonic.â President Trump Hosts Kennedy Center Honors Trump became the first sitting president to host the event, airing Dec. 23 on CBS. Honorees: Stallone, KISS, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Crawford. WMG Sues PacSun for Copyright Infringement Warner alleges PacSun used 290+ recordings in social posts without permission; damages could exceed $43M. Nekrogoblikon + Enterprise Earth Announce Tours North American dates with HANABIE in March/April; additional run with Wretched starting Mar. 5. Golden Globe Best Original Song Nominees Announced Songs include âDream As One,â âGolden,â âI Lied To You,â âNo Place Like Home,â âThe Girl In The Bubble,â and âTrain Dreams.â Only ten nominees since 1962 have topped the Hot 100 for 6+ weeks; this yearâs âGoldenâ joins that group. TWICE Sets Records in Australia Over 50k tickets sold and a full 360-degree stage mark a major moment for Asia Popâs expansion in the region. Neck Deep Releases 8-Bit Anniversary Game A retro skate-alien video game celebrates Lifeâs Not Out To Get You turning ten.Sleep Token Drops âEven in Arcadiaâ Coloring Book A 25-page book featuring designs from across the bandâs catalog, priced at $17.99. Top 5 Singles 5. All I Want for Christmas Is You â Mariah Carey 4. Man I Need â Olivia Dean 3. Ordinary â Alex Warren 2. Golden â HUNTR/XThe Fate of Ophelia â Taylor SwiftStay updated at DailyMusicHeadlines.com.Email: feedback@dailymusicheadlines.com.Producer Hammond Chamberlain and Anthony Lemos. Written/hosted by Brian Ibbott and Eileen Rivera.