Daily Music Headlines

Seth MacFarlane will release the 14-track Seth MacFarlane Sings The Muppets on September 18, featuring Muppet classics arranged in a style reminiscent of Nelson Riddle and Billy May.⁠Billboard.comSpotify will introduce an “AI Persona” badge identifying AI artists based on their public identities rather than how individual songs were created.⁠Billboard.comZZ Top canceled their Hollywood Bowl concert as drummer Frank Beard battles serious health issues, with Michael Monahan replacing him on the band’s summer tour.⁠Consequence.netBruce Dickinson says his upcoming solo album, recorded at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 and due in 2027, is “heavy as shit” and will be released without the multimedia elements of The Mandrake Project.⁠Consequence.netCarly Simon’s new song “Maybe I Never Loved You,” from her upcoming album Comes in Waves, appears to reflect on her relationship with ex-husband James Taylor.⁠WideOpenCountry.comRandy Travis has released “I Don’t Care,” a previously unheard song recorded before his 2013 stroke, ahead of his first new album in more than 18 years.⁠AOL.comDwayne “The Rock” Johnson is exploring a music career with “Your Dad,” a new song co-written with Iam Tongi for Moana: Voices Across the Ocean and inspired by his daughters.⁠RollingStone.comCharli XCX is offering a limited number of $25 “Angel Tickets” for her Music, Fashion, Film North American tour, with pairs assigned random seats.⁠NME.com

Tupac Shakur murder suspect Duane “Keffe D” Davis is on trial, with prosecutors pointing to claims in his 2019 memoir as a confession while his defense argues the book was fictionalized for profit.⁠NYTimes.comGen Z and Gen Alpha are fueling a resurgence in analog culture, with Quebec experimental duo Angine de Poitrine emerging as a symbol of young people seeking tangible alternatives to AI and algorithm-driven digital life.⁠HollywoodReporter.comAriana Grande earned her seventh No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 as “petal” debuted with 295,000 equivalent album units.⁠Billboard.comBlink-182 are working on a new album this year, according to drummer Travis Barker, following their 2023 reunion album “One More Time…”.⁠NME.comSeveral videos on Donald Trump’s official TikTok account have been muted following apparent copyright action involving Taylor Swift’s music, continuing tensions over his team’s use of artists’ songs.⁠VanityFair.comGrammy-winning musician and producer William Orbit, best known for his work with Madonna, Blur and Beth Orton, has died at age 69.⁠Variety.comCharli xcx joined The Strokes at Outside Lands for “Take It or Leave It,” with Julian Casablancas joking about Charli’s greater recent chart success.⁠SPIN.comVince Gill surprised Charlie Worsham during his Ryman Auditorium residency by inviting the musician and member of his band to join the Grand Ole Opry.⁠AmericanSongwriter.comTwice’s “Fancy” music video has surpassed 700 million YouTube views, becoming the group’s third video to reach the milestone as contract discussions with JYP Entertainment continue.⁠KoreaHerald.comKatseye member Sophia is temporarily stepping away from the group to prioritize her mental health and wellness ahead of the August 13 release of the group’s “Wild” EP.⁠Variety.com

Cam’ron says members of Cardi B’s team promised him an interview in exchange for contributing to an unreleased remake, and now wants either the interview or payment after his feature was dropped.⁠Billboard.comKid Cudi is launching a contest to build a new “hip-hop and trippy” group, with the winners earning a recording deal on his Mad Solar label.⁠Billboard.comTyga says he used AI music generator Suno for some instrumentals on his $tarface album while writing and performing all of the vocals himself.⁠Billboard.comDolly Parton will receive the Americana Music Association’s 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her legendary career and contributions to American music.⁠Billboard.comPhoebe Bridgers will debut her new solo album through phone-free planetarium listening events in more than 30 cities before its official release.⁠Variety.comGreen Day has launched a 24/7 YouTube channel featuring music videos, live performances, rare footage, and original programming ahead of its upcoming comedy film.⁠RollingStone.comZZ Top has canceled its Chula Vista and Hollywood Bowl concerts, citing unspecified “insurmountable obstacles,” while the rest of the tour remains on schedule.⁠DigitalMusicNews.comNew Music Friday“Still” — Karol G & Bruno Mars https://music.apple.com/us/album/still/6796864741?i=6796864748“Role Model” — Harmonyhttps://music.apple.com/us/album/harmony/6772366436?i=6772366453“Love Sensation (afterhours mix)” — Madonna & Kylie Minoguehttps://music.apple.com/us/album/love-sensation-afterhours-mix/6798373683?i=6798373693“superHuman” — Audrey Nunahttps://music.apple.com/us/album/superhuman/6794053131?i=6794053316“In & Out” — Ravyn Lenaehttps://music.apple.com/us/album/in-out/6771922622?i=6771922626

Barry Manilow postponed his August 4 Lexington concert because of ongoing health issues related to his recovery from lung cancer surgery.⁠USA TodayT-Pain said he sold his publishing catalog and select master rights for about $100 million to secure his children’s financial future.⁠Music-News.comK-pop Demon Hunters singer Audrey Nuna has signed with Republic Records and is preparing to release her new single, “superHuman.”⁠Music-News.comElvis Costello is celebrating the 49th anniversary of My Aim Is True with a five-disc box set featuring rare and previously unreleased recordings.⁠Rolling StoneAriana Grande told fans her upcoming break from public life was planned long before recent headlines and is not a reaction to media speculation.⁠Rolling StoneOlivia Rodrigo criticized U.S. policies affecting Planned Parenthood and said her upcoming Daisy Chain Fields festival will support women’s organizations.⁠VarietySleep announced its first album since 2018, Hempispheres, and released a second preview track ahead of its September 3 release.⁠Metal Injection

Spotify reported strong second-quarter earnings with 777 million monthly active users, a 14% revenue increase, and continued momentum for its AI playlist, remixing, and ticketing features.⁠Billboard.comHundreds of mourners, including Bono and Eddie Vedder, attended the funeral of Oscar-winning songwriter Glen Hansard in Dublin following his death at age 56.⁠APNews.comAI music platform Suno is launching a custom vinyl pressing service that lets users turn their AI-generated songs into one-off 12-inch records.⁠MusicRadar.comProducer and Prince collaborator David Z, who helped shape the Minneapolis sound and co-created hits including “Kiss,” has died at 78.⁠MusicRadar.comCharli xcx earned a Best Original Song nomination at the 2026 World Soundtrack Awards for “House” from Wuthering Heights.⁠Billboard.comCanadian rock band Autumn Kings made it to the Upheaval Festival after a stranger loaned them his car when their tour van broke down.⁠Loudwire.comThis week’s top-selling vinyl albums are: #5 Don’t Tap the Glass by Tyler, The Creator; #4 You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love by Olivia Rodrigo; #3 Thriller by Michael Jackson; #2 Reality Awaits by The Strokes; and #1 Music, Fashion, Film by Charli xcx.

Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” spends a 16th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, tying for the fourth-longest run ever as country music fills the entire top five.⁠Billboard.comBruce Springsteen says Patti Scialfa is in remission from multiple myeloma after eight years of treatment.⁠Billboard.comShakira and Burna Boy’s “Dai Dai” remains No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 as Morgan Wallen and KATSEYE make notable chart debuts.⁠Billboard.comThe Gregg Allman documentary “Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul” will tour more than 40 music venues for one-night-only screenings with filmmaker Q&As.⁠EverettPost.comCountry singer Ben Chapman criticized Nashville artists for releasing repetitive albums instead of taking more creative risks.⁠WideOpenCountry.comElla Langley has partnered with Shiner to release a limited-edition Dandelion Honey Kölsch inspired by her album “Dandelion.”⁠Billboard.comFenix Flexin’s Billboard Hot 100 hit “Rubberz” has sparked speculation that it may have been created using AI.⁠TheVerge.comElvis Costello’s “My Aim Is True” will receive a 49th Anniversary Edition featuring a five-CD box set with 52 previously unreleased recordings.⁠SpinMagazine.com“V/H/S/MIXTAPE” premieres on Shudder October 9 with contributions from RZA, Flying Lotus, Tobias Forge, and GWAR.⁠NME.com

• Ariana Grande's Petal topped Billboard's new music poll with 41% of the vote after its release during the Eternal Sunshine Tour. • Ariana Grande will step away from public life after her Eternal Sunshine Tour ends Sept. 1, including exiting the West End revival of Sunday in the Park With George, citing ongoing concerns about her well-being. • Morgan Wallen's I'm the Problem returned to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a 14th week, while Charli xcx debuted at No. 3 with Music, Fashion, Film, her biggest chart debut yet. • John 5 and Wednesday 13 will tour together in summer/fall 2027. The collaboration marks the first time John 5's band THE CREATURES will feature a vocalist, with Wacken Open Air set as the first announced show.• Wacken Open Air 2027 revealed more of its lineup, including Five Finger Death Punch, Helloween, Electric Callboy, DragonForce, and more. The festival runs July 28–31 in Germany.• Billie Eilish's concert film Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live), co-directed with James Cameron, premieres Aug. 6 on Paramount+, featuring live performances, backstage footage, and a Cameron interview. • Reports claim Travis Kelce is exploring a country music career following a performance at his wedding to Taylor Swift, though no official plans have been announced. Top 5 Singles:5. "Hate That I Made You Love Me" – Ariana Grande4. "I Can't Love You Any More" – Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen3. "Boston" – Stella Lefty2. "I Knew It, I Knew You" – Taylor Swift1."Choosin' Texas" – Ella LangleyJoin the Daily Music Headlines Discord: http://tiny.cc/dmhdiscord

Live Nation reported record second-quarter revenue of $7.7 billion, with concert revenue up 8% and fan attendance up 10%, as the company projects another year of double-digit growth.https://www.billboard.com/pro/live-nation-q2-earnings-concert-record-revenue/SiriusXM added 22,000 net new subscribers in the second quarter, helping drive revenue to $2.16 billion and prompting the company to raise its full-year outlook.https://www.billboard.com/pro/siriusxm-q2-2026-holdings-adds-22000-net-new-subscribers/Universal Music Group reported first-half revenue of $7.2 billion, up 5.3%, fueled by its Downtown acquisition and continued growth in recorded music and publishing.https://www.billboard.com/pro/universal-music-q2-earnings-revenue-up-first-half-2026/Sphere Entertainment’s second-quarter revenue rose 11% to $313.6 million thanks to strong demand for The Wizard of Oz at Sphere, though the company still posted an operating loss.https://www.billboard.com/pro/sphere-entertainment-earnings-q2-revenue-rises-wizard-of-oz/A German court ruled that AI music company Suno illegally trained its model on copyrighted songs without permission, ordering the company to pay damages in a decision Suno plans to appeal.https://www.billboard.com/pro/suno-liable-gema-german-copyright-lawsuit/This week’s new releases include Ariana Grande’s eighth studio album Petal, Cardi B’s new single “AH HA,” Shaboozey’s The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales, and new music from Benny Blanco, Selena Gomez, Becky G, Remi Wolf, Davido, Billy Strings, and Stephen Wilson Jr. featuring Miranda Lambert.

Irish musician and Oscar winner Glen Hansard died at 56 following a motorcycle crash in Dublin. Hansard, known for his work with the Frames and the Swell Season, starred in Once and won an Academy Award for co-writing “Falling Slowly.”Variety – Glen Hansard obituaryA new box set collects Ma Rainey’s complete recordings from 1923 to 1928, including rare test pressings, alternate takes, and newly restored audio revealing previously unheard details.The New York Times – Ma Rainey box setFrench electronic musician and DJ Kavinsky, best known for “Nightcall” from the film Drive, has died at his Paris home at age 50. Authorities say the cause of death remains under investigation.The New York Times – Kavinsky dies at 50The Recording Academy says it respects BTS’s decision not to submit music for Grammy consideration this year, with CEO Harvey Mason Jr. saying the new Asian Pop Music category is intended to celebrate the genre without limiting eligibility in the general categories.The Hollywood Reporter – Grammy CEO responds to BTSThe White House responded after Noah Kahan criticized President Trump for using his song “American Cars” in a social media video, replying with a reference to Kahan’s hit “Northern Attitude.”The Hollywood Reporter – White House responds to Noah KahanLollapalooza 2026 begins July 30 with performances from artists including Lorde, John Summit, and Charli XCX, and will be livestreamed on Disney+ and Hulu throughout the four-day festival.Billboard – Watch Lollapalooza 2026 livePaul McCartney, RAYE, Olivia Dean, Dave, Florence + The Machine, and more have been shortlisted for the 2026 Mercury Prize, with the winner to be announced October 22 in Newcastle.Billboard – 2026 Mercury Prize shortlistSoundgarden says it is now mixing its final album featuring the last recordings of Chris Cornell, with the surviving band members planning to release it when they feel it is ready.Billboard – Soundgarden’s final Chris Cornell albumToday’s LyricFind U.S. Top 5 Most-Searched Song Lyrics:“Stella Lefty” – Boston“I Knew It I Knew You” – Taylor Swift“The Author” – Brandon Lake & Nick Jonas“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley“Bloodstream” – Alyssa GraceBillboard – LyricFind U.S. chart