Daily Music Headlines

Mariah 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 Milan–Cortina Games.Wham!’s “Last Christmas” 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 Michaels’ memoir, Unbroken – 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 band’s legacy, influence, and reunion, with new music also under consideration.Big Big Train singer Alberto Bravin released a solo cover of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” 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 Simmons’ 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 – The Life Of A ShowgirlNo. 2 Morgan Wallen – I’m The ProblemNo. 3 KPop Demon Hunters SoundtrackNo. 4 Stray Kids – DO IT (EP)No. 5 Wicked: For Good Soundtrack.Want to stay up to date on what’s happening in music every weekday? Subscribe at DailyMusicHeadlines.com. And tell us how you’re 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.

• Taylor Swift’s 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 Bublé’s Christmas at No. 4.• Garbage’s 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.• Lizzo’s 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 Stones’ 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 Peas’ 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 SLAYER’s 2025 reunion and expanded research.• ENHYPEN announce their seventh mini-album, THE SIN : VANISH, arriving January 16 as part of their expanding “dark fantasy” storyline.• Holiday music dominates the Hot 100. The only non-Christmas song in the Top 5 is “Golden” 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 you’re 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.

Jay-Z’s Marcy Pen Capital Partners has partnered with South Korea’s 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 Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, saying it contradicts the contest’s 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.comTimothée 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 – Top 5 Songs of the Year#5 Kehlani – “Folded”music.apple.com#4 Bad Bunny – “Baile Inolvidable”music.apple.com#3 KPop Demon Hunters/Huntr/x – “Golden”music.apple.com#2 MJ Lenderman and This Is Lorelei – “Dancing in the Club”music.apple.com#1 Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”music.apple.com

Beyoncé will co-chair the 2026 Met Gala alongside Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, as the event aligns with the Costume Institute’s “Costume Art” exhibition exploring fashion’s relationship to the human body. bill­board.com Diana Ross will headline Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2026 with a live Times Square performance, part of a record-long broadcast featuring 39 artists across multiple cities. bill­board.com Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl has been named the RIAA’s top certified album of 2025, following Monday’s noted chart gains and capping a year of recurring returns to No. 1. bill­board.com Micky Dolenz has announced a 2026 “60 Years of The Monkees” tour, performing hits chronologically and honoring his late bandmates through stories and archival memories. bill­board.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. bill­board.com Iceland has withdrawn from Eurovision 2026, with public broadcaster RÚV protesting Israel’s inclusion and joining Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia in exiting the contest. digital­music­news.com Billie Eilish has released the trailer for Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), a James Cameron–directed concert film premiering in theaters on March 20, 2026. nme.com Billboard’s 2025 Year-End Global 200 — Top 5 Songs5. “Beautiful Things” — Benson Boone music.apple.com 4. “Ordinary” — Alex Warren music.apple.com 3. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” — Billie Eilish music.apple.com 2. “Die With A Smile” — Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars music.apple.com 1. “APT.” — Rosé & Bruno Mars music.apple.com

Spotify 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 she’s at work on a deeply personal album and documentary, reflecting on Whitney Houston’s praise and her BET tribute performance. Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour leads Billboard’s 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 “Folded,” ending Chris Brown’s nine-week run. They also chart with “Safe” and “Out the Window.” 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 “Zoo” with Ed Sheeran and Blake Slatkin. The film follows Judy and Nick probing a hidden reptile population. A new analysis finds backlash to Taylor Swift’s 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 “pay-to-pray” features and conservative ties as she and No Doubt gear up for a Vegas residency. ABBA Voyage has produced £2.06B 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 – “Hard Fought Hallelujah” 4. B Jacks ft. Zeddy Will – “Get Jiggy” 3. EsDeeKid, Fakemink & Rico Ace – “LV Sandals” 2. Katseye – “Gnarly”Sleep Token – “Caramel”Stay 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.

Stray Kids’ 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 “The Mirror Tour,” an acoustic storytelling run with Leslie Satcher and Bridgette Tatum. Two Metallica fans receive fines and lifetime bans from Perth’s 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 driver’s bumper. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” regains No.1 on the Hot 100 for a record-tying 19th week; Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl holds the Billboard 200 top spot for an eighth week. Major 2025 industry deals included Tencent’s $2.4B purchase of Ximalaya, Chord Music’s $2B fundraise, Concord’s $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 Omens’ “Left For Good.” KATSEYE named TikTok’s 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) – Stray Kids 3. KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack) 2. I’m the Problem – Morgan WallenThe Life of a Showgirl – 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.

Taylor 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 Bublé, Bing Crosby, and the Vince Guaraldi Trio re-enter the Top 10. Zac Brown Fans React to Sphere Imagery Photos and videos from Brown’s Las Vegas Sphere show sparked concern, with some calling the visuals “demonic.” 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 “Dream As One,” “Golden,” “I Lied To You,” “No Place Like Home,” “The Girl In The Bubble,” and “Train Dreams.” Only ten nominees since 1962 have topped the Hot 100 for 6+ weeks; this year’s “Golden” joins that group. TWICE Sets Records in Australia Over 50k tickets sold and a full 360-degree stage mark a major moment for Asia Pop’s expansion in the region. Neck Deep Releases 8-Bit Anniversary Game A retro skate-alien video game celebrates Life’s Not Out To Get You turning ten.Sleep Token Drops ‘Even in Arcadia’ Coloring Book A 25-page book featuring designs from across the band’s catalog, priced at $17.99. Top 5 Singles 5. All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey 4. Man I Need – Olivia Dean 3. Ordinary – Alex Warren 2. Golden – HUNTR/XThe Fate of Ophelia – Taylor SwiftStay updated at DailyMusicHeadlines.com.Email: feedback@dailymusicheadlines.com.Producer Hammond Chamberlain and Anthony Lemos. Written/hosted by Brian Ibbott and Eileen Rivera.

Oasis are reportedly being considered to record the next James Bond theme, with Amazon MGM said to have the band at the top of its wishlist. music-news.com Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain will boycott Eurovision 2026 after the EBU allowed Israel to participate, citing the war in Gaza and concerns over neutrality. nme.com Guns N’ Roses have released two new singles, “Nothin’” and “Atlas,” their first new music since 2023 as they prepare for a major 2026 world tour. nme.com Pink Floyd is opening global pop-up stores in multiple cities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Wish You Were Here, offering exclusive merchandise and a deluxe album edition. nme.com Beanie Sigel is using AI to recreate his original voice for a new track, marking a major return after vocal damage from a 2014 shooting. digitalmusicnews.com Cher has won her royalties dispute with the Sonny Bono estate, with a court ruling she will continue receiving 50 percent of royalties from their joint recordings. musicbusinessworldwide.com Camp Rock 3 will debut in summer 2026 on Disney+ and Disney Channel, with the Jonas Brothers returning as Connect 3 and a new cast of campers competing for the spotlight. variety.com New Music FridayDeeper — Disclosure, Leon Thomas apple.com March — GloRilla apple.com Duvet — Sailorr apple.com Giving Her Away — Luke Combs apple.com Nothin’ — Guns N’ Roses apple.com

Bad Bunny is Spotify’s top global artist of 2025 with 19.8 billion streams, marking his fourth time earning the title, and his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos topped the global album chart.music-news.comSpotify’s 2025 Wrapped introduced a new “listening age” feature that sparked widespread confusion and parody as users questioned how it characterizes their listening habits.nme.comBud Light will present Post Malone & Buddies as the Super Bowl weekend kickoff concert on February 6 in San Francisco, where he may debut new music.billboard.comMariah Carey and Chappell Roan will headline Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2026, the longest broadcast in the show’s history, spanning more than 85 songs across multiple cities.music-news.comNetflix defended its upcoming docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning, saying all footage was legally obtained and rejecting claims it is a “hit piece.”music-news.comThe BBC has acquired Hamburg Days, a six-part drama based on Klaus Voormann’s autobiography that chronicles The Beatles’ early years performing in Hamburg’s St. Pauli district.variety.comMegan Thee Stallion won a civil defamation case against blogger Milagro Cooper, with a jury finding Cooper liable for false claims, emotional distress, and sharing a sexually explicit deepfake.musicbusinessworldwide.comLegendary guitarist Steve Cropper, known for his work with Booker T. & the M.G.’s and collaborations with Otis Redding, has died at age 84.variety.comBillboard Korea and Billboard have launched two new charts—Korea Hot 100 and Global K-Songs—to track domestic and international Korean-music performance.billboard.comThe debut Billboard Korea Hot 100 ranks Hwasa’s “Good Goodbye” at number one, followed by All Day Project, Plave, Lim Young-woong, and NMIXX completing the top five.