Music Industry
Isaiah Rashad Embraces Transparency on New Album
The acclaimed TDE rapper has an open conversation with Billboard about his first LP in five years, and about his embrace of emotional transparency in the interim.
Ed Sheeran Departs Warner Music Group
In a letter emailed to fans on Friday (May 22), Ed Sheeran detailed his reasons for leaving his record label.
Electric Mayhem Talk Taking Over the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster With Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson & More at Disney World | Billboard News
Janice and Floyd Pepper from the Electric Mayhem talk about taking over the Rock n’ Roller Coaster starring the Muppets at Disney World, working with Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson on some of the songs, whether they were scared of the ride, their favorite Disney World snack and more. Floyd Peppe
Ed Sheeran Exits Warner Music Group After 15 Years: ‘I Leave With So Much Love & Gratitude’
In a letter emailed to fans on Friday (May 22), Ed Sheeran detailed his reasons for leaving his record label.
Isaiah Rashad on Choosing Radical Acceptance With New Album ‘It’s Been Awful’: ‘S—t Happens to Everybody’
The acclaimed TDE rapper has an open conversation with Billboard about his first LP in five years, and about his embrace of emotional transparency in the interim.
Thom Yorke Tells Music Executives to “Pull Your Finger Out” and Invest in New Artists: “Without Us, You Ain’t Shit!”
The Radiohead frontman took the industry to task during an acceptance speech at the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards. Thom Yorke Tells Music Executives to “Pull Your Finger Out” and Invest in New Artists: “Without Us, You Ain’t Shit!” Ben Kaye
SiriusXM’s ‘Billboard Top 500 Summer Hits Countdown Channel’ Returns
SiriusXM reintroduces the limited-engagement channel, updated for 2026.
Chart Rewind: In 1976, Merle Haggard’s Bicentennial ‘Freedom Train’ Rolled
The audio history lesson tracked America’s story from the Revolution through the Civil Rights era.
BTS Dominates Monthly Touring Report With Career-Best Comeback Shows
The Arirang World Tour kicked off on April 10 and tops its first monthly Top Tours chart.
Live Nation should be forced to sell Ticketmaster and a bunch of amphitheaters, say the states that pursued antitrust litigation
The US states that successfully pursued that big antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation have filed a wishlist of sanctions they now want the judge to impose. It includes forcing a sale of Ticketmaster and various amphitheater venues. Live Nation says the requests are “performative and political”
Philipp Jung, Co-Founder of Get Physical and M.A.N.D.Y., Has Died
The German house DJ, producer, and label boss helped conduct transitions in electronic music as house spilled into adjacent scenes in the 2000s
Philipp Jung, Co-Founder of Get Physical and M.A.N.D.Y., Has Died
The German house DJ, producer, and label boss helped conduct transitions in electronic music as house spilled into adjacent scenes in the 2000s
TikTok and Universal Music Group Reach Licensing Agreement
The latest deal is relatively straightforward compared to TikTok and UMG's last agreement, which was struck in 2024 following a three-month standoff.
Watch Thom Yorke debut new song ‘Space Walk’ and check out his full speech calling for better artist treatment from industry at Ivor Novellos 2026
The Radiohead icon speaks up for artists against the industry: “Just remember, without us you ain’t shit”
Watch Thom Yorke debut new song ‘Space Walk’ and check out his full speech calling for better artist treatment from industry at Ivors 2026
The Radiohead icon speaks up for artists against the industry: “Just remember, without us you ain’t shit”
US attorneys general seek Live Nation / Ticketmaster breakup
Live Nation settled with the US Department of Justice a few days into its antitrust trial, but a number of state attorneys general continued with their lawsuit… and won. The trial has now moved into its ‘remedies’ phase where both sides tell the judge what punishments Live Nation should or shouldn’t
Udio reveals details of its licensed AI-music app Starstruck
We all knew that AI-music firm Udio is working on a new service to launch later this year, based on its licensing deals with labels. We also knew that the new service would enable fans to play with the music and sound of artists who’d opted in, and that it would be a ‘walled garden’ […]
Canada’s levy on global streaming services has tripled to 15%
Music-streaming services have been campaigning hard in the last two years against a levy on their Canadian revenues by the country’s telecommunications regulator the CRTC, to fund local content and creators. The DSPs and their industry body DiMA were furious about what they called the ‘streaming tax
US Protect Working Musicians Act aims to boost indies’ agency
This appears to be ‘third-time lucky week’ for proposed US legislation relating to the music industry. We reported yesterday on the return of the deepfakes-tackling No Fakes Act after two previous attempts to get it onto the statute books. Now another bill, the Protect Working Musicians Act, is back
Lisa, Anitta and Rema team up for globe-spanning World Cup song
One of the big industry talking points in recent years has been about artists from the most exciting non-Anglo territories collaborating with one another – no English-language artists required to break a track globally. One of the tracks on this year’s ‘Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album’ (yes, that