Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” was the most-played song on TouchTunes jukeboxes for the second consecutive year in 2025, continuing its 2024 reign that coincided with its record-tying run as the longest-running No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart throughout that year. Released in April 2024, the track dominated each of TouchTunes’ quarterly Frontline Chart throughout 2025 and will move to the Catalog ranking in 2026, setting up a head-to-head with Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey,” the platform’s top song in 2023 and this year’s No. 2 hit. Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” is the top non-country song of the year, coming in at No. 3 , while Morgan Wallen’s “I’m the Problem” – the most-played new song of 2025 – landed sixth. Wallen also retained his status as TouchTunes’ most-played artist for the second year running, while also topping each installment of Billboard’s newly introduced quarterly TouchTunes Artists Chart, followed by Stapleton, Toby Keith, Shaboozey, and AC/DC. (Billboard)

At a star-studded private holiday party for Todd Boehly's Eldridge Industries held at Port Chester's Capitol Theatre on Thursday night (December 11), the house band for the festivities was the rock supergroup dubbed the Dirty Bats – featuring Slash, Duff McKagan, Chad Smith, and Andrew Watt. They were joined by surprise guests Bruno Mars, Eddie Vedder, Anthony Kiedis, Brandi Carlile, and Yungblud for a special night of classic rock covers and originals. Highlights included Yungblud opening with songs by the Rolling Stones and Black Sabbath, Carlile performing Led Zeppelin and Queen, Kiedis delivering Motörhead and Allman Brothers Band favorites, and Vedder showcasing Pearl Jam hits alongside covers of the Rolling Stones and Elvis Costello. Bruno Mars headlined with powerful renditions of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” The Police’s “Roxanne,” Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire,” Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana,” and notably his first full version of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” The evening concluded with all artists joining together for singalongs of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” and Neil Young’s “Rockin’ In The Free World,” with Leonardo DiCaprio spotted among the A-list audience. (Stereogum)

On her 36th birthday on Saturday (December 13), Taylor Swift was warmly celebrated by her Eras Tour backup dancers Kameron Saunders and Jan Ravnik, who both shared heartfelt tributes on social media highlighting their years of professional collaboration and personal admiration for the pop superstar. "To my girl … my boss lady!" Saunders captioned an Instagram post featuring a photo of himself and Swift in rehearsals. "Each year my love for you grows deeper and deeper. You are such an astounding human being!! I’m honored to be in your orbit.” Ravnik’s post featured a carousel of photos from The Eras Tour, along with the caption, “I’m endlessly grateful for you and for the 3 years we’ve shared together. You’re one of a kind ! 👑 🫶🏼” Swift capped off a monumental 2025 by releasing her twelfth album, The Life of a Showgirl, which broke first week sales records, as well as premiering a docuseries and concert film about her Eras Tour, while regaining control of her music catalog, and announcing her engagement to Travis Kelce. (People)

Beyoncé’s 32-show Cowboy Carter Tour was the highest-grossing solo artist tour of 2025, after earning $407.6 million from 1.6 million tickets sold. The jaunt also set the record as the highest-grossing country tour ever, despite playing a total of only nine cities with mini-residencies at each stop. This achievement follows Bey’s historic 2023 Renaissance tour, which grossed $579 million over 56 shows, making her the first American artist with two tours that surpassed $400 million. The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn tour ranked second among solo artists, grossing $336.7 million over its 46 dates while becoming the biggest tour by a male artist in history. Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres tour was the year’s top overall grossing trek at $464.9 million across 59 shows, making it the highest-grossing rock tour of all time. (NME)

After a year largely spent out of the public eye, Harry Styles surprised a fan named Sydney with a heartfelt video message that went viral on social media after it was shared on Saturday (December 12). The former One Direction singer looked directly into the camera while expressing his support for the fan: “Hi, Sydney! I’m Harry. Hope you’re doing real well. Just wanted to say hi. Heard you’re going through a bit of a tough time, so I’m sending lots of love to you. Hope to see you soon, take care.” The British pop star, known for his Grammy-winning 2022 album, Harry’s House, and chart-topping hit “As It Was,” has been focusing on personal moments and surprise appearances as of late, including completing marathons in Tokyo and Berlin and attending events like the Vatican’s election of Pope Leo XIV. Amid speculation about a new romance with actress Zoë Kravitz, Styles’ thoughtful gesture highlights his ongoing connection with fans even during his lengthy hiatus. (Billboard)

During her Mayhem Ball Tour stop at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Saturday night (December 13), Lady Gaga abruptly stopped her performance after dancer Michael Dameski slipped off the stage, made slick by a heavy rainstorm at the outdoor venue. In a fan-shot video of the incident, Gaga quickly paused the show to check on him, earning applause from the audience, before announcing, “If you could just give us five minutes, I just wanna get some proper grooves on the shoes of the dancers.” Dameski later confirmed on a series of Instagram Stories that he was uninjured after the fall, writing, “Hey everyone! I’m ok. Thank you for checking. Happy I was able to finish the last show of the year!” Gaga’s Sydney concerts marked the final 2025 dates for her Mayhem Ball Tour, which grossed $166.2 million while drawing over 700,000 fans during 35 shows, with the tour set to resume in Tokyo in January 2026. (Billboard)

Taylor Swift’s album The Life of a Showgirl secures its ninth nonconsecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart dated December 20, earning 89,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. for the week ending December 11. Of Swift’s 15 No. 1 albums, only The Tortured Poets Department (17 weeks), 1989, and Fearless (each 11 weeks) have spent more time atop the chart. This week’s sales included 50,000 streaming equivalent albums (down 5% with 65.83 million streams), and 39,000 pure album sales (down 16%), with Showgirl climbing back to No. 1 on Top Album Sales while falling two spots to No. 4 on the Top Streaming Albums chart.

Half of the Top 10 on this week’s Billboard 200 are holiday albums, led by Michael Bublé’s Christmas, which climbs up two spots to reach No. 4, followed by Bing Crosby’s Ultimate Christmas ascending two slots to No. 5, Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song jumps up five places to No. 6, Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack move up a spot to No. 8, and A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector vaults up four slots to No. 9. The non-holiday albums rounding out the Top 10 are Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem holding at No. 2, the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack remaining at No. 3, Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving moves up a spot to No. 7, while Stray Kids’ former chart-topper DO IT falls six slots to No. 10 in its third week. (Billboard)

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani remain "solid" in their marriage despite recent speculation about a possible divorce. A source tells People that there is "no truth to the split rumors," and that the couple is simply managing their demanding careers. Married since 2021 after six years of dating, the pair continue to prioritize family time amid busy schedules – with Shelton releasing his 13th album in May and preparing for a Las Vegas residency in January, while Stefani is promoting her new music and getting ready for No Doubt’s upcoming reunion shows in May. Shelton is a stepdad to Stefani’s three sons she shares with her ex-husband Gavin Rossdale, with the couple trying to strike a balance between work and family life. In May, Shelton said their relationship “still feels new for me,” as the couple celebrated ten years together. (People)

On Thursday (December 11), Guns N’ Roses officially announced the support acts for their Summer 2026 North American tour. Public Enemy will be opening the first eight dates of the tour from July 23 to August 16, while The Black Crowes will provide support for four shows between August 22 and September 2. Pierce the Veil will open select dates in September, while The Barbarians of California will join for two dates in August and September, and Ice Cube is set to perform in front of a hometown crowd at GNR’s high-profile show at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on September 5. The tour kicks off with earlier spring dates in Mexico and Florida before hitting U.S. and Canadian stadiums and amphitheaters throughout the summer, concluding on September 19 in Atlanta, with no support act yet announced for that final show. (Consequence of Sound)

At the 22nd show of Sam Smith’s intimate "To Be Free" 24-date residency at Warsaw in Brooklyn on Wednesday night (December 10), the Grammy and Oscar-winning artist surprised fans by bringing out special guests Brandi Carlile and Ed Sheeran. Carlile joined Smith for a moving performance of their 2018 charity single, "Party of One," while Sheeran took the stage for the live debut of their duet, "Who We Love," which was featured on Smith’s 2023 album, Gloria. The night culminated in a sing-along finale of Smith’s hit, "I’m Not the Only One," featuring both guests. Smith also previewed new material, including the upbeat love song "My Guy," hinting at more music to come in 2026. “I wanted to get back into rooms where I can see your faces,” Smith told the star-studded audience, which included Anna Wintour and Anne Hathaway. “It’s been such a beautiful experience, so thank you to the Warsaw,” Smith shared. (Billboard)

In the new trailer for Aidan Zamiri’s film, The Moment, Charli XCX grapples with the overwhelming commercialization and overexposure of her "Brat Summer" concept, originally a creative idea tied to her Grammy-winning 2024 album, Brat. The semi-fictionalized narrative explores her uncertainty about continuing the brand amid pressure from managers, labels, and executives who push for constant innovation and broader market appeal, including an Amazon-funded concert film and corporate promotions. As Charli questions what she truly wants amid these competing demands, the film highlights the challenges of maintaining artistic authenticity within pop stardom. The Moment is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026, and will hit theaters on Jan. 30. The film, which is based on an original concept by Charli, also stars Rosanna Arquette, Hailey Benton Gates, Kate Berlant, and Isaac Powell, with special guest appearances by Rachel Sennott and Kylie Jenner, making her movie debut. (Rolling Stone)

During an interview on UK radio on Thursday (December 11), Timothée Chalamet addressed the viral conspiracy theory that he is secretly Liverpool rapper EsDeeKid. The Oscar-nominated actor initially responded, “I’ve got no comment,” to the playful prodding from the show’s hosts, before teasing, “All will be revealed in due time.” The rumor surfaced in November after fans pointed out similar eye features shared by Chalamet and the masked rapper, whose debut album, Rebel, recently surged to No. 131 on the Billboard 200 chart due to the buzz surrounding the Hollywood star’s possible involvement. Chalamet, a longtime hip-hop fan who once rapped as Lil’ Timmy, remained cryptic amid wild fan speculation as he promotes his upcoming film, Marty Supreme, which co-stars Tyler, The Creator and is set to be released on Christmas Day. (Billboard)

During her appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday (December 10), Taylor Swift was asked by the host to name her top five favorite songs from her catalog, a question he previously asked famous past guests like Dolly Parton, Bruce Springsteen, and Elton John. The 14-time Grammy winner struggled to come up with her choices, telling Colbert, “this is so much pressure, oh my god.” However, Swift confidently chose the 10-minute version of “All Too Well” as her number one, eliciting cheers from fans in the audience. Swift also mentioned being currently obsessed with tracks from her chart-topping new album, The Life of a Showgirl, while also saying she would include “Mirrorball” from Folklore “somewhere in this list.” The interview coincided with the promotion of her upcoming Disney+ docuseries, The End of an Era, and concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour: The Final Show, both set to debut on Friday (December 12). (People)

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival will feature the premiere of Antiheroine, an “unfiltered and unapologetic” documentary about Courtney Love. The film is co-directed by Edward Lovelace and James Hall, and includes a tagline describing the project as, “Now sober and set to release new music for the first time in over a decade, Courtney is ready to reveal her story.” Love is also included in Broken English, an intimate film about the late Marianne Faithfull’s life and legacy that will make its U.S. debut at the festival, which also features appearances by Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Jehnny Beth, Suki Waterhouse, and Beth Orton.

The festival’s lineup also includes two films featuring Charli XCX: The Moment, an A24 film which she conceived and stars in that explores the complexities of pop stardom, and I Want Your Sex, where she appears alongside Olivia Wilde. Other notable music films debuting at the festival include Tamra Davis’ The Best Summer, documenting a pivotal music era with footage of iconic bands like Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters, and Beck, and The Disciple, which offers a rare glimpse into the making of Wu-Tang Clan’s notorious album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. The festival runs from January 22-27. (Consequence of Sound)

Coldplay rules the 2025 year-end Billboard Boxscore charts with their record-setting Music of the Spheres World Tour, which grossed $464.9 million between October 2024 and September 2025. This marks the band’s second consecutive year at No. 1 and fourth straight year in the Top Five, with total earnings surpassing $1.5 billion and 13.1 million tickets sold – the most in concert tour history. The tour spanned four continents and included a record-breaking 10-night Wembley Stadium residency that grossed $131.4 million, setting the highest single-venue engagement for a headline artist.

Coldplay also led the Top Rock Tours and Top Ticket Sales charts for the third consecutive year, completing another clean sweep of major year-end touring honors. Boxscore’s Top Tours year-end tally was rounded out by Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour at $407.6 million, Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s Grand National Tour at $358.7 million – the highest-grossing co-headline tour ever – followed by The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour at $336.7 million – the highest-grossing and best-selling R&B tour ever – and Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour at $327.4 million. 2025 saw five separate tours surpass the $300 million milestone, a new all-time record. (Billboard)

Billie Eilish and Oscar-winning director James Cameron are teaming up to reinvent concert films with Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), which is set to debut in theaters on March 20. The 3-minute trailer for the film premiered on Wednesday (December 10), with the clip showcasing the ambitious, visually stunning production of Eilish’s 106-show world tour supporting her Grammy-nominated third album, Hit Me Hard and Soft. The film highlights the show’s innovative stage designs and special effects, while capturing a series of intimate moments – including Eilish breaking down in tears while reading a heartfelt note from her brother and longtime collaborator Finneas, who notably did not join this tour for the first time. “It’s gonna be my first show ever without him,” an emotional Eilish shares in the clip. The 23-year-old Grammy and Oscar-winner expressed awe at working with Cameron, known for the groundbreaking Avatar films, as they push the boundaries of traditional concert documentaries to create a new immersive experience for fans. (Billboard)

During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Tuesday (December 9), Christina Aguilera revealed that she is planning to release a deeply personal new album alongside a career-spanning documentary produced by Time Studios and Roc Nation. The documentary, which has been in the works for several years, explores her journey from teen stardom to motherhood and a new creative phase, with Aguilera revealing that opening up on camera has profoundly influenced her music. “It’s going to be a really personal project coming up because it’ll tie in with a very personal documentary that we’ve been filming for the last few years,” shared the 44-year-old Grammy winner. The documentary is directed by Ting Poo, who in 2022 said of the project, “Christina Aguilera is one of the most iconic artists of our time. I am truly honored to tell the story of the person behind the music.” (Rolling Stone)

On Wednesday (December 10), event organizers revealed that Diana Ross will help ring in 2026 by headlining “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.” The 81-year-old Supremes legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will perform a medley of her hits including “I’m Coming Out” and “Upside Down” from Times Square as part of America’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration on ABC. Hosted by Seacrest and Rita Ora, the broadcast features 39 artists performing across multiple cities including New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Puerto Rico, with Chance the Rapper leading a Central Time Zone countdown for the very first time. Ross joins a star-studded lineup of performers including 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, Chappell Roan, Demi Lovato, Post Malone, and many others, promising a night of music and celebration to welcome the new year. (Variety)

Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl has topped the 2025 year-end Billboard 200 Albums chart, marking her fifth time leading the final roundup and making her the only artist to achieve this feat more than three times. Remarkably, the album secured the top spot with just one week of eligible chart activity, debuting at No. 1 on October 18 (the final week of the 2025 chart year) with a record-breaking 4 million equivalent album units sold in the U.S. during its first week. Swift also led the 2024 year-end chart with The Tortured Poets Department, becoming the first artist since Elton John – with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1974) and Greatest Hits (1975) – to have consecutive year-end No. 1 albums with different titles. Swift also previously claimed the year-end No. 1 with Reputation (2018), 1989 (2015) and Fearless (2009). Additionally, The Tortured Poets Department finished 2025 at No. 6 on the year-end tally, while Morgan Wallen also placed two albums in the Top 10, as I’m the Problem came in at No. 2 and One Thing at a Time reached No. 7. (Billboard)

Kendrick Lamar has been named Billboard’s Top Hot 100 Songwriter and R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of 2025, with the Pulitzer Prize-winning Compton rapper receiving both year-end honors for the very first time. This caps off a banner year for Lamar, fueled by his chart-topping GNX album and its record-breaking hit “Luther,” a collaboration with SZA that topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for a historic 31 weeks. The surprise GNX release debuted at No. 1 and maintained strong chart presence throughout the year, also aided by Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show performance. Alongside being the overall top artist and songwriter, Lamar earned additional Billboard year-end titles, being named Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Artist – Male, and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist – Male, while GNX ranked second for Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums behind SZA’s SOS, which reclaimed the top spot that it first reached in 2023. In addition to “Luther,” Lamar and SZA’s other hit collab, “30 for 30,” landed at No. 4 on the year-end Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, with Kendrick placing three additional tracks in the Top 10: “TV Off,” featuring Lefty Gunplay (No. 2), “Not Like Us” (No. 5), and “Squabble Up” (No. 7). (Billboard)