Music

• The Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' launched with a massive $97 million opening in U.S. and Canada theaters, breaking the previous music biopic record of $60.2 million set by 'Straight Outta Compton' in 2015. • Co-produced by the Jackson estate and distributed by Lionsgate, the film overcame negative reviews and production troubles to achieve strong international performance with $120.4 million overseas. • The film's $217.4 million global opening marks a new high-water mark for music biopics, significantly outpacing 'Bohemian Rhapsody' which earned $51 million in its 2018 debut.

Teatro La Fenice called comments by its controversial appointee Beatrice Venezi ‘offensive and detrimental’Teatro La Fenice, the prestigious Venice opera house, has fired its incoming music director after she insinuated its hiring practices were nepotistic, with jobs “practically passed down from father to son”.After months of controversy over the appointment of Beatrice Venezi, La Fenice Foundation said on Sunday it had decided to “cancel all future collaborations” with the 36-year-old conductor and pianist. Continue reading...

French musician’s comments are in stark contrast to fears expressed by artists such as Elton John and Dua LipaJean-Michel Jarre has attacked the conservatism of the music and film industries over AI and urged them to embrace the technology instead of being fearful and “very anti-AI”.Jarre, one of the pioneers of electronic music in the 1970s, said while the existing creative industries were “freaking out” over the technology, artists would use AI “to create the cinema of tomorrow, the hip-hop of tomorrow, the techno of tomorrow, the rock’n’roll of tomorrow”. Continue reading...

Police seek warrant for Bang Si-Hyuk over allegations he illegally gained millions in investor fraud schemeSouth Korean police said on Tuesday they were seeking to arrest Bang Si-Hyuk, the chair of the agency behind the K-pop band BTS, as they expand an investigation into allegations that he illegally gained more than $100m (£74m) in an investor fraud scheme.The Seoul metropolitan police agency confirmed it had asked prosecutors to request a court warrant for arresting Bang, founder and chair of HYBE. Continue reading...

Museum says The Music is Black is part of a push to reposition scene as central to UK’s cultural historyJacqueline Springer is standing in the middle of the V&A’s new exhibition space looking wistfully at a pair of drainpipe trousers, a tailored suit jacket and a porkpie hat, which create the unmistakable silhouette of Pauline Black, lead singer of the 2 Tone group the Selector.Springer is the curator of the V&A East’s inaugural exhibition, The Music is Black, a landmark survey of Black British music, which opens this weekend. It starts with the early drumbeats in Africa and takes us right up to the latest innovations in pop and drill via jungle, grime, garage and two-tone. Continue reading...

West End spectacular about Michael Bond’s beloved bear wins seven prizes, while Rachel Zegler, Rosamund Pike, Paapa Essiedu and James Graham are all recognisedIt was a night of sweet victory for Michael Bond’s marmalade-loving bear as Paddington: The Musical dominated the Olivier awards on Sunday. Amid the tuxes and gowns of a glittering ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the duffle coat-wearing bear got his sticky paws all over seven prizes including best new musical.The award for best actor in a musical went to the duo who play Paddington: James Hameed provides the lovable hero’s voice and is the remote puppeteer while Arti Shah performs in the furry costume. The show’s baddies, Tom Edden (as the busybody Mr Curry) and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (as Millicent Clyde, who wants Paddington to literally get stuffed), won best supporting actor and best supporting actress in a musical respectively. Luke Sheppard was named best director for the production, which also picked up awards for costume design (Gabriella Slade and Tahra Zafar) and set design (Tom Pye and Ash J Woodward). Continue reading...

• Beach Music Hall of Fame singer Doug died in a car crash on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Eastern North Carolina. • Doug was celebrated for entertaining generations of Beach Music fans with his unique brand that always brought smiles. • The incident occurred amid local entertainment scene activities in the region.

• Recording Academy announced new 'Best AI-Generated Performance' category for 2027 Grammys on April 9 in LA. • Category sparked backlash from artists like Billie Eilish, who called it 'a slippery slope' in statement. • 12,000+ submissions expected, with eligibility requiring human oversight per new rules.

• Reese Witherspoon's daughter, Ava Phillippe, landed a surprise role in Ella Langley's new music video 'Choosin' Texas,' featuring Miranda Lambert. • The video highlights country music collaborations, showcasing emerging talent alongside established stars like Lambert. • This debut marks a significant step for Phillippe in entertainment, blending family legacy with country music's rising scene.

• Amanda Bynes is releasing her new single 'Girlfriend' on April 10, marking her return to music after nearly 4 years away from the scene. • The track blends EDM and rap elements and is described as "built around a strong hook and confident, flirt-heavy energy," featuring Los Angeles-based rapper Fenix Flexin. • Bynes, known for roles in 'She's The Man' and 'Easy A,' teased the collaboration on social media, calling the music "straight fire."

Billionaire claims world’s biggest music company has suffered due to postponement of US listingBusiness live – latest updatesBillionaire Bill Ackman’s hedge fund has offered to buy Universal Music Group (UMG) in a deal that values the world’s biggest music company at more than €50bn (£44bn).Pershing Square, the New-York based hedge fund, has offered to buy the business, which is home to artists including Taylor Swift and Elton John, in a cash and stock deal. Continue reading...

• QMusic CEO Kris Stewart resigned suddenly on April 3, 2026, following board accusations of improprieties in awarding lucrative media contracts for major events. • The resignation highlights governance issues in the music industry organization. • Stewart's departure raises questions about transparency in entertainment event deals.

• The iconic film 'The Sound of Music' celebrates 61 years since its nationwide U.S. theatrical release on April 1, 1965. • Produced by 20th Century Fox, the movie starred Julie Andrews as Maria and Christopher Plummer as Captain von Trapp. • The musical remains a cultural staple, continuing to captivate audiences with its timeless story and songs.

Report shows black music accounts for 80 per cent of money generated by UK industry in past 30 yearsLeading figures in the UK music industry are calling for more work to be done to support black talent in executive roles as a report finds that 80% of UK music revenue has been generated by black music in the past 30 years.A recent report by UK Music states that black music has made £24.5bn out of the £30bn generated by the UK music industry in the past 30 years. However, industry figures have highlighted that black people are still kept out of top executive roles. Continue reading...

Production based on 1993 novel opens at Theatre Royal Haymarket in London in July, with original songs co-written by the authorIt has been a book, a play and a film. It has also spawned three sequels, a prequel and two soundtrack albums. Now, Irvine Welsh’s 1993 debut novel Trainspotting is to find new life as a musical.Opening at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London in July, Trainspotting the Musical will be adapted by the author with an original set of songs, plus others that were used in Danny Boyle’s celebrated film. Continue reading...

• The Country Music Hall of Fame revealed its 2026 inductees on March 21: country star Tim McGraw, songwriter Paul Overstreet, and bluegrass pioneers the Stanley Brothers. • Tim McGraw, with over 75 million albums sold and hits like 'Live Like You Were Dying,' joins legends such as George Strait in the modern era category. • Paul Overstreet earns recognition for penning 16 No. 1 hits including 'Forever and Ever, Amen' for Randy Travis.

Michael Smith, 52, charged after flooding platforms with thousands of AI songs and boosting them with botsSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA North Carolina man has pleaded guilty to defrauding music streaming platforms and his fellow musicians out of millions in royalties by flooding the services with thousands of AI-generated songs – and using automated “bots” to artificially boost the number of listens into the billions.As part of a deal with federal prosecutors in New York’s southern district, 52-year-old Michael Smith pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Continue reading...

• Pophouse Entertainment, co-founded by ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, acquired Tina Turner's name, image, likeness rights and majority music catalog from BMG, announced March 19, 2026. • CEO Jessica Koravos highlighted Turner's visual presence and stage energy for projects recreating her legacy, comparing her to Elvis and Marilyn Monroe. • Plans include announcements within six months, potentially featuring digital avatars like ABBA Voyage created with Industrial Light & Magic.

Technology secretary says government no longer prefers plan to allow tech firms to take copyrighted workActors, musicians and writers have welcomed the UK government’s decision to backtrack on plans to let AI firms use copyright-protected work without permission.Technology secretary Liz Kendall said it no longer had a “preferred option” on copyright reform, having previously supported a proposal allowing tech companies to take copyrighted work – unless rights holders opted out of the process. Continue reading...

A letter from 15 critics to the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh condemns ‘divisive move’ that saw non-Scottish publications excluded from reviewing the musical’s press nightTheatre critics in Scotland have written to the Royal Lyceum theatre in Edinburgh condemning a “divisive” and “London-centric” decision to not invite reviews from UK national publications for its new musical version of One Day.The show, based on the 2009 novel by David Nicholls, held a press night on Wednesday but only critics writing for Scottish publications were invited to review it. A separate press night for other critics is planned for a later date, when the show opens in London. Continue reading...

Some Samoyeds adjust the pitch of their howls depending on the music being played, showing a form of vocal ability they might have inherited from their wolf ancestors