Former United States President Barack Obama has included Metal by The Beths in his Favourite Songs of 2025 list. The annual selection has become a closely watched cultural marker. It regularly highlights artists operating outside mainstream pop cycles.

The release of The Beatles - Free As A Bird: A Song Reborn [Short Film] reframes one of the most emotional chapters in Beatles history. Built from never-before-seen studio footage, the film documents the remarkable 1994 reunion of Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. It was the first time the surviving Beatles worked together in a studio since the band's split 24 years earlier.

The legacy of Donna Summer, the undisputed Queen of Disco, has been further immortalised with her posthumous induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place on December 15 at The Butterfly Room at Cecconi's in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, celebrating the singer's extraordinary contributions to music and culture.

Jane's Addiction have formally confirmed the end of the band, issuing a joint statement that closes a turbulent final chapter and reframes the group's legacy around the music created by the original four members. The announcement follows more than a year of public conflict, legal action and a highly publicised onstage altercation that abruptly ended their 2024 reunion tour.

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band will be celebrated with Good Evening Boys & Girls, a major new archival release documenting the group at full flight on stage. The comprehensive 21 CD box set brings together concert recordings spanning the band's most vital years, capturing the performances that built their formidable reputation across the UK, Europe and beyond.

Award-winning British singer-songwriter Blair Dunlop will return to Australia in March 2026 for a major national tour. The visit follows earlier Australian appearances that built a strong connection with local audiences. Dunlop arrives in notable creative form, touring in support of his fifth studio album Out of the Rain released in 2024.

Travis Scott has unveiled a new music video for PBT, featuring Tyla and Vybz Kartel. The visually rich clip was filmed in Tokyo and extends the global reach of Scott's Jackboys 2 project.

After a triumphant run of sold out shows in 2023, The Jane Barnes Band is returning to stages across Australia for an encore tour spanning five states, kicking off in Launceston on Thursday, 15 January 2026.

Irish trad supergroup BIIRD will bring their electrifying energy to Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on January 28, 2026, offering fans an intimate sideshow before joining Ed Sheeran on his AU/NZ Loop Tour. The all-female collective's growing reputation as one of Ireland's most exciting modern trad acts.

Canadian rock heavyweights Arkells have unveiled their new single Money, a collaboration with Portugal. The Man that sharpens the band's long running interest in social commentary while leaning into a bright, synth driven sound. The track arrives as the latest chapter in a productive period for the Hamilton outfit, who are already mapping out a major 2026 that includes a new album, international touring and a high profile hometown appearance at the JUNO Awards.

Langhorne Slim has released a reimagined version of his recent single “Rock N Roll”, recorded with Nashville based collective Lockeland Strings. The new arrangement reframes the song through strings, expanding its emotional range without diluting its core intent. Lockeland Strings works as a community arts organisation, partnering with artists to reinterpret existing songs alongside orchestral players. For Slim, the collaboration adds depth and contrast to a track already central to his current creative chapter.

Robin Trower has revealed a new live recording of Too Rolling Stoned, taken from his forthcoming album One Moment In Time: Live In The USA. The album will be released on 30 January via Artone, Provogue. The performance captures Trower in commanding form, revisiting a cornerstone of his catalogue while reaffirming his ongoing relevance as a live artist.

Biffy Clyro bassist and founding member James Johnston has announced he will not take part in the band's upcoming tours, confirming he is stepping back to focus on treatment for mental health and addiction issues he has lived with privately for some time.

As a Christmas surprise for fans across Australia, the Skyhooks Archives has released a new mini documentary titled In The Heat Of The Night. 50. The film revisits the band's December 1975 In The Heat Of The Night tour, a pivotal run of shows staged just before Skyhooks departed for the United States. The tour was rarely documented at the time, making this release a significant addition to the band's visual history.

The Rions have confirmed a major Australian regional tour for early 2026. The coast to coast run will take place from February through April. It follows a year that firmly established the Northern Beaches four piece as one of Australia's most significant emerging indie bands.

Brisbane South Bank’s Rainforest Green will transform into a tropical, open-air dancefloor this summer as the highly anticipated On The Banks kicks off, featuring the addition of Hawaiian-country and reggae sensation Maoli on 20 March 2026.

After 16 years away from Australian stages, Secondhand Serenade, the acclaimed project of Californian singer-songwriter John Vesely, is returning for three highly anticipated shows this December. Kicking off on Friday, December 19 in Melbourne, the tour will also visit Sydney on December 20 and Brisbane on December 21, with a full symphony string section elevating Vesely's signature acoustic sound.

In a development that has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and the global entertainment community, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced formal charges today against Nick Reiner, 32, in connection with the deaths of his parents, legendary filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner and photographer-producer Michele Singer Reiner.

Manchester-born singer-songwriter Robbie Cavanagh is set to make his long-awaited Australian debut this February and March, performing a series of solo shows and unique collaborative line-ups ahead of his appearance at Port Fairy Folk Festival.

Portland, Oregon singer-songwriter Jeffrey Martin has unveiled plans for his first-ever live album, Alive July 25, 2025, due for release on February 20, 2026, via Fluff & Gravy Records. The record, a document of a single Portland show, arrives just a month before Martin makes his Australian debut, bringing his distinctive folk sound to stages across the country for the very first time.

More than 50 years after its release, George Harrison's enduring solo classic “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” has received its first official music video. The newly unveiled visual was directed by actor, filmmaker and musician Finn Wolfhard, marking a rare and carefully sanctioned addition to Harrison's storied catalogue.

Joe Ely, the American singer, songwriter and guitarist who helped define Texas progressive country, has died aged 78. Ely passed away on December 15, 2025, at his home in Taos, New Mexico. His death followed complications from Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. He was surrounded by his wife and manager Sharon, and daughter Marie.

Western Australia is set to host an unforgettable musical weekend as rock icons Jet bring two back-to-back performances to the state over the 2026 long weekend.

After years of sonic exploration and experimentation, The Notwist have returned with News From Planet Zombie, an album that balances melancholy and optimism across a suite of compelling pop songs. Recorded in their Munich home base, the album reflects a chaotic world while responding with warmth and generosity, showcasing the band's creative and spiritual consolidation. This is also the first studio album since 1995's 12 to feature the band recording together in its expanded live formation.

You Got Gold - A Celebration Of John Prine, the highly anticipated live concert documentary, has extended its theatrical run at New York's Quad Cinema to three weeks following its November 28 debut. Produced by RadicalMedia and Oh Boy Pictures, and distributed by Abramorama, the film honours the life and work of the late American singer-songwriter, and was filmed at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium.

Nick Jonas will ring in the new year with the release of his latest single, Gut Punch, arriving January 1, the first taste of his long-awaited solo album Sunday Best, scheduled for release on February 6 via Republic Records. The announcement was made during Jonas' Sunday Best Brunch in Toronto, an intimate event designed to offer fans an early look at the themes and creative direction of the project.

The Happy Fits have confirmed their first tour dates for 2026, extending the momentum of their latest album Lovesick. The announcement arrives shortly after the band completed an extensive headline run supporting the release, marking another significant chapter for the New Jersey indie rock outfit as they enter their second decade together.

One of hard rock's great cult albums is returning to circulation, as Armageddon marks its 50th anniversary with a newly remastered vinyl reissue. Originally released in 1975, the self-titled album by Armageddon has long been regarded as a missing link between British blues rock, progressive rock, and emerging heavy sounds of the mid 1970s.

Rock musician Jack White has publicly condemned Trump following remarks Trump made about the death of acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner. The comments, posted by the convicted felon on his Truth Social platform, linked Reiner's death to his long-standing political opposition to Trump and have drawn widespread criticism.

Two of rock's most enduring heavyweights are set to shake arenas across Australia and New Zealand in 2026, as A Day To Remember and Papa Roach join forces for the Big Rock Tour. French modern metalcore act Landmvrks will also be on board as special guests, delivering a stacked line-up of high-energy performances.