Founding member and lead vocalist Chuck Negron, whose voice powered hits including Joy To The World, One and An Old Fashioned Love Song, has died at his home in Los Angeles

The 2026 Grammy Awards are being handed out today in Los Angeles, with the pre-telecast ceremony revealing the first wave of winners across dozens of categories ahead of the prime-time broadcast. As always, the early announcements provide a clear snapshot of where the Recording Academy is placing its attention in a year marked by global pop dominance, resurgent rock credibility, boundary-pushing hip-hop and a continued expansion of international voices.

The legendary rock band has been legally and publicly vindicated after a binding arbitration rejected every claim from their former guitarist, confirming his obligations under the 2008 band agreement and ordering repayment of over US$750,000 in tour advances.

Guitarist activist Tom Morello and punk veterans Rise Against will lead a one-off Minneapolis benefit concert raising funds for families affected by recent trump Gestapo killings, turning the city's most storied music venue into a focal point for protest, solidarity and community support.

The Boss releases a rapid-response rock song memorialising two Minneapolis residents killed by trump's gestapo, extending a decades-long tradition of political songwriting.

Original Injectors bassist and namesake remembered for his gentle soul and pivotal role in Australian rock

A Century of Music Rights and Cultural Impact Celebrated with Awards, Anthology and Digital Timeline

Late Midnight Oil Co-Founder Recognised For Lifetime Service To Australian Music And Culture

Olivia Dean Claims The Top Spot As Australian Artists Dominate The Year's Defining Countdown

by Jeff Jenkins ARIA’s Top 100 singles chart for 2025 features more songs by the KPop Demon Hunters Cast than Australian artists.

61 Australian Songwriters And Composers Recognised Across 13 Categories As Career-Shaping Awards Near

Global Superstar Partners With Tamworth Country Music Festival To Create Career-Defining Nashville Opportunity For Emerging Australian Artists by Paul Cashmere

The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition has announced the winners of its 2025 edition, spotlighting songwriting excellence from across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Scotland, the Netherlands and the United States. With more than 4,000 songs entered from 52 countries, the competition again demonstrated its reach as one of the world's most significant platforms for discovering and supporting contemporary songwriting talent.

Taylor Swift had 10 Top 10 singles; Australia had none by Jeff Jenkins No Australian song hit number one in 2025. In fact, an Australian single failed to crack the Top 20. It’s believed to be the first time in chart history that a homegrown hit has not reached the Top 20.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has added his voice to the 2026 Triple J Hottest 100, sharing his picks from a wide range of local and international artists. Albo's choices highlight a mix of rising stars and established names, from the indie-pop charms of Olivia Dean and Hatchie to the homegrown beats of Hilltop Hoods and Ocean Alley.

SXSW Sydney has come to an abrupt end, with organisers confirming the Asia-Pacific edition of the globally recognised South By Southwest festival will not proceed in 2026 or beyond. The decision follows the withdrawal of funding by the New South Wales Government, bringing the event to a close just three years into what was originally planned as a longer-term commitment.

Byron Bay Bluesfest has unveiled a major new wave of artists for its 2026 edition, confirming Parkway Drive, Erykah Badu and The Wailers as headline additions to an already formidable bill. The announcement reinforces Bluesfest’s long held reputation for programming that spans generations, genres and cultures, united by musicianship, legacy and the power of live performance.

Fed Square will again become Melbourne's summer living room this February with the return of Open Air At The Square, a free, month-long program that places music, film and performance at the centre of the city's cultural life. Running from February 2 to February 28, 2026, the festival draws together local voices and internationally recognised artists across live music, outdoor cinema and participatory performance, transforming warm summer nights into shared experiences in the heart of Melbourne.

Sydney Festival opens today, marking its 50th anniversary with a city-wide celebration of theatre, dance, music, visual arts and immersive experiences. From today until Sunday 25 January, Sydney transforms into a living stage, inviting residents and visitors to gather, reflect and reconnect through a diverse program of performances and installations that honour half a century of cultural innovation while looking to the future.

Australian music fans have delivered another brutal message to local artists in 2025, with streaming figures revealing that only one genuinely new Australian song cracked the Top 10 most streamed Australian tracks of the year.

As the New Year begins, streaming platforms have revealed the songs that defined 2025, highlighting a mix of blockbuster collaborations and K-pop influence. Spotify Wrapped and Apple Music's Replay charts show a global audience gravitating towards high-profile partnerships.

The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors has entered the history books for reasons far removed from artistic celebration, with the annual event recording the lowest television ratings since the ceremony began airing nationally. Broadcast on CBS on 23 December 2025, the Donald Trump hosted edition averaged 3.01 million viewers, a figure that represents a sharp year on year decline and has triggered a flurry of explanations from the Kennedy Center's new leadership and the White House.

The 2026 New Year Honours List has been unveiled, celebrating 1,157 individuals across fields as diverse as the arts, charity, science and community work. King Charles, on the advice of government officials and the prime minister, has recognised those who have made outstanding contributions to their professions and society, with honours including knighthoods, damehoods, and orders of merit. Among the recipients this year, several musicians and entertainers have been acknowledged for their achievements both on stage and off.

Beyoncé has officially joined the billionaire club, cementing her status as one of the most successful musicians and businesswomen of the 21st century. The announcement from Forbes Magazine follows a record-breaking period in her career, highlighted by the global success of her 2025 Cowboy Carter Tour and the commercial achievements of her latest album of the same name.

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is facing one of the most serious crises in its history, as a widening group of artists, performers and cultural organisations cancel appearances in protest over Donald Trump's takeover of the board and the decision to attach his name to the institution.

Fleetwood Mac's 1977 classic Rumours has emphatically proven that great music endures, securing its place as one of the biggest selling albums of 2025 in the United States. According to year‑end sales tallies, Rumours finished 24th overall in album units across all formats for the year, and impressively ranked 10th in physical sales, the top echelon of CDs and vinyl, with 221,514 units sold. When streaming figures are included, the album's total equivalent sales for 2025 reached 1,064,163.

As 2026 approaches, the global music landscape is gearing up for a wave of major album releases spanning rock, pop, metal, indie and beyond. From long‑anticipated studio efforts by established acts, to fresh explorations from rising stars, the first half of the year promises some of the most eclectic offerings in recent memory. Here's a comprehensive look at the key releases set from January through April.

Gibson Gives has capped off 2025 with the most impactful year in its history, delivering record levels of instruments, funding, and support to music education and wellness programs around the world. The philanthropic arm of Gibson confirmed that 2,445 guitars were donated during the year, alongside more than $5.3 million enabled for global music education initiatives, reinforcing the company's long-standing belief that access to music can be transformative.

Western Australia's longest running and most revered David Bowie tribute event will return in January for what may be its final and most emotionally charged chapter.

Jerry Kasenetz, the New York born songwriter and producer who helped invent and commercialise bubblegum pop in the late 1960s, has died aged 82. Kasenetz passed away on December 6, 2025, in Tampa, Florida, following complications from a fall at his home.