Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour has just broken Taylor Swift's record for the most-attended concert tour of all time. Coldplay’s ongoing tour has now sold over 10.3 million tickets, surpassing Swift's 10.1 million attendees for her just concluded The Eras Tour. Coldplay’s record-setting ticket sales were boosted when the British band played the largest stadium show of the 21st century in Ahmedabad, India, on January 25-26, drawing over 223,000 fans over the two historic nights. Coldplay's ongoing tour is set to continue until September 2025, which will only solidify their top position among the top most-attended tours ever. The Top 10 most-attended tours of all-time is rounded out by (in order): Ed Sheeran — ÷ Tour (8.8 million); U2 — 360° Tour (7.3 million); Guns N’ Roses — Use Your Illusion Tour (7 million); The Rolling Stones — Voodoo Lounge Tour (6.5 million); Garth Brooks — The Garth Brooks World Tour (6.3 million); Elton John — Farewell Yellow Brick Road (6 million); The Rolling Stones — Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour (6 million); and Rammstein — Rammstein Stadium Tour (6 million).  (Uproxx) 

For 50 years, Clive Davis has hosted his celebrated Pre-Grammy Gala, which takes place annually on the night before the Grammy Awards ceremony. The event, which partners with the Recording Academy, always features a distinctive guest list and memorable, one-of-a-kind performances by the likes of Beyonce, Barbra Streisand, and Jay-Z. The 2025 edition marks the gala's 50th anniversary and serves as a benefit for Los Angeles wildfire recovery. Davis was asked to pick his five favorite duets from throughout the distinguished history of his pre-Grammy parties. The music industry legend selected Aretha Franklin and Alicia Keys performing “Think” together in 2003, Whitney Houston and Natalie Cole singing “This Will Be” in 2000, Rod Stewart, Lou Reed, and Slash covering “Having a Party” in 2003, Cyndi Lauper and Brandi Carlile singing “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” in 2020, and Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas doing “Smooth” in 1999. “Year after year, there are indelible, fantastic memories that you just don’t forget,” Davis reflects. (Variety)

In the new W Magazine cover story, Charli XCX reflects on receiving eight Grammy nominations for her 2024 album, Brat. The flood of recognition for her latest record comes a full decade after her last nominations by the Recording Academy in 2015, when Charli received two nods for her hit collaboration with Iggy Azalea, “Fancy,” including Record of the Year. “Let’s be real,” Charli admits, “I wasn’t even on the Grammys’ radar last year, so it’s not something I ever expected.” Brat is up for Album of the Year and Best Dance/Electronic Album, while Charli is once again up for Record of the Year for her Julia Fox name-checking single “360.” The pop star is facing tough competition in all her categories, so rather than focusing on winning, Charli just wants to enjoy herself at the ceremony.  “Wherever I am becomes fun anyway, so I’m sure I’ll figure it out,” she said. (Billboard)

On Wednesday, GloRilla announced the dates and details of her upcoming Glorious Tour that is set to roll through the U.S. this spring. The rap star will be joined by opening acts Queen Key and Boston Richey on the Glorious Tour, which kicks off on March 5 in Oklahoma City. The run of shows will hit major music markets like Dallas, Atlanta, New York, and Chicago along the way, featuring a high-profile performance at Coachella in April, as well as a to-be-determined hometown show in Memphis. Tickets for the shows will go on sale to the general public on Friday (January 31) at 1 p.m. local time. GloRilla’s tour announcement news follows her celebrated performance on Saturday Night Live on January 18, with the rapper also up for two Grammy Awards on Sunday for her song “Yeah Glo!” (Rolling Stone)

Hozier is set to embark on the 2025 Unreal Unearth North American Tour, with stops at various amphitheaters and festivals in cities like Boston, Salt Lake City, Portland, and Toronto. This newly announced tour follows Hozier’s extensive 2023-2024 North American run that included over 83 performances across 72 cities. The 2025 Unreal Unearth Tour will kick off at the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York on June 8, with the Irish singer-songwriter also set to headline the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Milwaukee’s Summerfest, and the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival. Other notable performances on Hozier’s 2025 tour include high-profile stadium shows at Boson’s legendary Fenway Park on June 23 and Seattle’s T-Mobile Park on August 14. Hozier’s newly announced tour will also include rescheduled dates for previously postponed shows in Casper, Wyoming and Billings, Montana. (Rolling Stone)

Will Smith and Big Sean have collaborated on the just-released new song, "Beautiful Scars," along with a Matrix-inspired music video for the track. Smith has also announced a March 2025 release date for his upcoming solo album, Based on a True Story, marking his first full-length album release in over 20 years. The rap duo’s new single is produced by OmArr and LeXoskeleton, with the music video featuring Smith as Neo and Big Sean as Morpheus. Earlier, Smith had posted a cryptic message on Instagram reflecting on his decision to decline the role of Neo in The Matrix, which ultimately went to Keanu Reeves. “In 1997, the Wachowskis offered Will Smith the role of Neo in ‘The Matrix.’ Smith turned it down,” reads Smith’s Instagram video. “He chose ‘Wild Wild West,’ believing it was a better fit for him at the time. But the question remains: What would ‘The Matrix’ have been like with Will Smith as Neo?” (Variety)

While SZA’s newly released SOS Deluxe: Lana currently sits at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, the Grammy-winning R&B superstar is thinking about her future plans once she completes her record contract. On Saturday (January 4), SZA took to X to share her creative aspirations over the coming years, personal goals that would find the singer retreating from the music industry entirely and instead focusing on helping those in need. “To fulfill my last 2 album requirements I think I just wanna make peaceful children’s music n get outta here,” SZA wrote. “Then go be a farmer n donate the produce to underserved communities.” SZA’s chart-topping expanded edition of her Grammy-winning 2022 album, SOS, features 14 new songs, with the singer promising that after further perfecting Lana, the digital version will now include “all updated Mixes and new songs will be added Jan 6th when the label comes back from holiday.” (People)

Kesha took to Instagram on Sunday (January 5) to celebrate the 15th anniversary of her career-making debut album, Animal. The 37-year-old pop star also lovingly paid tribute to the ambition of the artist she was at the time. The post features a series of promotional photos and video stills from the Animal-era, as well as an old interview clip with a young Kesha, who proudly states, “The only reason I made this record is to make kids have fun and have dance parties and inspire people to just be happy.” Kesha notes that the album’s breakout single, “Tik Tok,” just “had its biggest streaming day just a few days ago,” as fans continue to connect with her music all these years later. Kesha admits that “I had no idea what these songs would open up for me and what kind of life I would be creating for myself just by putting these songs out in the world. I’m so happy I did.” (Rolling Stone)

During a red carpet interview with Access Hollywood before the Golden Globes on Sunday (January 5), Ariana Grande opened up about her future music plans. The Grammy-winning musician and Wicked star is focused on her acting career at the moment, and disclosed that making new music is “not something I’m thinking about right now.” Though that doesn’t mean that Ari fans won’t get to hear some new material from the pop superstar sometime soon. “There’s something I made last year that will come out eventually. It’s an attachment of Eternal Sunshine,” Grande revealed. “So, that does exist, and that will be coming out at some point.” Grande released Eternal Sunshine in March of 2024, and it is nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the upcoming Grammy Awards. She went on to share a Slightly Deluxe and Also Live version of the record featuring additional tracks. (Rolling Stone)

During a red carpet interview with Billboard before the Golden Globes on Sunday (January 5), Wicked director Jon M. Chu discussed his creative intentions for his forthcoming Britney Spears biopic. Chu has been tapped to direct the film about Spears’ life, which is based on the pop superstar’s bestselling memoir, The Woman In Me. “I really can’t talk about that yet,” Chu said about the highly-anticipated project. “I’m a big fan of Britney. I’ve been a fan since I was young and she was young and she was one of 12 acts at the Shrine Auditorium. So I want to do her justice and tell her story right. But we’ll see. We’re developing it now and it’s a long road ahead.” Back in August, Spears shared her excitement about working with Marc Platt as a producer on the film, with Chu later chosen by Universal Pictures to direct the biopic. (Rolling Stone) 

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ collaboration “Die With a Smile” hits No. 1 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart. After peaking at No. 2 for four weeks in November, “Die With A Smile” now becomes Gaga’s sixth career No. 1 on the Hot 100 and Mars’ ninth leader. The Hot 100 returns to normalcy after a holiday season that culminated last week with the entire Top 10 being filled with Christmas songs for the first time ever. Elsewhere in the Billboard Hot 100, ROSÉ becomes the first female K-pop artist to reach the Top 5, as her own hit collaboration with Bruno Mars, “APT.,” jumps 29 places to No. 5. The Top 10 is rounded out by Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” vaulting 22 spots to No. 2, Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” moves up 25 spots to No. 3, Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” reenters the chart at No. 4, Gracie Abrams’ “That’s So True” surges 27 places to No. 6, Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” jumps 20 spots to No. 7, Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen vaults 39 places to No. 8, while Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” jumps 37 spots to No. 9 and her “Taste” vaults 31 places to No. 10. (Billboard)

The three NFL games taking place on Thanksgiving Day now all have stellar halftime entertainment planned. The NFL just announced that current Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper Shaboozey along with Lindsey Stirling will be joining Lainey Wilson as the halftime performers at the trio of football games scheduled on Thanksgiving. Shaboozey will perform in Detroit when the Lions take on their division rivals the Chicago Bears, while Stirling will perform in Green Bay when the Packers take on the Miami Dolphins. Wilson was already revealed as the halftime entertainment for the Dallas Cowboys annual Thanksgiving Day game against the New York Giants. “Thanksgiving football is an iconic tradition in this country, and I’m hyped to be a part of it this year,” Shaboozey says. “The Detroit Lions season has been pretty epic so far, and I’m excited to tap into that crazy energy their fans bring to Ford Field. I can’t wait for America to see the show we’ve been working on for y’all.” (Billboard)

Beyoncé’s country-flavored 2024 album, Cowboy Carter, and the chart-topping hits on the record, received 11 nominations at the 2025 Grammy Awards, including a nod in every one of the Country Music categories. Beyoncé was nominated in the prestigious Song, Record, and Album of the Year categories, along with recognition for Best Country Album, Best Country Song for “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Best Country Duo Performance for “II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus, and Best Country Solo Performance for “16 Carriages.” Beyoncé becomes the most-nominated artist in the history of the Grammy Awards with 99 nods in her storied career, while Cowboy Carter’s 11 nominations is second only to Michael Jackson’s 12 nominations for  Thriller at the 1984 Grammy Awards. Beyoncé took to Instagram on Friday to share her big moment with Black country music legend, Linda Martell, who was featured on two tracks on Cowboy Carter. “Congratulations to my queen Linda Martell on your nomination and your contribution to Country Music,” Beyoncé appreciatively wrote. (Consequence of Sound)

Tyler, the Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA notches its second consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. This is the first record of Tyler’s career to spend two consecutive weeks atop the chart. Two debuts cracked this week’s Billboard 200 Top 10, as Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal Atake 2 premiered at No. 3, while the Cure’s first album in 16 years, Songs of a Lost World, launched at No. 4. This marks the Cure’s highest charting album in over 30 years, and their first Top 10 record in over 20 years. Elsewhere in the Top 10, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet slides up a spot to No. 2, Gracie Abrams’ The Secret of Us jumps up two slots to No. 5, Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess vaults six spots to No. 6 after her recent Saturday Night Live performance, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft moves up two slots to No. 7, Rod Wave’s Last Lap drops three places to No. 8, Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department moves up two spots to No. 9, and Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time slides down two slots to No. 10. (Billboard)  

Following the announcement  of Chappell Roan’s first Grammy nominations of her career on Friday – including nods in all of the Big Four categories – it was revealed on Saturday that the pop superstar is parting ways with her management team. Roan’s Grammy nominations were conspicuously left off a since-deleted congratulatory post shared by the Instagram account of State of the Art, the management company that signed the pop superstar. State of the Art’s Nick Bobetsky was previously Roan’s manager, after initially meeting the singer back in 2018. “Her immense talent was clear immediately,” Bobetsky told Billboard about his first interactions with Roan. Roan has frequently shared her frustrations about her newfound fame and invasive fans, including an August Instagram post where she wrote, “I’m not afraid of the consequences for demanding respect. Just to let you know, every woman is feeling or has felt similar to what I’m experiencing. This isn’t a new situation.” (Billboard)

During an interview with Access Hollywood on Thursday (November 7), Rihanna sang the praises of Billie Eilish. The Fenty Beauty mogul even seemed surprised that the Grammy and Oscar winning musician has even heard of her. “Billie Eilish, she knows me?” Rihanna said modestly, before explaining just why she loves her music. "She is the most Anti, coolest girl ever. In my mind, she doesn’t listen to commercial music, or anyone’s music,” Rihanna shared. “She’s creating her diary… vocally. You can feel that she’s zoned into who she is and what she’s experienced, and what she’s feeling, even if she doesn’t know what it is.” Rihanna went on to declare that she believed Eilish deserved a bunch of Grammys when they were announced the following day. RiRi’s prophecy came true when Billie received seven total nominations for the 2025 Grammy Awards, including Album, Song, and Record of the Year nods. (Rolling Stone)

On Friday (November 8), Dua Lipa announced on X that her performance in Jakarta on Saturday was canceled due to “safety issues with the staging.” The pop superstar – who found out that day that she was shut out of Grammy nominations for Radical Optimism – was scheduled to perform at Indonesia Arena, a 16,500-capacity venue in Jakarta. “I’m heartbroken to share that I won’t be able to perform in Jakarta this Saturday,” Lipa wrote. “I am here in your amazing country and ready to perform, but I am gutted to share that it has been determined that it is not safe for the performance to carry on due to safety issues with the staging. It truly pains me that we cannot perform for you all, especially after such a long time since my last performance in Jakarta.” Lipa is next scheduled to perform at the Philippine Arena in Santa Maria, Philippines on Wednesday (November 13) as the Asian leg of her Radical Optimism World Tour continues. (Rolling Stone)

Beyoncé has just set another personal record in her legendary career. Bey’s countrified album, Cowboy Carter, and its hit singles accumulated 11 nominations for the 2025 Grammy Awards, which surpasses her previous high of 10 nods in 2009. Beyoncé is one of five women who are nominated in all three of the Grammys‘ top categories this year — Record, Song, and Album of the Year – along with Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter. Roan and Carpenter are also both nominated in the ultra-competitive Best New Arists category, so both pop superstars are featured in the Grammys Big Four categories. Eilish, Post Malone, Kendrick Lamar, and Charli XCX all received the second most nominations, with each artist receiving seven nods apiece. Swift, Roan, and Carpenter received six nominations each. Female artists claimed six of the eight nominations for both Album of the Year and Record of the Year at the 2025 Grammys, following last year’s ceremony that featured women taking seven out of eight spots in both those categories. (Variety)