Category: Music

The BRIT Awards has announced an eligibility shake-up across a number of categories at the upcoming 2026 ceremony.

For the first time in its nearly 50 year history, The BRITs will leave London and will be held in Manchester’s Co-op Live arena. The ceremony will take place on Feb. 28 at the 23,500-capacity venue, which first opened in 2024. It will be the first time the awards have been held outside of London in its almost five-decade history; from 2011 to 2025, the ceremony was held at The O2 arena in London.

Ahead of the nomination process, The BRITs has announced a number of changes to the eligibility across certain categories. The eligibility period runs from Dec. 6, 2024, to Dec. 4, 2025.

The BRITs Rising Star Award will revert back to being called the Critics’ Choice award. The award was introduced in 2008 and is voted for by a judging panel made up of industry experts. Previous winners include Adele, Sam Smith, Sam Fender, Ellie Goulding and Florence + The Machine, and the title is currently held by Myles Smith.

The award changed its name to Rising Star in 2020, and recognizes artists who are predicted to make the biggest impact on music in the coming year. To be eligible, artists must not have yet achieved a top 20 album or more than one top 20 single on the U.K. charts. 

Best new artist will change its name to breakthrough artist and honor British artists as they make their mark on the industry. The award was previously called British newcomer (1982-2002) and British breakthrough act (2003-2019) before being called best new artist from 2020 to 2025. The category recognizes artists on their achievements throughout the eligibility period and honors musicians with a greater profile than those of Critics Choice. Recent winners include The Last Dinner Party (2025), RAYE (2024) and Wet Leg (2023).

The BRITs has also announced a change in the eligibility criteria across a number of categories. Nominees in artist of the year, international artist of the year, group of the year and international group of the year will need to have achieved either a top 30 album or two top 20 singles on the Official U.K. charts in the eligibility period. Previously, artists were considered eligible if they had achieved either one top 40 album or two top 20 singles in the eligibility period. 

For the Mastercard album of the year prize, the LP must have reached the top 30 on the U.K.’s Albums Chart.

In the five genre categories for alternative/rock, dance, hip-hop/grime/rap, pop and R&B, the eligibility criteria remains the same, with artists required to have achieved a top 40 album or single on the Official U.K. charts in the eligibility period.

Nominees for the BRITs are usually announced in January and are selected by members of the BRITs voting panel, which is comprised of thousands of musicians, industry experts, pundits and more. In recent years, genre categories have been voted on by the public.

In other developments for the 2026 ceremony, Stacey Tang, co-president of RCA U.K., will chair this year’s organization committee and will oversee the ceremony’s creative direction, alongside representatives from other U.K. major and independent record labels, BRITs TV and the BPI.

A Korean court has rejected NewJeans’ attempt to break away from its label ADOR, dealing a major victory to the HYBE subsidiary in its closely-watched legal battle with the chart-topping K-pop group.

The five members of NewJeans — Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein — have been fighting since last November to leave ADOR and make music independently under the moniker NJZ. The women claim ADOR broke their trust with the controversial dismissal of their mentor, former CEO Min Hee-jin.

However, ADOR has argued that NewJeans’ 2022 exclusive contract bars any independent activities until 2029. A legal battle ensued and, after months of back and forth, a Korean court sided with ADOR on Thursday (Oct. 30).

According to Korean news reports, a judge in the Seoul Central District Court ruled that Min’s termination was not sufficient grounds for NewJeans to void its seven-year contract with ADOR.

“Nowhere in the exclusive contract is it stated that ADOR must entrust the management duties for NewJeans to Min Hee-jin,” wrote Presiding Judge Jeong Hoe-il, according to the Chosun Daily. “Merely the fact that NewJeans personally places high trust in Min Hee-jin does not make guaranteeing her the position of ADOR’s CEO a significant obligation under the exclusive contract.”

In an official statement on Thursday, ADOR expressed “deep gratitude for the court’s decision.”

“We sincerely hope that today’s judgment, which comes after long-term verification of various claims and facts and reaffirms prior rulings, will serve as an opportunity for the artists to calmly reflect on this matter,” said the label. “ADOR is committed to re-emphasizing its role and responsibilities as NewJeans’ management agency. As we stated during the trial, we have completed preparations for the artist’s activities, including the release of a studio album, and are waiting. We will do our utmost to return to the fans through discussions with the artist.”

The NewJeans members, meanwhile, put out a statement through their lawyers saying they plan to appeal the decision.

“NewJeans members respect the court’s judgment, but it is impossible to return to this company and continue normal entertainment activities in the current situation where the trust relationship with ADOR is completely shattered,” said the law firm Shin & Kim, as reported by the Korea Times.

NewJeans’ legal battle with ADOR has captivated the K-pop world, where companies like HYBE hold immense power and artists rarely speak out against their labels.

The group found global success in 2023 with the EP Get Up, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spent 26 weeks on the chart. The album’s lead single, “Super Shy,” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Global 200.

Udio’s licensing deal with Universal Music Group (UMG) has prompted backlash from users angry that the AI platform abruptly disabled downloading — and some are already floating the idea of legal action.

The landmark deal, announced on Wednesday (Oct. 29), ends UMG’s involvement in copyright litigation against Udio and lays the groundwork for a new version of the platform trained on licensed music. The catch: Udio will now be a “walled garden” in which users can only stream their AI creations on the platform, with no ability to export and distribute their works.

While this new version of Udio isn’t launching until 2026, the company immediately disabled all downloading on Wednesday — a move that has many users up in arms, especially on the r/udiomusic Reddit page.

“This feels like an absolute betrayal,” wrote one Reddit user.

“I’ve spent hundreds of $$$ and countless hours building tracks with this tool,” wrote another. “No one warned us that one day, we wouldn’t even be able to access our own music. You can’t just pull the plug and call that a ‘transition.’”

Udio offers both monthly and annual subscription plans. A Standard plan costs either $10 per month or $96 billed annually, and a Pro plan comes out to either $30 per month or $288 a year.

One unlucky Reddit user commented on Thursday (Oct. 30) that they paid for an annual subscription the day that Udio announced the UMG deal and took away download capabilities.

“I’m absolutely livid,” the user wrote. “The sole reason I paid for the service was to produce music to soundtrack short films for the students in my high school media class. Now no downloads?? This is the worst and most disgusting fraud I have ever seen. I don’t even care about the music, I just want my money.”

In a statement to Billboard on Thursday, an Udio spokesperson said that disabling downloads is “a difficult but necessary step to support the next phase of the platform and the new experiences ahead.”

“We hate having to remove this functionality and did not make the decision lightly,” said the spokesperson. “To ease the transition, Udio is adding 1,200 credits to all Pro and Standard plans, increasing the Pro plan’s song creation limit to 10, and providing all subscribers with a one-time bonus of 1,000 non-expiring credits.”

On Reddit, Udio users are already chatting about potential recourse. Some comments say disgruntled users should ask Udio directly for refunds, while others suggest that individuals who’ve recently bought subscriptions contact their banks to cancel the charges.

Elsewhere on the Reddit page, as well as on other social media platforms like LinkedIn, users are floating the idea of litigation.

“What you have committed is fraud. Just so you understand,” wrote one user. “You may not feel any legal ramifications immediately, but not everyone who used your platform is without resources.”

Numerous accounts have been posting Udio’s terms of service and encouraging others to send emails to the company formally opting out of provisions that could limit their legal options — namely, a clause requiring that all claims be brought in private, individual arbitration rather than in public court as a class action.

While Udio’s terms of service do indeed allow users to opt out of mandatory arbitration, opt-out notices must be sent within 30 days of registering for the service. “Otherwise, you shall be bound to arbitrate disputes on a non-class basis in accordance with these terms,” the fine print reads.

Whether ultimately brought in arbitration or in a courthouse, there are a number of potential legal claims that disgruntled Udio users might assert. There could be arguments made that disabling downloads constituted a breach of the subscription contract that Udio signed with users, or that Udio falsely advertised its services in violation of consumer protection laws. Just last year, Amazon Prime users brought such claims over changes to the cost of ad-free movie and TV streaming for subscribers.

Whether such legal claims could actually be successful, however, would depend on a judge’s interpretation of the fine print in Udio’s subscription agreement. The Amazon case, for example, was dismissed this summer after a federal judge found that Prime subscription contracts are written to give the retail giant leeway to change the terms.

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Curious about HBO Max? From award-winning TV shows and movies to documentaries, comedy specials and more, the streaming giant has enough content to keep everyone in the household entertained. Now, there are even more ways to stream HBO Max online, thanks to a couple of streaming deals that are live now, just in time for It: Welcome to Derry series debut.

What Is HBO Max?

Formerly known as Max, HBO Max has evolved into a huge streaming service combining HBO and Discovery channels including Max Originals, B/R Sports, CNN, DC, ID Network, TNT, TCM, TLC, Discovery, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, OWN, Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel.

How to Get a HBO Max Free Trial

If you’re looking to test out HBO Max before fully committing to the monthly streaming service, there a two great ways to access free trials online.

DirecTV

First, with DirecTV, users get access to HBO Max at no additional cost with its MyEntertainment plan. For new subscribers, DirecTV offers a five-day free trial to enjoy your favorite shows, sports and other entertainment. The streaming service’s signature packages feature more than 90 channels: ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV, ESPN2, FS1, SEC, MLB Network, TLC, CBS, USA, Bravo, E!, BET, MTV and more.

A subscription to DirecTV — which comes with HBO Max — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $49.99 for the first month of service ($89.99 per month afterwards).

Philo

Next up, Philo is great affordable streaming option for the looks to watch HBO Max. Philo is the cheapest among the regular-priced plans on our list at $33/month and comes with a 7-day free trial as well. Alongside access to HBO content, subscribers can stream 70+ live TV channels including A&E, BET, Discovery, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, Lifetime, MTV, Nickelodeon, VHI and more. Philo also includes free DVR in its plans and like all other streamers, you can watch content from any compatible device. See more details here.

Prime Video

Prime Video used to offer a 7-day free trial to HBO Max, but unfortunately that limited time offer has ended. However, new members can still take advantage of the 30-day free trial to Amazon Prime and add on the extra cost for HBO Max afterwards. You’re still paying for the streaming platform, but at least you get Prime for free. In a way, you’re getting two streaming services for the price of one.

How Much Does HBO Max Cost?

Max has multiple subscription tiers: ad-supported, commercial free and ultimate ad-free. Max’s paid subscriptions start at $9.99/month ($99.99 a year) for ad-supported streaming, or $16.99/month ($169.99 a year) to watch ad free.

The Premium ad-free package is $20.99 per month and includes 4K Ultra HD quality, 100 downloads to watch on the go and you can stream on up to four devices at once. Subscribe to the Max annual plan to save up to 20% off. Annual plans start at $99.99. You can bundle Max with Hulu and Disney+ for $16.99/month for ad-supported streaming on up to two devices at once and $29.99/month for ad-free streaming.

Best Max Bundle Deal

Max’s bundle deal with Hulu and Disney+ allows subscribers to stream from all three platforms for one base price. On their own, each streamer costs around $10/month, but the Max bundle gets you all three for just $19.99. That’s a 33% savings and one of the best Max deals online.

Keep reading to learn more about Max, including membership plans, student discounts and other pricing, bundles, streaming deals and how to get a free trial.

What to Watch on Max: TV Shows, Movies

Whether you love television, movies or a blend of both, HBO Max has the kind of streaming library tailor-made for binge watchers. Some of the most popular releases to hit HBO Max include House of the Dragon, Hacks, Task, Pretty Little Liars: Summer School, The Regime, True Detective, Selena + Restaurant, Lady Gaga’s Chromactica Ball concert tour, and Euphoria, which is expected to return soon.

TV lovers can also binge episodes of fan favorites such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Succession, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, …And Just Like That, Barry, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Selena + Chef, along with must-watch movies and documentaries such as Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, The Jinx: Part Two, Quiet on Set, Wonka, Priscilla, Aquaman: And the Lost Kingdom, The Color Purple, Oprah & The Color Purple: Journey, Blue Beetle, Barbie, The Gilded Age, The Sympathizer, Girls on the Bus, Conan Must Go, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks, House of Hammer, Hillsong: Megachurch Exposed, Johnny vs. Amber, Love to Love You, Donna Summer, The Weeknd: Live at Sofi Stadium, Love, Lizzo, Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over, All That Breathes, and All the Beauty and the Bloodshed.

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver and Real Time With Bill Maher are on HBO Max, as well as numerous movies, classic episodes of beloved sitcoms such as Martin, The Fresh-Prince of Bel-Air and Friends, along with kid-approved and family-friendly shows including Sesame Street, Ben 10, Looney Tunes Cartoons and the Harry Potter film franchise.

With the ad-supported and ad-free streaming plans, you can enjoy more than 13,000 hours of entertainment, exclusive access to must-watch movies, all your HBO favorites — and you can stream from up to five different profiles, which is great if there are multiple people in your household. Adding Hulu and Disney+ allows you to stream The Bear, Loki, Shōgun, The Kardashians and The Descendants: The Rise of Red.

On Oct. 10, Tame Impala‘s Kevin Parker and an intimately sized group of fans gathered in Mexico City’s magnificent Parque Quetzalcóatl for a DJ set by Parker.

Produced by Cercle, the 90-minute set happened in conjunction with the Oct. 17 release of the new Tame Impala album, Deadbeat, a collection of dance tracks inspired by Parker’s time in the Australian bush doof dance scene.

He likely thus felt fairly at home at Parque Quetzalcóatl, a private park on the outskirts of Mexico City that’s been under construction for more than 20 years and is home to a bevy of fantastical landscape design. Some of the park is visible in the newly released video of the performance, which captures the site along with the 90-minute set.

During it, Parker plays selections by artists including The Chemical Brothers, Daphni, Dog Blood, Rosalia, Orbital, Sonique and cuts spanning the Tame Impala catalog, along with his 2024 Justice collab “Neverender.” The set comes towards a close with the gorgeous 1995 trance track “Mystery Land” by tk T-Traxx, with Parker then thanking the crowd for coming before declaring that “I’m going to remember this forever, I think” and closing the set with Tame Impala’s 2025 “End of Summer.”

Watch the performance below.

This week, Deadbeat debuts at No. 1 on Top Dance Albums, with the album single “Dracula” also debuting at No. 1 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, with another seven tracks from the album also entering the chart this week.

Billboard’s Top Holiday Albums chart returns for the 2025 season, with familiar favorites among the top 10 of the Nov. 1-dated list, including Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, Michael Bublé’s Christmas and Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas (at Nos. 2, 3 and 5, respectively).

Leading the tally is the Christmas-meets-Halloween soundtrack to Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, which notches its 18th nonconsecutive week at No. 1.

The Top Holiday Albums chart will continue to be published on a weekly basis through early January of 2026, when it will jingle away until the next holiday season. (The chart generally returns to Billboard’s weekly chart menu every October.)

The Top Holiday Albums chart ranks the 50 most popular seasonal albums of the week in the United States based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each units equals one album sales, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

As for the rest of the top 10 titles on the returning Top Holiday Albums chart, we have Sabrina Carpenter’s Fruitcake (No. 4), Bing Crosby’s Ultimate Christmas (No. 6), Frank Sinatra’s Ultimate Christmas (No. 7), Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song (No. 8), Pentatonix’s The Best of Pentatonix Christmas (No. 9) and Andy Williams’ The Andy Williams Christmas Album.