🗓 2025-06-16 – Weekly Music News & Trends: What You Missed!

What's News in Music
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:toolbox: Music Weekly Brief: June 10–16, 2025

This past week, June 10-16, 2025, has been particularly dynamic for the music industry, marked by significant investments in live entertainment infrastructure, the enduring appeal of legacy artists, and notable shifts in artist-fan engagement and industry social responsibility. The week also saw critical advancements in music production technology that promise to reshape creative workflows. These developments collectively underscore a vibrant industry that is simultaneously investing in its physical future, adapting to digital consumption patterns, and grappling with evolving ethical and social considerations.

Key Music News & Trends

  1. :building_construction: Live Nation Commits $1 Billion to US Venue Expansion
    Live Nation announced on June 10, 2025, a substantial $1 billion investment over the next 18 months to build 18 new venues and renovate existing ones across the United States. This strategic move aims to expand the company’s network of owned-and-operated venues, bringing more major shows to underserved secondary markets like Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Birmingham, Alabama. The company emphasized the significant economic impact, projecting $2.9 billion in activity during construction and $1.4 billion annually once operational, alongside the creation of 15,000 jobs. This investment also supports Live Nation’s claim of being the largest investor in artists, having invested $14 billion globally in 2024.
    :date: Published: June 10, 2025
    :link: Live Nation to invest $1bn in US music venues over next 18 months; says it ‘invested $14bn in artists’ globally in 2024 - Music Business Worldwide

  2. :bar_chart: J-hope and GloRilla’s “Killin It Girl” Tops Billboard Fan Poll
    On June 16, 2025, the collaboration “Killin It Girl” by J-hope and GloRilla soared to the top of Billboard’s fan poll, securing an overwhelming 87% of the votes. This significant fan engagement highlights the track’s popularity and the strong, dedicated fanbases of both artists. The success of this collaboration further demonstrates the increasing influence of audience participation in shaping music charts and mainstream appeal.
    :date: Published: June 16, 2025
    :link: j-hope and GloRilla's 'Killin It Girl' Voted Favorite New Music

  3. :scales: Nancy Wilson of HEART Criticizes Trump Administration Over Music Use On June 16, 2025, Nancy Wilson of the legendary rock band HEART publicly criticized the Trump administration for using their iconic song “Barracuda” without permission at a military parade. This incident echoes past objections raised by artists regarding the unauthorized political use of their music, underscoring the ongoing battle over intellectual property rights and artistic control in political contexts.
    :date: Published: June 16, 2025
    :link: NANCY WILSON Says TRUMP's Military Parade Used HEART's 'Barracuda' 'Without Permission Or Authorization' - BLABBERMOUTH.NET

  4. :cd: David Byrne Announces New Album “Who Is The Sky?” and Tour
    On June 10, 2025, David Byrne announced his new album, “Who Is The Sky?”, which he describes as an “anthropological view of New York”. Along with the album, Byrne also revealed a tour that includes six shows in New York State. The tour will make its first New York stop in Schenectady at the historic Proctors Theater.
    :date: Published: June 10, 2025
    :link: Who is the Sky? David Byrne Answers Question with World Tour

:hammer_and_wrench: Tools & Tips

  • Acustica Audio Expanse-5 Synthesizer Emulation Released on June 16, 2025, Acustica Audio introduced Expanse-5, an authentic emulation of the legendary Sequential Prophet-5 Synthesizer plugin. This new addition to their MAREA synth lineup uses proprietary MUST (Modular Unified Synthesis Technology) for a hybrid synthesis combining convolution and analog modeling. It promises ultra-low latency, efficient CPU usage, and pristine audio quality, offering variable polyphony from two to ten voices. The plugin also includes a Superstereo feature to expand the stereo image and a multi-FX processor with saturation, chorus, delay, and reverb algorithms.
    :link: Acustica Audio Expanse-5, emulation of the legendary Sequential Prophet-5 Synthesizer - SYNTH ANATOMY

:bulb: Fun Fact

  • Digital Sales Dominate Music Revenue The modern music industry’s financial landscape is overwhelmingly digital. In 2023, digital sales, encompassing streaming and downloads, accounted for a staggering 87% of the total music revenue in the United States. Streaming services alone were the primary driver, generating a record-breaking $14.4 billion. This highlights the profound shift in how music is consumed and monetized, with digital platforms now forming the bedrock of the industry’s economic model.
    :link: 50 Fascinating Facts About the Music Industry | Stacker

:ear: We’d love to hear from you!

Have you participated in any Music events or utilized new Music tools recently? Share your experiences or insights with us—we’re featuring selected community voices in next week’s edition.