It’s been another turbulent week for Kanye West, as his planned show in France has officially been cancelled, adding to what’s becoming a pattern of disrupted appearances across Europe.

The concert, which was set to take place in Marseille this summer, has been postponed indefinitely following growing pressure from French officials and local authorities. What started as online backlash quickly escalated into something more serious, with politicians publicly opposing the event and even discussing whether legal action could be taken to stop it from going ahead altogether.

A lot of the concern centres around Kanye’s past controversies, particularly his antisemitic remarks in recent years. French authorities made it clear they were worried about the potential impact of hosting such a high-profile and divisive figure, especially in a large public setting. In a country that takes issues around public order and hate speech very seriously.

Although Kanye, who now often goes by Ye, claimed that postponing the show was ultimately his own decision, it’s hard to separate that from the mounting pressure around him. From a fan perspective, it leaves things feeling a bit uncertain. There’s no rescheduled date yet. 

This isn’t an isolated incident either. The French show follows other recent setbacks, including issues in the UK that prevented him from performing as planned at wireless festival. It paints a picture of an artist who, despite his huge influence and legacy, is finding it increasingly difficult to secure a stable return to international stages.

What makes this situation particularly interesting is the contrast between Kanye’s musical legacy and his current public image. There’s no denying his impact on modern music, his work has shaped hip-hop and pop for over two decades. But at the same time, the controversies surrounding him are continuing to affect how governments, festivals, and audiences respond to him.

For some it’s a complicated moment. Some are still eager to see him perform live again, while others feel that the backlash is justified. Either way, the cancellation of the Marseille show shows just how much the conversation around artists has shifted. It’s not just about the music, public perception, accountability, and cultural impact all play a role.

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A solid year for PPL

PPL has wrapped up 2025 with a strong performance, reporting total collections of £325.5 million. That marks a 4.8% year-on-year increase of £14.3 million, according to the press release from the UK music-licensing body. 

Behind that figure, over 182,000 performers and recording rightsholders received payments in 2025, including around 16,000 who were paid for the first time. 

What’s driving the growth?

While overall growth remained steady, the real standout story came from international collections. 

Strong international performance

International revenue jumped by 16% YoY to £94.0 million, marking PPL’s highest-ever year for international recording rightsholder collections. The surge was driven by a mix of new performers signing up, improved revenue streams, and opportunities on a global level. 

Public performance holds steady

PPL’s public performance income, generated from music played in venues like shops, gyms, bars, and offices etc., accounts for around 40% of PPL’s total collections revenue. 

In 2025, this segment saw modest growth of 1%, reaching £122.9 million. This figure was held back by a “challenging economic backdrop”, including ongoing pub closures across the UK. With that being said, this drop may have been offset by shifting consumer trends, as fitness venue collections rose by 5.6%. 

Broadcast and online licensing dip slightly

Broadcast and online licensing, covering TV, radio, and digital platforms, accounted for 315 of total revenue. This segment dipped ever so slightly, falling from £98.6 million in 2024 to £98.5 million in 2025. 

Despite signing several broadcast deals with major UK TV providers, it couldn’t offset the fall caused by broader trends which saw more channels shutting down.

Why music licensing matters

Music licensing remains a key piece of the puzzle for artist income. It can often be overlooked by streaming, but licensing can provide a reliable source of income for those who get airplay. Whether your music is played in a café, broadcast on TV, or used overseas, these payments can quietly add up over time.

For artists with growing catalogues, or even just a few tracks gaining traction, making sure your music is properly registered and monetized is essential.

Don’t leave money on the table

If you’re not tapped into all available licensing opportunities, you could be missing out on valuable earnings.

That’s where RouteNote comes in. Alongside global distribution to services worldwide, RouteNote helps artists get their music onto YouTube’s Content ID system, ensuring you get paid whenever your tracks are used in videos across the platform.

Why wait? Get started for free with RouteNote today!

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Latin music generated more than $1 billion in recorded music revenue in 2025. The latest figures from the RIAA show that the genre continues to grow steadily, outperforming the wider market and strengthening its position in the industry.

As reported by Music Business Worldwide, total Latin music revenue hit $1.009 billion last year, marking a 4.2% increase compared to 2024. This growth is not only impressive on its own, but it also exceeded the overall US recorded music market, which grew by 3.1% to $11.535 billion. In fact, Latin music has now outpaced the wider market for ten consecutive years.

This success has pushed Latin music to a record 8.8% share of total US recorded music revenue.

Streaming continues to be the driving force behind this growth. RIAA’s 2025 year-end report of recorded music revenues explained that streaming accounted for 82% of total recorded music revenue in the US that year. However, Latin music relies on streaming even more heavily.

A huge 98.2% of Latin music revenue came from streaming, bringing in $991.9 million. Paid subscriptions were the biggest contributor, generating $557.5 million and growing by 9.8% year-on-year. This growth rate is notably higher than the overall subscription growth seen across the US market, showing strong demand from listeners willing to pay for access.

Ad-supported streaming saw a slight decline. Revenue from free platforms, including ad-funded tiers and social media, dropped by 2.4% to $357.2 million. Other streaming sources, such as digital radio services, grew modestly by 3.1%.

Outside of streaming, other revenue formats remain small. Physical music made up just 0.8% of Latin music revenue, falling sharply by 28.1% year-on-year. Vinyl sales declined to $7.4 million, while CD and other formats dropped significantly to just $0.5 million. This is in contrast with the wider US market, where vinyl continues to grow.

Downloads showed a rare increase, rising 12.7% to $6.3 million, while synchronisation revenue, which includes music used in film and TV, fell by 11.3%.

As MBW points out, the report also reflects a wider global trend. According to the IFPI’s Global Music Report, Latin America was the fastest-growing recorded music region in the world in 2024.

Industry voices continue to back this growth. Rafael Fernandez Jr. of the RIAA said, “Today’s report underscores Latin music’s strength. With rising global reach and fresh pathways connecting artists and fans, this sector just keeps delivering as labels work to grow the market with innovative new partnerships and opportunities.”

He added, “It’s great to see new generations discover and build on the sounds I grew up on in Miami, taking music to new places and breaking down walls between formats, services, genres and styles so more fans than ever can experience the lure of Latin music.”

Matt Bass, RIAA Vice President of Research and Gold & Platinum Operations, also highlighted the role of streaming, “Latin music has been on the upswing for a decade, as artists keep breaking new ground and fostering a deeper connection with their fans. Streaming remains the top driver, bringing in 98.2% of total revenue.”

He went on to say, “As technology advances, labels keep finding even more ways to listen, create, interact — pushing the boundaries of possibility and growth for Latin music.”

With global demand rising and streaming opening new doors, the opportunity to reach audiences has never been greater. Distribute your music to all leading streaming platforms around the world with RouteNote.

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The 2026 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame stands out as one of the most stylistically diverse and culturally significant lineups in recent memory. Spanning Britpop, hip-hop, soul, heavy metal, and post-punk, this year’s inductees highlight the evolving definition of “rock and roll” and its global influence.

Among the most talked-about inductees are the iconic British band Oasis, whose long-awaited inclusion marks a major moment for fans worldwide. Known for defining the 1990s UK music scene with anthems like Wonderwall and (Don’t Look Back in Anger), Oasis finally earned their place after multiple nominations, solidifying their legacy as one of the most influential bands of their era.

They are joined by an impressive and wide-ranging group of performers. Wu-Tang Clan are recognized for revolutionizing East Coast hip-hop with their raw sound and collective approach. Phil Collins receives additional recognition for his solo work, following his earlier induction with Genesis. Iron Maiden finally secure their place after years of fan advocacy, acknowledging their immense influence on heavy metal worldwide. Sade are celebrated for their smooth fusion of soul, jazz, and pop, while Billy Idol is honored for shaping the sound and image of punk and new wave. The late Luther Vandross is recognized for his extraordinary vocal legacy, and Joy Division along with New Order are jointly inducted, reflecting their evolution from post-punk pioneers into electronic innovators.

Beyond performers, the Hall of Fame continues its tradition of honoring those whose influence extends beyond the stage. The Early Influence Award recognizes groundbreaking artists such as Celia Cruz and Fela Kuti, both of whom reshaped global music through their unique styles and cultural impact. The Musical Excellence Award is presented to Rick Rubin, whose production work has helped define the sound of multiple generations across genres. Meanwhile, the Ahmet Ertegun Award honors Ed Sullivan for his pivotal role in introducing rock and pop acts to mainstream audiences through television.

For many, Oasis’ induction remains the emotional centerpiece of the 2026 class. Their inclusion signals a broader recognition of Britpop’s importance in shaping modern music. From chart dominance in the UK to their enduring global appeal, Oasis’ legacy continues to resonate, making their long-awaited induction feel both timely and well deserved.

Altogether, the 2026 inductees reflect not just a celebration of past achievements, but a recognition of how diverse sounds and cultural movements have shaped the ever-evolving story of rock and roll.

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Apple’s iOS 26.4 update introduced new features within Apple Music, from AI music playlists to improved concert discovery. But, there was also a practical music-related update that has flown slightly under the radar. 

Shazam, Apple’s music recognition tool, now works offline directly from the iPhone’s Control Center, as 9to5Mac points out. It’s a small tweak that makes music discovery easier than ever on iPhone.

No signal? No problem 

If you’re anything like me, you instinctively reach for Shazam whenever you hear a track you love but don’t yet know the name of. But, we’ve all been there. You want to Shazam a song only to be disappointed by a lack of signal. Then suddenly, the moment’s gone. 

With iOS 26.4, that scenario changes. Users can now trigger Shazam from the Control Center even when offline. 

How it works

Previously, Shazam relied on an active connection to match audio against its database in real time. That sometimes meant missed opportunities when you were low on signal.

Now, the phone captures the audio instantly, storing the data until a connection becomes available. Once the device is back online, Shazam will complete the identification process and send a notification with the identified track. 

Why this matters for artists

Not only does the update help listeners identify new music, but it also has real benefits for artists too.

Discovery moments are often unpredictable. They happen when you’re out and about in the places where signal can be unreliable. Until now, no signal meant users couldn’t identify those tracks they may have wanted to.

With Shazam now working even when you’re offline, fewer of those opportunities are lost. For artists, that hopefully means more songs successfully identified, more potential fans captured at the point of discovery, and more streams. 

Want help making sure your music can be easily identified on Shazam? Distribute your music to platforms everywhere for free with RouteNote today!

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