End of the Road Festival has unveiled another wave of artists for its 2026 edition, adding even more excitement to one of the UK’s most beloved independent music festivals. Known for its carefully curated mix of established favourites, emerging talent, and genre-defying performers, the latest announcement further strengthens a lineup packed with discovery and creativity.

Leading the newly announced names are New York rock outfit Geese, whose rapid rise over the last few years has made them one of the most exciting bands in alternative music. Blending art rock, post-punk, indie, and classic rock influences, the band have earned widespread acclaim for both their ambitious recordings and explosive live performances. Their appearance is likely to be one of the most anticipated sets of the weekend, offering festival-goers the chance to see a band widely tipped for even greater success in the coming years.

While Geese may be the headline-grabbing addition, End of the Road has always been a festival that rewards those willing to explore beyond the biggest names. This year’s lineup once again features a wealth of artists who could easily become highlights of the weekend.

Angine de Poitrine

French experimental outfit Angine de Poitrine bring one of the most unique sounds on the bill. Blending elements of post-punk, noise rock, art rock, and avant-garde performance, the group have built a reputation for creating unpredictable and immersive live experiences. For attendees looking to discover something genuinely different, their set promises to be one of the festival’s most intriguing.

Fat Dog

Few bands have generated as much buzz in recent years as Fat Dog. The London collective’s chaotic blend of punk, electronic music, rave culture, and absurdist energy has made them one of the UK’s most talked-about live acts. Their performances are famously wild, combining relentless rhythms with a party atmosphere that often turns audiences into willing participants. Expect packed crowds and complete mayhem.

Adult DVD

Leeds-based Adult DVD continue to build momentum with their infectious mix of indie rock, dance-punk, electronic grooves, and irresistible hooks. Their music feels tailor-made for festivals, balancing catchy songwriting with an energetic live show that keeps crowds moving from start to finish. They’re exactly the kind of band that can arrive as a curiosity and leave with an army of new fans.

PVA

London trio PVA have become one of the most exciting names operating between post-punk, electronic music, and experimental pop. Their music combines pulsing synths, hypnotic rhythms, and art-rock sensibilities to create something that feels both innovative and accessible. With a reputation for captivating live performances, PVA are likely to be one of the standout electronic acts of the weekend.

Whether you’re heading to see Geese’s headline-worthy performance, lose yourself in the chaos of Fat Dog, dance along with Adult DVD, explore the sonic landscapes of PVA, or experience the unpredictability of Angine de Poitrine, the newest additions offer plenty of reasons to be excited.

As always, End of the Road remains one of the UK’s finest festivals for music fans who love discovery as much as they love the headliners.

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Spotify’s latest Culture Next report explores how Gen Z listeners are discovering music, supporting artists, and driving emerging trends across streaming.

The report draws on Spotify’s first-party data, analysing more than 4.2 million songs and 680,000 podcast episodes. According to Spotify, as reported by Yahoo News, Gen Z now makes up 35% of its audience and streams for an average of two hours per day, making the generation one of the platform’s most engaged listener groups.

For artists and labels, the findings paint a picture of a generation that is actively discovering new music while maintaining strong connections with the artists they already love.

Gen Z listeners are more loyal than you might think

Despite often being labelled as trend-driven, Spotify’s latest findings suggest Gen Z listeners are building deeper connections with the artists they love.

As Music Ally shares, high-school-aged listeners are the most devoted fan group on the platform, with one in every eight streams coming from their top 20 artists. At the same time, they’re also the most likely to discover new music, showing that loyalty and discovery can coexist.

That finding aligns with comments from Gen Z expert Casey Lewis, who contributed to the report. “Counter to their fickle reputation, Gen Z has become increasingly loyal, especially in terms of the creators and brands they grew up with,” she said. Lewis points to a growing preference for familiarity, with younger audiences increasingly returning to the same creators, podcasts, brands, and communities.

Spotify’s research also found that listening habits evolve across different life stages. While younger listeners are the most devoted to their favourite artists, early-adult listeners favour “a more curated mix”, making them “the most discerning of cohorts”. The findings suggest that while discovery is important, artists who can build genuine fan connections may be better positioned for long-term growth.

Brazilian funk continues its rise

Spotify’s report also highlights Brazilian funk as one of the biggest and fastest-growing musical movements among Gen Z listeners.

According to commentary included in the report, the genre’s growth has been boosted by wider trends that resonate with younger audiences, including fitness culture, wellness routines, and “gymcore” content.

Brazilian funk’s growth is the latest example of how streaming can help genres reach audiences far beyond their home markets. In recent years, genres including Afrobeats, Amapiano, and regional Mexican music have all found growing international audiences through platforms like Spotify.

For independent artists, it’s another reminder that niche sounds can find international audiences when paired with strong digital distribution and discovery opportunities.

Music is increasingly tied to wider culture

Beyond genres, Spotify’s findings point to several cultural interests shaping Gen Z engagement.

The report identifies horror and true crime as particularly popular themes among younger audiences. Rather than consuming culture through traditional media channels, many Gen Z listeners engage with trends, stories, and communities through the creators, podcasts, and content they follow online.

Spotify also notes that tastes can vary significantly depending on life stage, even within the same generation. While preferences change, engagement remains consistently high across different age groups.

What this means for artists

Spotify’s findings suggest that understanding which Gen Z listeners you’re reaching is just as important as reaching Gen Z in the first place.

As Spotify’s Jenny Haggard explains, “Treat Gen Z as one demographic and you’re missing the most exciting creative opportunity in media right now.”

While tastes vary across different life stages, engagement remains strong throughout the generation. For artists, audience data from tools like Spotify for Artists and RouteNote Trends can help identify who’s listening and what’s resonating, making it easier to build stronger connections with fans.

Distribute your music to Spotify and all other leading streaming platforms around the world with RouteNote. Sign up today to get started.

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YouTube is becoming more social once again.

After six years without direct messaging, YouTube has officially reintroduced DMs to the platform, giving users a new way to share videos and chat without leaving the app. The feature arrives after months of testing and responds to what Google previously described as one of YouTube’s most requested features.

While it may seem like a simple quality-of-life update, the return of YouTube DMs could create opportunities for creators, artists, and labels. 

YouTube officially brings back direct messages

Users aged 18 and over can now send invitations to connect and share videos directly through a new messaging icon within the YouTube app.

The feature allows users to share videos and react to content in real time without needing to switch to another platform. Whether it’s a music video, a Short, a live stream, or a tutorial, viewers can now discuss and share content from within YouTube itself.

The rollout follows a six-month testing period across a number of European markets and is currently expanding across the US, UK, Brazil, Singapore according to Mashable.

Users must first send an invitation before a conversation can begin, helping to reduce spam and unwanted messages. YouTube has also confirmed that all conversations remain subject to its Community Guidelines, with moderation and reporting tools built into the experience.

The move marks a notable reversal for YouTube. The platform originally launched direct messaging in 2017 before removing the feature in 2019 as it shifted focus towards public interactions through comments and community posts.

Now, however, YouTube appears to be leaning back into private sharing.

Why YouTube is bringing DMs back

The timing isn’t particularly surprising.

Over the past few years, private sharing has become one of the dominant ways people discover content online. While public feeds still drive visibility, many viral moments now spread through group chats, direct messages, and private communities.

Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have already benefited from this shift in user behaviour. People increasingly discover content because a friend sent it to them rather than because an algorithm surfaced it.

In that context, YouTube was beginning to look like an outlier.

By bringing messaging back, YouTube can keep more of those sharing interactions inside its own ecosystem instead of relying on users copying links into competing apps.

What it means for independent artists

For artists, the biggest opportunity lies in discoverability.

Every musician knows the value of word-of-mouth marketing. A recommendation from a friend often carries far more weight than an algorithmic recommendation or paid advertisement. YouTube’s new messaging feature effectively makes it easier for fans to become promoters.

Imagine a fan discovering your latest music video, a behind-the-scenes clip, or a YouTube Short and immediately sharing it with friends inside the app. That extra layer of friction has been removed.

The easier it becomes for fans to share content, the greater the potential for organic discovery.

Making the most of YouTube’s growing ecosystem

As YouTube continues to evolve beyond a traditional video platform, artists should think about how their content can encourage sharing and conversation. Short-form content is particularly well positioned here. A funny clip, teaser, reaction moment, or memorable performance snippet is often easier for fans to share privately than a full-length music video.

That’s why getting your music into the YouTube Shorts ecosystem can be so valuable. When your tracks are available in the Shorts music library, creators and fans can use your music in their own content, potentially extending your reach far beyond your existing audience.

Likewise, ensuring your music is registered with YouTube Content ID helps you identify and monetise eligible uses of your music across the platform.

With RouteNote, artists can distribute music to YouTube Music, access YouTube Content ID, and make tracks available for use in YouTube Shorts, helping maximise visibility across YouTube’s growing ecosystem.

As new sharing tools emerge, having your music properly distributed and discoverable across every part of the platform becomes increasingly important.

The bigger picture

The return of YouTube DMs isn’t just about messaging.

It’s another sign that the platform wants to become a more complete social destination where people watch, share, discuss, and discover content without leaving the app.

For artists, that matters because discovery rarely happens in isolation. Fans don’t just listen to music anymore; they share it, recommend it, react to it, and build communities around it.

The platforms making those interactions easier are often the platforms creating the biggest opportunities for growth.

YouTube’s messaging comeback may seem like a small update today, but it reflects a broader shift towards more social, community-driven content discovery. And for independent artists looking to grow their audience, that’s a trend worth paying attention to.

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Instagram is continuing its push towards greater transparency and user control by expanding its “Your Algorithm” feature beyond Reels and Explore to the main feed. The update gives users more visibility into how Instagram’s recommendation systems work, while also allowing them to directly influence the topics that shape their experience across the app.

As users now have more ways to tell the platform exactly what they want to see, it’s sure to shake up how artists, musicians, producers, and labels get discovered on the platform.

Instagram’s “Your Algorithm” tool is coming to the main feed

Instagram first introduced “Your Algorithm” for Reels in late 2025 before expanding it to Explore earlier this year. Now, the company is bringing the feature to its main feed, making it available across most of the platform’s key discovery surfaces. 

The tool allows users to view the topics Instagram believes they’re interested in and adjust those interests directly.

Users can access the feature by opening Reels or Explore and tapping the icon in the top-right corner that looks like two lines with hearts. From there, Instagram displays a list of topics that influence recommendations, based on a user’s activity across the app.

People can then tell Instagram which subjects they’d like to see more of and which they’d prefer to see less of. Those adjustments are used to refine future recommendations across the platform.

According to Social Media Today, the feature gives users a direct way to influence the recommendation system instead of relying solely on passive signals such as likes, watches, shares, and scrolling behaviour.

In simple terms, Instagram is allowing people to have a more active role in shaping their own algorithm.

Why Instagram is focusing on user control

Alongside the announcement, Instagram head Adam Mosseri shared his broader thoughts about algorithms, recommendations, and user agency on social media. Mosseri shared that social feeds have changed dramatically from the early days of social media. Rather than primarily showing content from accounts people choose to follow, today’s feeds are increasingly populated by recommendations from creators and accounts users have never interacted with before.

That shift has helped platforms keep feeds active and improve content discovery. However, Mosseri suggests it has also reduced the sense of control users have over their experience. 

As he explained, the system constantly learns from what people watch, like, and share, but users have historically had very little opportunity to directly tell the algorithm what they actually want.

“Your Algorithm” is Instagram’s attempt to address that imbalance by making recommendation systems more visible and easier to influence.

What does this mean for artists?

For musicians, this update reinforces a reality that has been shaping social media for years: recommendation systems play a huge role in content discovery.

Instagram’s algorithm already influences which creators, songs, videos, and trends reach new audiences. Giving users more control over those recommendations doesn’t remove the algorithm’s importance, but it does make audience relevance even more valuable.

The creators who consistently reach the right people are likely to be those producing content that clearly aligns with specific interests and communities.

In other words, trying to appeal to everyone may become even less effective than it already is. Artists who build content around identifiable themes, genres, scenes, aesthetics, or fan interests may find themselves better positioned when users actively tell Instagram what they want to see more of.

Whether that’s indie rock, hyperpop, metal, electronic music production, vinyl collecting, songwriting tips, live performance clips, or music memes, clear audience signals can help both users and algorithms understand where your content belongs.

The bigger picture: discovery is becoming more personalised

The most interesting part of this announcement may not be the feature itself, but what it says about where social platforms are heading.

According to Mosseri, future AI systems could allow people to customise far more than just recommendation topics. He envisions a future where apps can generate increasingly personalised experiences in real time, potentially tailoring interfaces, features, and content to individual users.

While that vision is still some way off, the direction is clear. Social platforms are moving beyond one-size-fits-all feeds towards increasingly personalised experiences.

For artists, that means discovery may become less about chasing broad viral moments and more about connecting with highly relevant audiences who actively want the type of content you’re creating.

The good news is that independent artists are often well-positioned for this shift. Niche communities, dedicated fanbases, and clearly defined creative identities can thrive when recommendation systems become better at matching people with the content they’re most interested in.

Don’t forget the music itself

While social media algorithms continue to evolve, one thing remains unchanged: audiences still need access to your music.

Instagram remains one of the most important platforms for music discovery, with tracks regularly finding new audiences through Reels, Stories, posts, and user-generated content.

Distributing your music to Instagram’s music library ensures creators and fans can use your tracks in their content, helping increase exposure across the platform.

With RouteNote, artists can get their music onto Instagram and other major streaming and social platforms while retaining full ownership of their work. As Instagram continues refining how people discover content, making your music available wherever audiences are spending time remains an important part of any release strategy.

More control, but algorithms aren’t going anywhere

Instagram’s latest update gives users more visibility into the recommendation systems shaping their experience, and that’s likely to be welcomed by many people who want greater control over their feeds.

At the same time, the change doesn’t signal the end of algorithmic discovery. If anything, it highlights just how central recommendation systems have become to modern social media.

For artists, the takeaway is simple. Create content that clearly speaks to a specific audience, build genuine engagement around your music, and make sure your tracks are available across the platforms where discovery is happening.

The algorithm may be evolving, but the goal remains the same: helping the right people find your music.

Distribute your music to Instagram and other major streaming platforms for free with RouteNote today!

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Google is seeking to dismiss a copyright lawsuit brought by independent musicians over its Lyria 3 AI music model, arguing that music uploaded to YouTube is already licensed for uses that include AI training. The claim is part of a broader legal dispute over how far platform terms extend when it comes to generative AI.

The case, reported by Music Business Worldwide, centres on allegations that Google trained Lyria 3 on copyrighted recordings without permission. But Google’s defence hinges on a different interpretation. The company insists that artists granted permission when they uploaded their music to YouTube in the first place.

Google’s defence – YouTube terms already cover AI training

In its court filing, Google argues that YouTube’s Terms of Service give the platform and its “affiliates” a broad, royalty-free licence to use uploaded content in multiple ways.

As reported by Complete Music Update, Google says this includes the right to “reproduce, distribute and prepare derivative works”. Language, it believes, is wide enough to cover AI model training.

The company also points to the structure of Alphabet, noting that “affiliates” includes other divisions of Google itself. On that basis, it argues that Lyria 3 falls within the scope of rights already granted by users when they upload content to the platform.

Google further highlights the scale of its existing music ecosystem, including more than $8 billion paid to the music industry via YouTube over a 12-month period, positioning its AI development as part of the same broader platform activity.

Independent artists say AI training was never part of the deal

The musicians behind the lawsuit dispute that interpretation, arguing that uploading music for streaming and monetisation is not the same as granting permission for AI model training.

As covered by Digital Music News, the artists allege that their copyrighted recordings were used without authorisation to train Lyria 3, and that YouTube’s ownership structure gives Google additional leverage through systems like Content ID.

They also argue that there is no transparency around whether their specific works were used at all, meaning the claim rests on inference rather than confirmed evidence.

Google, however, counters that the lawsuit is built on what it calls an “unsupported hypothesis” that any of the plaintiffs’ recordings were actually included in training data.

Lyria 3 Pro and the expanding AI music push

This legal dispute comes at a time when Google is rapidly expanding its AI music tools. As we previously reported, Lyria 3 Pro represents a significant step forward in generative music technology, moving beyond short audio snippets into more structured, longer-form compositions.

The model can now generate tracks of up to three minutes and allows users to specify elements like intros, verses, and choruses. It is also being integrated across Google’s ecosystem, including Gemini and other AI tools.

Google says its approach to training data remains responsible, stating that it only uses materials it has the right to access under platform terms and partner agreements. It also claims safeguards are in place to prevent imitation of specific artists, alongside watermarking systems like SynthID.

What this means for independent artists

For independent musicians, the case highlights a growing gap between how platform terms are written and how creators interpret them. Uploading music to YouTube remains essential for discovery and income, but the legal rights attached to those uploads are increasingly under scrutiny as AI systems evolve.

If Google’s argument succeeds, it could reinforce the idea that existing platform licences already cover AI training use cases. If it fails, it may force platforms to rethink how AI development is separated from standard content licensing.

Either way, the outcome is likely to influence how digital distributors, streaming platforms, and AI developers define rights around music data going forward.

AI is moving faster than the law

Beyond the courtroom, the situation reflects a wider industry shift. AI-generated music is rapidly moving from short-form experimentation into full track creation, increasing the volume of synthetic content entering the market.

For artists, that raises ongoing questions around competition, originality, and how their work may be used within training datasets they have limited visibility over. As AI tools like Lyria 3 Pro continue to evolve, the tension between innovation and consent is only likely to intensify.

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