First-round voting for the 68th annual Grammy nominations started Friday and continues through Oct. 15, according to Billboard. The publication has also revealed which acts are eligible to be nominated for the prestigious best new artist Grammy this year.
According to Billboard, 337 artists are vying for a nomination in that category this year. Among them are Alex Warren, Myles Smith, Sombr, Olivia Dean, Gigi Perez, Jessie Murph and Lola Young.
Also on the list: Ravyn Lenae, Addision Rae, BigXthaPlug, KATSEYE, Role Model, Djo, The Marías, Mariah the Scientist and Leon Thomas.
Nominees must have released at least five tracks or one album, and they can’t be nominated in the category more than three times. The nominees will be announced Nov. 7, with the Grammys taking place Feb. 1, 2026, in LA.
Tom Petty performs onstage during the 2017 MusiCares Person of the Year honors Tom Petty held on February 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
Thursday marked the eighth anniversary of Tom Petty’s death, and his Heartbreakers bandmates Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench and Stan Lynch paid tribute to him with posts on Instagram.
Campbell posted a video that he captioned, “My thoughts on October 2, 2025.” In it, he strums his guitar as he shares his feelings about missing his friend.
“It’s been eight years, and these are my thoughts today. Time passes, things change, memories always remain. Dreams go on forever, from dawn to dawn,” he says. “The music we made together goes on and on and on. I miss you, brother. There is no other like you.”
He thanks Petty for being his friend and believing in him, noting he “will always be grateful for the friendship you gave to me.”
Campbell ends the video by saying, “So wherever you are, near or far. Your vibration lives in my guitar. The music never dies.”
Tench shared a black-and-white photo of Petty in his post, writing that it was taken at Big Daddy’s Cin City Lounge in Gainesville, Florida, with Tench guessing it was in 1973.
“even eight years later, i still can’t find the words to express how i feel,” he writes. “i owe you, miss you, and love you more than i could ever say. i hope you’re traveling to wonderful places.”
Lynch also shared a photo, one of him and Petty together, writing, “We were kids in 1976. First tour of England. No clue what was in store. Locked together. Bonded by the music. Tommy was my dear friend and I’ll miss him until we meet again.”
Joey Bada$$ on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Disney/Randy Holmes
It’s nearing the 15-year mark in his music career, and Joey Bada$$ is still motivated and hungry. He attributes the feeling to finding ways to keep the making-music process exciting.
“I think experimentation [keeps me motivated],” he tells XXL. “What haven’t I done yet? What haven’t I challenged myself to do yet, and, going for those things, you know what I’m saying? ’Cause that feels new and exciting for me. It has been a long time, for sure. But I think just the element of surprise.”
That experimentation shows up in “3 Feet Away” from his latest project, Lonely at the Top. He’s heard rapping and singing on the track, a decision he explains to the publication.
“I think if it doesn’t grow, it dies. I’m a firm believer in that. So, I’m always looking to grow and to expand,” Joey says. “I like to look at music in a food type of analogy, right? Where it’s like people go to the restaurants that they like. You go to an Italian restaurant for Italian food. And I do have that understanding, but at the same time, I think that I’m always trying to find ways to introduce my consumer base to new dishes.”
Joey is also big on lyricism, noting he’s happy people are paying attention to lyrics again.
“There was a point in my career where I deliberately was like, OK, let me focus on songs because I’m putting a lot into these lyrics, and people are not getting it,” he says. “You don’t get that artistic satisfaction when you feel like your art is not being appreciated properly. … So, I’m glad that we’re back at a point where it’s like, oh, so, y’all listening now. Y’all actually are breaking down double entendres now. OK cool. Watch me cook.”
Paul Arthurs of Oasis performs onstage during the Oasis Live ’25 World Tour at Rose Bowl Stadium on September 06, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Oasis guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs will miss the band’s upcoming shows in Asia and Australia as he continues to receive treatment for prostate cancer.
Arthurs, who’s been playing alongside the Gallagher brothers on their reunion tour since it launched in July, shares in an Instagram post Friday that he was diagnosed earlier in 2025.
“The good news is I’m responding really well to treatment, which meant I could be part of this incredible tour,” Arthurs writes. “Now, I am having to take a planned break for the next phase of my care, so I’ll be missing the gigs in Seoul, Tokyo, Melbourne and Sydney.”
Arthurs adds that he plans to be back with Oasis for their South American shows beginning in mid-November.
“I’m really sad to be missing these shows but I’m feeling good and will be back ready to go in time for South America,” Arthurs says. “Have an amazing time if you’re going this month and I’ll see you back onstage with the band in November.”
Oasis also posted Arthurs’ statement to their Instagram Story, adding, “Wishing you all the best with your treatment … we’ll see you back on stage in South America.”
Arthurs is an original member of Oasis and played with the band until 1999. He rejoined the group upon its reformation in 2024, which marked the end of the long-running feud between Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher.
Arthurs was previously diagnosed with tonsil cancer in 2022. He said that the cancer was gone later that year.
Oasis, meanwhile, just released the 30th anniversary reissue of their 1995 album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, which features a bonus unplugged edition of the classic “Wonderwall.”
Just hours after selling out Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, Lainey Wilson dropped a surprise holiday track.
The reigning ACM entertainer of the year duets with legendary crooner Bing Crosby on a new version of “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” In 2021 Lainey put out her cover of George Strait‘s “Christmas Cookies.”
She’ll be back at the Bridgestone before the holidays, however, as she returns to host the 59th CMA Awards on Nov. 19, where she’s up for six trophies.
On Oct. 10 Lainey takes her Whirlwind World Tour to New York City for a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden.
R.E.M.’s Peter Buck has once again collaborated with musician Joseph Arthur under the moniker Buck Arthur, releasing their second album, Arthur Buck 2.
Coinciding with the album’s Friday release, Buck Arthur has dropped a video for the track “Where Did You Go?,” a black-and-white clip that follows Arthur as he runs down a tree-lined road while singing the song.
Arthur Buck 2 is the follow-up to the artists’ 2018 self-titled release. The new album was produced by Jacknife Lee, who produced R.E.M.’s 2008 album, Accelerate, as well as their final album, 2011’s Collapse Into Now.
But that’s not the only music we’re getting from Buck. He is part of the new band Drink The Sea, which also features Screaming Trees‘ Barrett Martin, Eleven‘s Alain Johannes and others. The second part of their self-titled debut album, Drink The Sea II, is out now. It features 11 new songs recorded at the same time as Drink The Sea I, which was released in September.
The group is set to launch a U.S. tour in 2026, kicking off Jan. 30 in Seattle.
Jonah Kagen performs at The Chapel on March 29, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Steve Jennings/Getty Images)
Jonah Kagen has announced a U.S. headlining tour for 2026.
The outing begins Jan. 20 in Indianapolis and concludes March 28 in Austin, Texas. Presales begin Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. local time, and tickets go on sale to the general public on Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. local time.
For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit JonahKagen.com.
Kagen released his debut album, Sunflowers and Leather, in September. His breakout single, “God Needs the Devil,” hit #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in May.
‘Don’t Go in the Forest’ album artwork. (Black Waltz Records)
Avatar has released a new song called “Death and Glitz,” a track off the band’s upcoming album, Don’t Go in the Forest.
“‘Death and Glitz’ is a song about perversion and detachment,” says frontman Johannes Eckerström. “A homeless, young runaway collapses and dies on a dancefloor. The crime scene tape becomes a red velvet rope. The investigator’s camera flashes like paparazzi on the red carpet. We love her for dying. Now, she’s perfect. Obedient. Anything you want.”
Don’t Go in the Forest is due out on Halloween, Oct. 31. It also includes the previously released tracks “Captain Goat,” “Tonight We Must Be Warriors” and “In the Airwaves.”
Blxst has released his new song, “Aye Girl,” where he questions whether his woman will wait if he puts love on hold to pursue his goals. “Aye girl, you the only thing real in this fake world,” he croons. “Know you want me sitting still, but I can’t, girl/ I ain’t sinning, I been in and out the bank, girl/ I’m hoping God go to work when you pray, girl/ Look, even though I’m staying dangerous, I’m safe, girl/ You know the trials come with greatness, okay, girl/ Yeah, I just want to know if you gon’ wait, girl/ For me.”
Ledisi pays tribute to Queen of the Blues Dinah Washington on her new album, For Dinah, where she reworks some of the singer’s songs. The album has been eight years in the making, according to her posts on social media.
Mariah the Scientist fights for love in court in the new video for her song “Is It a Crime” featuring Kali Uchis. Karrahbooo is the defendant, represented by Kali and Mariah. Kali and Mariah also team for Kali’s new song “Pretty Promises.”
Coi Leray dropped “Act Like You Know” featuring Shoreline Mafia. The video finds Coi turning up at a house party, where men attempt to get her attention. Her daughter, Miyoco, makes a quick cameo in the video.
Taylor Swift ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ (Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott/TAS Rights Management)
We are all Showgirls today. Here’s a roundup of some of the latest Taylor Swift news:
To the surprise of no one, Taylor Swift‘s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, has broken the record for the most-streamed album in a single day in 2025. It took just 11 hours to break the previous record.
Will Taylor tour behind The Life of a Showgirl? Right now, she just can’t even. During an interview with BBC Radio 1 on Friday, she was asked if she had the “itch” to hit the road again. “No,” she said. “I’m gonna be really honest with you. Like, I am so tired, like when I think about doing it again. Because I would want to do it really, really well again.” In the same interview, she revealed she’s having a destination wedding.
And speaking of the Eras Tour, when Taylor spoke with the U.K.’s Heart Radio, she was interviewed by none other than the Spice Girls‘ Baby Spice, Emma Bunton. Taylor, who told Emma that she used to play with her Baby Spice doll as a kid, said seeing Emma’s name on the guest list at the Eras Tour “blew me away.” “You just mean the world to me,” she said.
Several major food franchises are capitalizing on Friday’s Showgirl release. Krispy Kreme is selling a “Spotlight Dozen” of 12 donuts — six in Showgirl orange, six swirled with Showgirl green icing — for $12 on Friday only. Starbucks, meanwhile, is having a “global listening party,” playing the new album and “Starbucks Lovers” playlists at participating stores. Plus, one Starbucks in Nashville has transformed itself into The Life of a ShowgirlStarbies coffeehouse, complete with record store, photo book, friendship bracelets and glitter sprinkles for your drink.
