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The BRIT Awards will move to Manchester in 2026 and 2027, marking the first time the ceremony has taken place outside of London in its nearly-50 year history.
Co-op Live, the venue operated by Oak View Group, will host the event on Feb. 28, 2026 and be broadcast live on ITV 1 and ITV X; 2027’s date is yet to be confirmed.
The 2025 event was held in March at The O2 Arena in London, the ceremony’s home since 2012. The BRITs has been held at various venues in the capital including Earl’s Court (1996-2011), Alexandra Palace (1993-1995) and The Grosvenor Hotel (1982-1987).
The first event in 1977 was held at the Wembley Conference Centre, and the BRITs became a yearly occurrence from 1982 onwards; the 2021 event was the first major event to take place in the U.K. following the outbreak of the COVID pandemic a year prior.
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2026 marks the first event of the three-year stewardship under Sony Music U.K.; stewardship rotates between the three major labels, with the BRIT Committee overseeing the show’s creative direction. Damian Christian, the managing director and president of promotions at Atlantic Records, a Warner Music subsidiary, served as the chair of the BRIT Committee from 2022-2025.
“Moving to Manchester, the home of some of the most iconic and defining artists of our lifetime, will invigorate the show and build on the BRITs legacy of celebrating and reinvesting in world-class music,” says Jason Isley MBE, chairman and CEO, Sony Music U.K. & Ireland. “Hosting the show in Manchester, with its vibrant cultural history, perfectly captures the spirit and energy of the BRIT Awards. I can’t wait to see the show at the amazing state-of-the art Co-op Live venue.”
Despite a beleaguered opening which saw delays and cancellation of shows in April 2024, the Co-op Live has since established itself as a key player in the U.K. live music scene. In 2024, the venue hosted the MTV EMAs, and 2025’s live slate includes Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, The Creator and more. The venue’s 23,500 capacity makes it the largest indoor arena in Europe.
Tim Leiweke, co-founder and CEO of Oak View Group said: “The BRITs are the most important music event in the UK and were always the highlight of the year, not only because of its immense cultural contribution, but because of their commitment to improving the lives of youth through music. It is our honour to partner with our friends at BPI and Sony Music, alongside the great city of Manchester, to host the BRITs at Co-op Live and join in their mission to create opportunities for youth through music.”
The BRIT Awards regularly pulls big name performers, with 2025’s ceremony boasting live performances by Sabrina Carpenter, Lola Young, Teddy Swims and Sam Fender. Charli XCX, meanwhile, collected five awards on the night, including album of the year.
The move follows the relocation of the MOBO Awards in recent years to Coventry (2021) and Sheffield (2024), and the Mercury Prize which is set to be hosted in Newcastle’s Utilita Arena in September 2025.
Sony Music Publishing has acquired Hipgnosis Songs Group, multiple sources confirmed to Billboard. Emails obtained by Billboard under the subject line “Update from Sony Music Publishing” said that the company “has entered into an agreement with Recognition Music Group (‘RMG’) to acquire its subsidiary Hipgnosis Songs Group (‘HSG’), effective immediately.”
Hipgnosis Songs Group is one of the companies considered to be under the umbrella of Recognition Music, formerly known as Hipgnosis — which also included Hipgnosis Songs Fund and Hipgnosis Song Management — and is the subsidiary that has housed Big Deal Music and its administration business since the company acquired Big Deal in 2020.
The HSG catalog includes the 4,400 copyrights originally from Big Deal, including songs recorded by Shawn Mendes, Panic! At the Disco and One Direction. According to HSG’s Instagram page, their repertoire also includes publishing shares of songs like “Taste,” “Espresso” and “Feather” by Sabrina Carpenter; “Ordinary” by Alex Warren; “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims; and many more current hits.
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“With this agreement, Sony Music Publishing now owns and administers the Hipgnosis Songs Group catalog, serving as the full-service publisher for its clients and roster of songwriters globally,” the email to HSG songwriters, composers and clients reads.
The news of this deal arrives just three months after Hipgnosis rebranded under the new name Recognition Music Group, bringing the bundle of related Hipgnosis titles under one name and one roof. As part of that previous news, it was noted that Hipgnosis Songs Group was still under the ownership of Blackstone and that the company said the division was under strategic review. Billboard reported that Recognition was looking to partner with publishers and music companies for the administration of their assets.
Over the years, Hipgnosis has largely driven the movement to treat music as an attractive asset class for Wall Street investors, bidding sky-high prices for catalogs by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Neil Young, Lindsey Buckingham, Blondie, Justin Bieber and Journey, among others. But Hipgnosis Songs Fund, which was publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange since 2018, has had a rocky last few years. By 2023, HSF ultimately left its investors frustrated as its stock price fell and its dividend was cancelled. Eventually, in July 2024, HSF was sold to private equity giant Blackstone for $1.6 billion.
A rep for Recognition Music declined to comment. Reps for Sony Music Publishing did not immediately respond to Billboard’s requests for comment at press time.
The email notes that “over the next few months, we will be transitioning the company to SMP’s services and systems. We are working closely with HSG to ensure that all clients will receive the high level of service that you have come to expect.”
By acquiring hits owned or administered by HSG, Sony Music Publishing — which often ranks as the largest publisher by market share on the Hot 100 and Pop Radio Airplay charts on Billboard’s Publishers Quarterly — has become an even more dominant player in popular music.
Read an excerpt of the email below:
Dear Hipgnosis Songs Group Songwriters, Composers and Clients:
On behalf of Sony Music Publishing (“SMP”), we are pleased to inform you that Sony Music Publishing has entered into an agreement with Recognition Music Group (“RMG”) to acquire its subsidiary Hipgnosis Songs Group (“HSG”), effective immediately.
With this agreement, Sony Music Publishing now owns and administers the Hipgnosis Songs Group catalog, serving as the full-service publisher for its clients and roster of songwriters globally.
With a unique roster of contemporary songwriters and timeless classics, HSG aligns with SMP’s mission to elevate and support the work of the world’s most impactful songwriters, and we are honored to represent you and your songs.
Over the next few months, we will be transitioning the company to SMP’s services and systems. We are working closely with HSG to ensure that all clients will receive the high level of service that you have come to expect. No further action is required from you at this time.
In the meantime, your current HSG team remains available to address questions or creative inquiries. You can also reach HSG at HSGcreativeteam@hipgnosissongs.com. For the time being, your royalty payments will continue to be processed and distributed through HSG’s system and your current account access remains unchanged. We will reach out to you directly with important transition updates as they come.
Thank you. We look forward to working with you in this next chapter.
Sincerely,
The Sony Music Publishing Team
Khaby Lame, the most-followed personality on the popular TikTok social media platform, was detained by ICE officials at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, last Friday (June 6). According to ICE, Khaby Lame has since left the United States and has not made any public statements regarding the stop by the agency, and a MAGA influencer is claiming credit.
In a report from the AFP, Khaby Lame, 25, was detained by ICE at the airport, with officials citing immigration violation for the stop.
“US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Seringe Khabane Lame, 25, a citizen of Italy, June 6, at the Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada for immigration violations,” according to a statement that spokespeople for ICE gave to the AFP.
Khaby Lame catapulted to fame on TikTok for his silent videos and trademark palms-up gesture at the camera, garnering Lame 16.2 million followers on the TikTok platform. Lame has also leveraged his TikTok fame to establish brand deals outside the platform.
Bo Loundon, a rising MAGA influencer whose feed is replete with attacks on anyone that he perceives as a threat to President Donald Trump’s vision of America, claimed that he has worked alongside the Department of Homeland Security to have Lame detained.
“BREAKING: Far-left ILLEGAL ALIEN TikToker Khaby Lame was just ARRESTED and is now in ICE custody under President Trump,” Loudon tweeted on Friday. “I discovered he was an illegal who overstayed an invalid VISA, evaded taxes, and I personally took action to have him deported. No one is above the law!”
Loudon also shared an X post sharing a similar statement to the one given to the AFP. However, it does not confirm an arrest, and Lame was granted voluntary departure on June 6. It does appear that Loudon’s claim of an arrest was largely exaggerated. We also searched ICE’s arrest database, and it did not turn up any results on Lame.
On X, the reactions to Khaby Lame’s arrest and Bo Loudon’s alleged involvement, with some users calling Loudon’s claims false, have turned up. We’ve got them listed below.
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Mariah Carey‘s “Type Dangerous” tops this week’s new music poll. In a poll published Friday (June 6) on Billboard, music fans chose the superstar singer’s latest single as their favorite new release of the week. The confident, percussion-heavy track pulled in nearly 70% of the vote, outpacing new music from Sabrina Carpenter (“Manchild”), Ed Sheeran […]
Day three of CMA Fest’s nighttime concert series at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium started right on time at 8 p.m. on Saturday (June 7), following a rain delay the night before. This time, there were clear, but slightly cloudy Nashville skies, with no rain in sight as another round of top artists took to the stage. […]
Wayne Lewis, a founding member of the R&B group Atlantic Starr, has died at the age of 68.
The band confirmed his passing in a social media post on Friday (June 7), noting that the musician died on Thursday. No cause of death has been disclosed.
“It’s with great sadness we have to post the passing of Wayne Lewis on June 5, 2025,” Atlantic Starr wrote on Facebook. “Please keep the family in your prayers and respect their privacy #waynelewis #restinpeace #flyhigh Sunrise 4/13/1957 Sunset 6/5/2025 #restinpeaceWayne.”
Lewis served as a vocalist and keyboardist for Atlantic Starr, which he co-founded in 1976 in White Plains, N.Y., alongside his brothers David Lewis (vocals, guitar) and Jonathan Lewis (keyboards, trombone), as well as drummer Porter Carroll Jr., bassist Clifford Archer and percussionist-flutist Joseph Phillips.
Other early members included lead singer Sharon Bryant, trumpeter William Sudderth III and saxophonist Damon Rentie. Bryant and Rentie were later replaced by Barbara Weathers and Koran Daniels, respectively.
Atlantic Starr became a fixture in R&B throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. The group signed with A&M Records (and later to Warner Bros. Records, among other labels), releasing their self-titled debut album in 1978, followed by their sophomore effort, Straight to the Point, the next year.
The band achieved its first top 10 hit on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with “Circles” (No. 2) from the 1982 album Brilliance. Their biggest commercial success came in 1987 when “Always,” from 1986’s All in the Name of Love, reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Atlantic Starr earned a total of three top 10 hits on the Hot 100 and 11 top 10s on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. “My First Love” in 1989 was their only other No. 1 on the latter chart.
In recent years, Atlantic Starr continued to perform with Lewis and current members Jonathan Lewis, Melessa Pierce and Shammah Carter. The group’s most recent album, Metamorphosis, was released in 2017.
Following the announcement of Lewis’ death, fans flooded social media with heartfelt tributes and condolences.
“His band gave my generation so much listening pleasure,” one fan wrote. Another shared, “Nooooo I am devastated seeing this. My condolences to all family and friends.” A third commenter added, “A great songwriter. Atlantic Starr was better once he became leader. He will be missed.”
Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem is No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated June 14) for a third consecutive week, following its debut atop the list dated May 31. It earned 246,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending June 5 (down 14%), according to Luminate. It’s the largest third week for an album in over a year, since Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department earned 282,000 in its third frame (May 18, 2024-dated chart).
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Also in the top 10 of the latest Billboard 200, new albums from SEVENTEEN and Miley Cyrus debut, while Swift’s chart-topping reputation, released in 2017, returns, zooming 78-5. The latter benefits from an outpouring of fan support following the news that Swift had acquired her Big Machine Records catalog, inclusive of reputation.
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The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, 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. The new June 14, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on June 10. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Of I’m the Problem’s 246,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending June 5, SEA units comprise 229,000 (down 11%, equaling 298.41 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs — it leads Top Streaming Albums for a third week), album sales comprise 15,500 (down 45% — it falls from No. 1 to No. 3 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise 1,500 (down 17%).
At No. 2 on the Billboard 200, SEVENTEEN scores their seventh top 10-charting album, as SEVENTEEN 5th Album HAPPY BURSTDAY debuts. The set launches with 48,500 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 46,000 (it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 2,500 (equaling 3.26 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. The set’s album sales were aided by its availability across 14 CD variants, all containing collectible paper ephemera, some randomized.
SZA’s chart-topping SOS falls 2-3 on the Billboard 200 with 46,000 equivalent album units earned (down 3%).
Miley Cyrus achieves her 15th top 10-charting set on the Billboard 200 as Something Beautiful bows at No. 4. It starts with 44,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 27,000 (it debuts at No. 2 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 17,000 (equaling 22.18 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. (Cyrus’ tally of 15 top 10s is inclusive of her albums billed to her Disney Channel character Hannah Montana.)
Something Beautiful’s first-week sales were bolstered by its availability across six vinyl variants (including one signed, sold in Cyrus’ webstore), a standard CD, a signed CD (exclusive to Cyrus’ webstore) and two deluxe CD boxed sets (sold via her webstore, each containing branded merch and a copy of the album).
The album was preceded by the Billboard Hot 100-charting song “End of the World,” which debuted and peaked at No. 52 in April. It also became a top 20 hit on the Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and Adult Contemporary charts.
Taylor Swift’s chart-topping reputation rallies 78-5 with 42,000 equivalent album units earned (up 221%). It’s the album’s first week in the top 10 since the Aug. 4, 2018-dated chart (when it ranked at No. 9), the set’s highest rank since the Jan. 27, 2018, chart (when it was No. 5) and its best week by units earned since the Jan. 13, 2018, chart, when it tallied 48,000 (at No. 3). The album debuted at No. 1 on the Dec. 2, 2017-dated chart and spent four nonconsecutive weeks atop the list.
Of reputation’s 42,000 units earned in the latest tracking week, SEA units comprise 27,000 (up 125%, equaling 34.75 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it reenters Top Streaming Albums at No. 10), album sales comprise 15,000 (up 1,184%, it reenters Top Album Sales at No. 4) and TEA units comprise less than 500 units. The album rallies up the list following fan support of the project after Swift announced that she had acquired her Big Machine-era catalog, including reputation.
Rounding out the top 10 of the Billboard 200 are five former No. 1s: Wallen’s One Thing at a Time falls 4-6 (40,000; down 3%); Kendrick Lamar’s GNX drops 3-7 (39,000; down 7%); Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet dips 6-8 (37,000; though up 1%); PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U descends 7-9 (34,000; down 4%); and Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos falls 8-10 (33,000; down 7%).
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
From a surprise David Byrne appearance to an explosive encore, Rodrigo delivered a guts-spilling, house-burning headlining set at the NYC festival.
“We’re in for nasty weather,” prophesied David Byrne 42 years ago on his band Talking Heads‘ biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit. He probably wasn’t making specific predictions about 2025’s Governors Ball festival in New York, but that’s certainly what was in store for attendees Saturday (June 7), as heavy rain and possible thunder and lightning […]
Gray skies and drizzle gave way to sunshine, multicolored flags and celebrations as the nation’s capital held the WorldPride parade Saturday (June 7).
Tens of thousands of people participated in parades and other festivities, in defiance of what activists say is an unprecedented assault on the LGBTQ+ community that challenges the rights for which many have fought over the years.
A rainbow flag the length of three football fields flowed through the streets, carried by 500 members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., to kick off the parade. Behind them, people waved Pride flags and flags representing the transgender, asexual and bisexual communities from atop a bus.
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Singer-songwriter and actor Reneé Rapp laughed and blew kisses from the back of a pickup truck draped with a transgender flag while Laverne Cox, a transgender actress and activist known for her role in Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, waved from an open convertible.
“Pride means us looking out for each other no matter what,” she declared to the crowd as the convertible rolled to a stop. “We know how to be there for each other.”
Many LGBTQ+ travelers have expressed concerns or decided to skip WorldPride due to anxieties about safety, border policies and a hostile political climate that they say hearkens back to another time. But that did not keep international travelers and other participants away, with groups visible from Iran, Namibia, Kenya and Russia.Along the parade route, hundreds gathered outside the National City Christian Church as rainbow flags and balloons lined its steps and columns. A child with rainbow face paint blew bubbles at the base of the steps while Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” blared from loudspeakers.
“D.C. is already one of the biggest cities in the country for celebrating Pride,” said Cheo White, 33, from Annapolis, Maryland, “But we are all collectively more united and turning out more because of what’s happening in the White House.”
Many have said the gathering has taken on a new meaning amid the Trump administration’s aggressive policies against protections for transgender Americans and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
White’s partner, Nick Kerver, 26, who was visiting from Toledo, Ohio, said Pride has “always been a political tool” but has taken on more importance this year amid mounting threats to the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender and nonbinary Americans.
“It feels more important than ever,” Kerver said while wearing a rainbow hat, sunglasses and a T-shirt. “But we also have to get involved in our local communities too.“
David Begler, a 58-year-old gay man from Philadelphia, expressed disappointment that many international travelers felt unsafe visiting D.C. for WorldPride but said he appreciates its presence in the city during this political climate.
“It’s the perfect time to have WorldPride in D.C.,” Begler said. “We need it right now. I want us to send a message to the White House to focus on uplifting each other instead of dividing.“
Stay DeRoux, 36, usually plans a day trip to D.C. Pride from her home in Fredericksburg, Virginia. But this year, she and her wife, Deenie DeRoux, planned a full weekend. “This is a really big year,” Stay DeRoux said. “There’s been a lot of turmoil. So it’s an amazing thing to be among allies, among people who love because we’ve experienced so much hate on a daily basis.”
For the day, the idea of threats and opposition took a backseat to the celebration. Streets were closed, but filled with floats, and impromptu parties broke out with music and food in streets adjoining the parade route. Cynthia Erivo was set to perform on the Capitol Stag following the parade.
Johnny Cervantes Jr., dressed in a black suit and top hat, headed to a grandstand at a church-themed float to marry his partner of 28 years, Freddie Lutz, owner of Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant in Arlington, Virginia.
Events culminate Sunday with a rally and protest march and a giant street party and concert (headlined by Doechii) covering a multi-block stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue.
“This is WorldPride in the best city in the world,” Mayor Muriel Bowser declared as she walked the parade hand-in-hand with her daughter, Miranda.
