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Exceleration Music has announced an agreement to acquire Cooking Vinyl, a key independent music company in the U.K. market (Jun. 9).
The move is the latest by Exceleration, lead by former Concorde CEO Glen Barros alongside influential executives John Burk, Amy Dietz, Charles Caldas and Dave Hansen, to consolidate its standing in the independent music space, offering distribution, investment and label support services.
In 2023, Exceleration also acquired distribution company Redeye Worldwide, joining existing labels such as +1 Records, Alligator, Azadi, Bloodshot, Candid, Kill Rock Stars, Mom+Pop, Redeye Worldwide, SideOneDummy, The Ray Charles Foundation/Tangerine Records and Yep Roc Records in Exceleration’s portfolio.
Cooking Vinyl originated in 1993 with its signing of folk troubadour and activist Billy Bragg, and over its 32-year history, has worked with acts such as Shed Seven, Suzanne Vega, Passenger, The Prodigy, The Cranberries, The Darkness, Deacon Blue, 47 Soul, Roger Waters and The Jesus and Mary Chain.
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In 2024, Cooking Vinyl enjoyed a pair of No. 1 albums with two separate LPs by Shed Seven hitting the top spot on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart: January’s A Matter of Time and September’s Liquid Gold. In February 2025, The Darkness hit No. 2 with Dreams on Toast.
A press release adds that Cooking Vinyl will operate independently and continue to be led by managing director Rob Collins, with founder Martin Goldschmidt remaining in his position as chairman. Cooking Vinyl Publishing UK, Cooking Vinyl Publishing Australia and Motus Music, the statement continues, are not included within the acquisition.
“At Cooking Vinyl, we’ve worked tirelessly to help our artists achieve both artistic and commercial success — without ever compromising their uniqueness or creative control. This deal enhances that mission,” says Collins in a statement.
“Our artists will still benefit from our close-knit, highly personalised team that combines deep industry expertise with old-fashioned hard graft. But now, with the expanded U.S. capabilities, enhanced resources, and the broader global reach of the Exceleration structure, we’re able to offer even stronger support to our current and future roster. I look forward to working with their team to spearhead this next phase for Cooking Vinyl!”
There’s some new kids in town on Good Morning America‘s 2025 summer concert series lineup, with New Kids on the Block, Laufey and more acts locked in to perform on the program over the next few months.
As shared exclusively with Billboard, the show’s annual string of mid-year live performances will kick off June 12, with the “Step by Step” boy band delivering what will be the last concert inside GMA‘s Times Square studio. After that, “Whole Lotta Money” rapper BIA and “No Limit” artist G-Eazy will take the stage July 18 at an outdoor venue in Indianapolis ahead of tipoff at the WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and Colombian singer Manuel Turizo becomes the first artist to perform at GMA‘s new studio downtown on Aug. 1.
The next two weeks after that will see punk-rock band Good Charlotte and the Icelandic “From the Start” singer performing at the new studio on Aug. 8 and 15, respectively. Fresh off of a memorable performance at the 2025 American Music Awards, Gloria Estefan will take the stage on Aug. 22, followed by Dierks Bentley on Aug. 27, and Teyana Taylor on Aug. 29.
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“We’re thrilled to host this year’s Summer Concert Series in our brand-new, state-of-the-art studio,” said Simone Swink, senior executive producer of Good Morning America. “It’s an exciting chapter for us, and we can’t wait to welcome incredible artists and our viewers into our home, right here in the heart of downtown Manhattan.”
All of the performances listed will broadcast live during GMA, which airs from 7 to 9 a.m. ET on ABC. This year’s programming follows a 2024 lineup that featured Green Day, Carrie Underwood, Nicky Jam, Kane Brown, G-Eazy, Sofi Tukker, Megan Moroney and Old Dominion. Before that, BTS’ Jung Kook, Carly Rae Jepson, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Remy Ma, Tim McGraw and more performed for the morning show in 2025.
See the full 2025 GMA summer concert schedule below.
June 12 – New Kids on the Block
July 18 – BIA & G-Eazy
Aug. 1 – Manuel Turizo
Aug. 8 – Good Charlotte
Aug. 15 – Laufey
Aug. 22 – Gloria Estefan
Aug. 27 – Dierks Bentley
Aug. 29 – Teyana Taylor
If you were a British boy band fan of a certain age, then Friday night’s Robbie Williams gig at Emirates Stadium in London was Christmas and New Year’s wrapped into one. Not only did Williams rock the crowd with his set of massive hits, including “Let Me Entertain You,” “Rock DJ” and “Love My Life,” but midway through the first act he brought out some fellow boy band survivors for a very special cameo that blew the crowd’s minds.
In the first live performance of the full group in 25 years, Williams welcomed 1990s British lad band favorites 5ive — Jason Brown, Sean Conlon, Abz Love, Ritchie Neville and Scott Robinson — out on stage to sing their beloved 1995 “Keep on Movin.’” Former Take That member Williams teased the surprise by beginning to sing the song himself before admitting to the audience, “I don’t remember the words to this next bit. I wonder if anyone can help me out? Ladies and gentlemen, the first time they’ve been seen on stage for 25 years, my mates, 5ive!”
The men then came out and bounced across the stage as they sang the buoyant pop hit alongside Williams, who was dressed in red track pants and a matching tank top. “Give them so f–kin’ love!” Williams shouted after the shock pop-in.
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In a post-show carousel featuring pics of the guys posting with Williams, 5ive wrote, “Wow, what an honour to be asked by @robbiewilliams to join him on stage at his London stadium show. Rob has been such a big supporter of ours, from the early days through to our comeback, so when he reached out to ask whether we’d come out on stage for his performance of ‘Keep On Movin’,’ it was the EASIEST yes. To get to share that moment with @robbiewilliams infront of 60,000 people was crazy… definitely a version of ‘Keep On Movin’’ we’ll never forget.”
Back in February, 5ive — who originally formed in 1997 after its members answered an ad seeking young male singer/dancers with “attitude and edge” — revealed that they are reuniting for a full-force fall U.K. tour slated to kick off on Oct. 31 at the Brighton Centre in Brighton. “This has been a long time coming and it really does feel right for all of us now – 25 years on and we’re so ready for it,” they wrote on Instagram at the time. “We really can’t wait to get back on stage together and see you all in person, it’s gonna go OFF!! Let’s goooooo!
5ive split following the release of their third album, Kingsize, in 2001, then attempted a comeback in 2006 before properly reuniting, without Brown, in 2012 for the first in a series of comeback tours.
After the release earlier this year of his unconventional biopic Better Man, Williams announced the name of his upcoming 13th solo studio album, Britpop, which is due out in the fall.
Check out fan footage of the 5ive reunion at Williams’ show below.
The “Powerpuff Girls of Pop” descended on Barcelona, Spain this past weekend (June 5-7).
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has shared a message of support amid protesters rallying against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Trump administration’s recent deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles.
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On Sunday evening (June 8), Armstrong posted a protest snippet from downtown L.A. via Instagram Stories, captioned with a middle-finger emoji and an ice cube. The clip featured a live recording of “F— Off,” a track from Saviors (Édition de Luxe), the deluxe version of Green Day’s 2024 album, released in May 2025.
The post comes amid increasing criticism of federal raids across Southern California, which saw ICE agents detaining dozens of individuals alleged to be undocumented immigrants. The crackdown was quickly followed by the unrequested deployment of National Guard troops to L.A., marking one of the first times in modern history that the Guard was sent to a state without the governor’s approval.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom slammed the move as a “serious breach of state sovereignty” in a letter issued Sunday afternoon, while L.A. Mayor Karen Bass echoed that sentiment, calling the situation “provoked chaos” during a press conference.
Armstrong’s statement also follows comments from Finneas, who claimed he was tear-gassed while attending what he described as a “very peaceful protest” in downtown L.A.
The Grammy-winning producer and artist posted several Instagram stories, writing: “Tear-gassed almost immediately at the very peaceful protest downtown — they’re inciting this.” Finneas also reposted a video showing 9News Australia correspondent Lauren Tomasi being struck in the leg by a rubber bullet while reporting live from the scene.
The protests began Friday in response to ICE raids at several Los Angeles-area businesses. By Sunday, the National Guard had arrived in the city, and images of heavily armed officers confronting peaceful demonstrators, including journalists and musicians, began flooding social media.
For Armstrong, this latest act of resistance fits squarely within a decades-long tradition of speaking out against institutional injustice. Green Day’s discography is filled with political commentary, from the anti-Bush sentiment of American Idiot to more recent critiques of gun violence and authoritarianism.
Questions we asked, quips we heard and what we learned backstage at the 78th annual Tonys.
Finneas has spoken out after being tear-gassed while attending what he called a “very peaceful” protest in downtown Los Angeles.
Finneas has spoken out after being tear-gassed while attending what he called a “very peaceful” protest in downtown Los Angeles.
The Grammy-winning artist and producer took to Instagram on Sunday (June 8) to describe the scene, where protesters rallied against recent mass ICE raids in Southern California. “Tear-gassed almost immediately at the very peaceful protest downtown. They’re inciting this,” he wrote on his Story, referring to escalating tensions sparked by federal agents and military presence in the city.
The protest was one of several erupting across the city after President Donald Trump ordered National Guard troops into L.A. — a move that California officials called unconstitutional and inflammatory.
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Among the scenes shared by Finneas: a viral video showing Australian 9News reporter Lauren Tomasi being struck by a rubber bullet while covering the unrest. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department fired rounds of crowd control munitions to disperse those gathered, with one hitting Tomasi in the leg, prompting her to cry out and grab her calf while continuing to report.
9News later issued a statement confirming the incident and affirming the safety of Tomasi and her camera operator. “While reporting from protests in Los Angeles, 9News reporter Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet,” the statement read. “This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information.”
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California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the deployment in a letter sent to the White House on Sunday, calling it “a serious breach of state sovereignty.” He was in Los Angeles meeting with law enforcement and local leaders but did not confirm if he had spoken with Trump since the raids began.
“What we’re seeing in Los Angeles is chaos that is provoked by the administration,” said Mayor Karen Bass in an afternoon press conference. “This is about another agenda — this isn’t about public safety.”
The White House quickly fired back. “It’s a bald-faced lie for Newsom to claim there was no problem in Los Angeles before President Trump got involved,” said spokesperson Abigail Jackson in a statement.
Finneas, who has previously used his platform to advocate for immigrant rights and social justice, also encouraged military personnel to resist unconstitutional orders. He shared the GI Rights Hotline — 1-877-447-4487 — along with a message soundtracked by Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.”
The protest he attended was one of several that grew increasingly tense over the weekend, including one outside a federal building where immigrants were reportedly detained after arriving for routine check-ins with ICE. Lawyers say some detainees were escorted to basement holding areas without notice.
Kylie Minogue is the latest musician – and the first female performer – to join the prestigious ’21 Club’ at London’s O2 Arena.
As per Rolling Stone Australia, the honor is bestowed upon performers who have performed 21 or more sold-out shows at the English venue. For Minogue, the admission to the club follows on from her four recent performances at the venue as part of her global Tension Tour – bringing her final tally to 24.
The club was first launched in 2007 to mark Prince‘s record-breaking run of 21 sold-out shows at the venue, and since then only seven other performers have been inducted, including Michael Bublé, Take That, One Direction, Drake, Young Voices, Micky Flanagan and Michael McIntyre.
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Michael Jackson‘s 50-date This Is It residency would have seen him become the second artist inducted into the club, though these shows were cancelled following his premature death in June 2009.
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Minogue first performed at the venue in July 2008, just over a year on from its initial opening, and will receive a bespoke “key to the venue” as part of her induction.
“The ‘O2 21 Club.’ London …. you know how much I love you already but THISSSS was special,” Minogue wrote of the honor on social media. “To be the first female headliner to make the club and join PRINCE!!! Wowwwwwww. THANK YOU.”
“It’s a huge achievement to join the exclusive 21 Club at The O2, and we couldn’t be happier that Kylie is the first female to do so,” added Emma Bownes, Senior Vice President of Venue Programming at AEG Europe.
“She is a phenomenon, a true music icon, and we’re beyond grateful she’s brought so many of her incredible tours here. We hope there are plenty more to come.”
Minogue’s impressive feat follows on from another legacy-related milestone in February, where she was honored with a star at the Melbourne Park sporting complex in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia.
Coinciding with the third of three consecutive performances at the city’s 14,820-capacity Rod Laver Arena, it also coincided with Minogue’s first performance at the venue back in Feb. 1990 when it was then known as the National Tennis Centre.
Since her debut at Rod Laver Arena 35 years ago, Minogue has gone on to play 30 shows at Melbourne Park, amassing sales of more than 350,000 tickets in the process. Her three recent dates brought that total to 33 performances with an additional 36,000 ticket sales, making her one of the most successful artists to ever perform at the Melbourne destination.
Minogue’s Tension tour continues throughout Europe across June and July, before wrapping in South America the following month.
The Queens, New York-set music festival, founded in 2011, took place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park for the third straight year.
New music from Tame Impala appears to be on the way, with Kevin Parker giving fans a preview of fresh material during a DJ set in Barcelona.
Parker – who formed the Tame Impala project in Perth, Western Australia in 2007 – gave his dedicated fans a taster of new music while in Spain over the weekend. Having made an unannounced appearance at Primavera Sound on Friday (June 6), Parker performed a surprise DJ set the following night at Barcelona’s Nitsa Club.
It was during this latter set that Parker turned his focus to previously unheard material. “You guys want to hear a new song? “You want to hear a new Tame Impala song?” he asked.
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“You’re going to be the first ones to hear it, you realize? There’s no going back from this point on, you realize?” he added. “Alright, let’s do it; get comfortable.”
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Notably, the resulting tune was somewhat removed from what dedicated fans may have expected from the project, with it maintaining many of the dreamy, psychedelic rock influences that have become synonymous with Parker’s music, though adding club-ready beats into the mix.
As it stands, it’s been five years since the last full-length release from Tame Impala. In February 2020, The Slow Rush became the project’s fourth studio record, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. This was one position higher than the previous album, 2015’s Currents, which served as a commercial breakthrough for Parker.
In the time since the last record, Parker has been busy with myriad other projects. In 2023, second album Lonerism would receive a tenth anniversary reissue, and would be followed by the release of the track “Journey to the Real World” for the Barbie soundtrack.
Additionally, Tame Impala would also be credited with remixes of songs from Crowded House and Elvis Presley, and would appear as a guest artist on cuts from Diana Ross and Gorillaz.
In 2024, Parker would serve as a producer and guest musician for Dua Lipa‘s Radical Optimism album, and would also serve as a guest artist on two tracks from French outfit Justice‘s Hyperdrama album. One of those collaborations, “Neverender,” would see Parker win his first Grammy for best dance/electronic recording in 2025.
