Weekly International Music News Roundup: December 20–26, 2025
What a week it's been in the music world! From chart domination to health scares, reunion rumors to cyber attacks, this past week had it all. Let's dive into the biggest stories that had everyone talking.
Chart Domination & Holiday Hits
Taylor Swift is absolutely crushing it right now. Her album The Life of a Showgirl just hit its 10th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making her the first woman ever to have four different albums reach that milestone. That's some serious staying power – and probably means her merch is flying off the shelves too.
Meanwhile, 21 Savage made a strong entrance at No. 3 with his new project WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STREETS? The album's been getting solid reviews and shows he's still got that street credibility mixed with commercial appeal that fans love.
But let's talk about the real Christmas queen – Mariah Carey. Her eternal holiday banger "All I Want for Christmas Is You" just hit a mind-blowing 21st week at No. 1 on the Hot 100. That's her 100th career week on top of the chart, which is honestly insane when you think about it. This song literally prints money every December.
The holiday spirit was strong across the charts this week, with six Christmas albums filling the top 10. Michael Bublé's Christmas continues to be a seasonal favorite, proving that some albums just never get old.
Over in the UK, Kylie Minogue snagged the festive No. 1 single, beating out Wham!'s "Last Christmas" for the top spot. Not bad for the pop princess – that's definitely going to make her holiday extra special.
Artist News That Got Everyone Talking
Barry Manilow shared some concerning news this week. The legendary performer announced he'll be undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous spot from his lung. The good news? Doctors say the cancer hasn't spread, and Barry's being super positive about it. His January shows are postponed, but he's planning to be back on stage in February. Sending good vibes his way!
In much lighter news, Metallica's James Hetfield gave us all a Christmas treat we didn't know we needed. He did a gravel-voiced dramatic reading of "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (you know, the "Twas the night before Christmas" poem) on SiriusXM and Instagram. Hearing Santa's story in Hetfield's signature growl is basically the most metal Christmas content ever.
The Pussycat Dolls got everyone excited this week with hints about a potential reunion. They apparently signed with a new talent agent, which had fans immediately speculating about new music and tour dates. Remember when "Don't Cha" was everywhere? Those were the days.
Big Announcements & Future Events
Sports and music fans, this one's for you. The NBA announced that Ludacris, Shaboozey, and K-pop group CORTIS will be headlining the NBA Crossover concert series during All-Star Weekend 2026 in Los Angeles. Mark your calendars for February 12–14, 2026 – it's going to be massive.
This lineup is pretty smart actually. Ludacris brings that classic hip-hop energy, Shaboozey's been blowing up lately, and CORTIS represents the growing K-pop influence in Western markets. Should be a good mix for basketball fans.
Digital Drama & Platform Problems
Not all the news was positive this week. SoundCloud got hit with a major cyberattack that affected about one-fifth of their user base. That's millions of accounts potentially compromised, which is pretty scary for independent artists who rely on the platform to share their music. They're working on fixing it, but it's a reminder of how vulnerable our digital music world can be.
Spotify had its own drama with data scraping issues. Apparently, some group calling themselves "anti-copyright extremists" managed to scrape metadata and artwork for 86 million songs. Spotify had to disable a bunch of accounts and says they've put new security measures in place. It's wild how much data is floating around out there.
On a more positive note, Universal Music Group and Roblox announced a big partnership to expand music experiences on the gaming platform. This could be huge for artists looking to connect with younger fans who spend tons of time in virtual worlds.
What This All Means
Looking at this week's news, a few trends stand out. First, the streaming wars are getting more complex with security issues becoming a real concern. Artists and fans need platforms they can trust.
Second, the boundaries between different entertainment industries keep blurring. Music, gaming, sports – it's all becoming one big interconnected experience. That NBA concert announcement is just the latest example.
Third, nostalgia is still a powerful force. Whether it's Mariah's Christmas domination, the Pussycat Dolls reunion rumors, or Michael Bublé's continued chart success, fans love revisiting the music that shaped their memories.
Looking Ahead
As we wrap up 2025, the music industry is clearly in a fascinating place. We've got established superstars like Taylor Swift breaking new records, veteran acts like Barry Manilow still drawing crowds (when they're healthy), and new artists like 21 Savage finding their place in the charts.
The tech side is getting more complicated, but it's also opening up new possibilities. That Universal/Roblox partnership could change how we discover and experience music.
For music fans and collectors, it's an exciting time. Whether you're streaming the latest hits, buying vinyl records, or hunting for that perfect band tee, there's never been more ways to connect with the artists and songs you love.
The Bottom Line
This week reminded us why we love music so much. It brings us together during the holidays (thanks, Mariah), gives us new sounds to explore (looking at you, 21 Savage), and creates moments of pure joy (James Hetfield reading Christmas poetry, anyone?).
Sure, there are challenges with cyber security and platform issues, but the music keeps playing. Artists keep creating, fans keep listening, and the industry keeps evolving.
What was your favorite music moment this week? Did Taylor's continued chart domination impress you, or are you more excited about those Pussycat Dolls reunion rumors? Either way, it's been a week worth talking about.
Stay tuned for next week's roundup – something tells us the music world isn't done surprising us as we head into 2026.