Tune Talk: Weekly Music News

July 14, 2025 • Entertainment

Hosted by Cookie

About This Episode

Generated entertainment podcast with host Cookie based on prompt: I want weekly music news. Highlight any new albums, industry news, or noteworthy information.

Transcript

Hey! It's Cookie O'Clock! Welcome to "Tune Talk: Weekly Music News," where we unravel the freshest beats and juiciest industry gossip. I'm Brooke, your guide through the sonic landscape.

First up, let's dive into surprise releases. Justin Bieber dropped a bombshell with his new album, *Swag*. It’s his first solo project since 2021. With 21 tracks and a wild mix of collaborators like Dijon and 2 Chainz, Bieber's back with a bang. His creative journey took him from LA jam sessions to Icelandic inspiration. And just like that—bam!—a surprise drop. Can you believe he sold his catalog earlier this year for around $200 million? Talk about making waves!

Moving on to smooth vibes, Giveon graced us with his sophomore album, *Beloved*. It's been over three years in the making, capturing his baritone brilliance with songs like “Twenties” and “Rather Be.” No features here—just Giveon doing what he does best, diving deep into love and vulnerability. Critics are loving it, and so am I.

Noah Cyrus has also taken a heartfelt turn with her album *I Want My Loved Ones to Go with Me*, a touching tribute to her musical roots. She even sampled a hymn penned by her great-grandfather. Family ties never sounded so sweet. Noah celebrated with a performance in LA and plans to hit the road this fall. It's musical nostalgia with a modern twist.

And now for the legends. The Backstreet Boys are back, reimagining *Millennium* with their deluxe edition, Millennium 2.0. With a Las Vegas residency kicking off, they're going big! Meanwhile, Burna Boy roars onto the scene with *No Sign Of Weakness*, primed for a 16-city North American tour. It's shaping up to be a legendary summer.

Indie fans, Wet Leg's new album *Moisturizer* is out, blending raw energy with edgy singles. Meanwhile, Clipse reunites after 16 years with *Let God Sort Em Out*, featuring some heavy hitters. Pharrell's production magic is in full swing, making this a must-listen.

In continental vibes, Scottish singer Amy Macdonald returns with *Is This What You've Been Waiting For?*. It's folk-rock magic after a four-year hiatus. For hyper-pop enthusiasts, Kesha is back with the deluxe edition of *Period*, celebrating creative freedom post-label change.

On the single scene, Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty fame teased his upcoming album with “Hard To Be Happy.” A shift to Universal Records marks a new chapter, backed by an exciting tour.

Swinging over to industry news, Spotify's tango with Turkey hits a bump over satirical playlists. Will they stay, or will they go? It's all up in the air. Meanwhile, investor buzz for Spotify is strong, with high hopes pinned on creative pricing models. Stepping into the streaming wars, Apple Music holds the line on subscription fees, while Netflix eyes music-themed ventures. Could a Netflix-hosted music awards show be on the cards? The plot thickens!

And that's a wrap on this week's Tune Talk. From surprise drops to industry shake-ups, the music world never sleeps. Keep those headphones ready and your playlists primed. I'm Brooke, signing off until Cookie O'Clock strikes again. Stay groovy!

## New Album Releases

Justin Bieber surprised fans on July 11 with his seventh studio album, Swag, marking his first solo project since 2021’s Justice. The 21-track set features an eclectic roster of collaborators—including Dijon, Lil B, Sexyy Red, Druski, Gunna, Cash Cobain, and 2 Chainz—and leans into sophisticated pop stylings with contributions from producers such as Dijon, Mk.gee, Knox Fortune, and Daniel Caesar. Bieber reportedly drew inspiration from jam sessions in Los Angeles and a creative sojourn to Iceland, underscoring his renewed artistic vigor following the cancellation of his Justice World Tour in 2022 due to health issues. Swag was released via Def Jam and Ithaca Holdings as a complete surprise drop, following a period of relative quiet since his catalog sale to Recognition Music Group in 2023 for roughly $200 million. ([pitchfork.com](https://pitchfork.com/news/justin-bieber-surprise-releases-new-album-swag-listen?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swag_%28Justin_Bieber_album%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

R&B crooner Giveon unveiled his highly anticipated sophomore album, Beloved, on July 11 through Epic Records and Not So Fast. Crafted over more than 1,000 days of recording from July 2022 to May 2025, the 14-track collection is anchored by the singles “Twenties” and “Rather Be” and foregrounds Giveon’s signature baritone, exploring nuanced perspectives on love and vulnerability. Produced by a diverse team—including Beat Butcha, Matthew Burnett, Cashmere Cat, Jahaan Sweet, and Sevn Thomas—the album eschews featured artists to center Giveon’s storytelling, with standout cuts like “Numb,” “I Can Tell,” and “Bleeding.” Critics have lauded Beloved for its organic instrumentation and mature songwriting, cementing Giveon’s place among contemporary R&B’s most heartfelt voices. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/519ee65b289ae30eb965c59f096522c5?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beloved_%28Giveon_album%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Noah Cyrus honored her family legacy with the release of her second studio album, I Want My Loved Ones to Go with Me, on July 11—coinciding with what would have been her grandfather Ron “Pappy” Cyrus’s birthday. The LP pays tribute to her musical pedigree, notably sampling a hymn penned by great-grandfather Eldon Lindsey Cyrus and performed by Pappy in the song “Apple Tree.” Collaborations with Fleet Foxes, Ella Langley, Blake Shelton, and Bill Callahan lend the record a rich sonic tapestry. Cyrus shared an emotional Instagram post on release day, reflecting on her lineage and the healing power of music, and launched a supporting performance at The Ford in Los Angeles before embarking on a fall tour. ([people.com](https://people.com/noah-cyrus-honors-late-pappy-new-country-album-11770535?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [people.com](https://people.com/noah-cyrus-honors-late-pappy-new-country-album-11770535?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Legacy acts revisited past glories with deluxe and anniversary editions. Backstreet Boys commemorated the 25th anniversary of Millennium by releasing Millennium 2.0, a 25-track super deluxe package featuring remastered originals, tour recordings, demos, B-sides, and their new single “HEY.” The drop coincided with the launch of their 21-show residency at Las Vegas’s Sphere, making them the first pop act to headline the venue. Meanwhile, Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy returned on July 11 with No Sign Of Weakness, his eighth studio album, featuring pre-release singles like “Bundle by Bundle,” “Sweet Love,” and “TaTaTa” with Travis Scott, and announcing a historic 16-city North American tour beginning at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. ([grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/news/new-albums-july-2025-kesha-burna-boy-backstreet-boys?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/news/new-albums-july-2025-kesha-burna-boy-backstreet-boys?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Indie favorites also made waves: Isle of Wight duo Wet Leg released their sophomore album, Moisturizer, on July 11. Produced by Dan Carey and recorded while the band lived together in Southwold, the record channels raw live energy with singles “Catch These Fists,” “CPR,” and “Davina McCall,” showcasing a bolder, tighter sound that builds on their Grammy-winning 2022 debut. Simultaneously, Virginia Beach rap duo Clipse issued Let God Sort Em Out, their first joint project in 16 years, produced entirely by Pharrell Williams and featuring collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator, The-Dream, and Nas, recorded at Louis Vuitton’s Paris headquarters. ([kpbs.org](https://www.kpbs.org/news/2025/07/10/the-best-new-albums-out-july-11?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [balleralert.com](https://balleralert.com/profiles/blogs/clipse-justin-bieber-new-music-friday-july-2025/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Continental offerings included Scottish singer Amy Macdonald’s sixth studio album, Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For?, released July 11 via BMG and Infectious. With production by Jim Abbiss and Nicolas Rebscher, the 36-minute record returns to her folk-rock roots following a four-year hiatus, led by its title track single released in April on BBC Radio 2. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is_This_What_You%27ve_Been_Waiting_For?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Pop icon Kesha independently dropped the deluxe edition of her sixth studio album, Period, on July 8. The hyper-pop and disco-infused record—her first since departing RCA and Kemosabe Records—features deluxe tracks in collaboration with Pink Slip, Nova Wav, Jonathan Wilson, and her mother Pebe Sebert, underscoring a triumphant creative reboot that critics hailed as a fresh start. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Period_%28Kesha_album%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

## Artist Announcements & Singles

On July 7, Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas revealed the first single “Hard To Be Happy” from his forthcoming sixth solo album, scheduled for September 5, 2025. Alongside the single’s pre-save links, Thomas shared the album title, All Night Days, and disclosed a switch from Atlantic Records to Universal Records for the project. The announcement also teased an 11-track schedule of U.S. tour dates running August 1 to September 6, with later shows across Australia and New Zealand. Thomas’s post underscored a renewed focus on personal storytelling and live performance. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Thomas_%28musician%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

## Industry News

Spotify is considering a withdrawal from Turkey following government objections to satirical playlists perceived as insulting to President Erdoğan’s wife, Emine Erdoğan. Deputy Culture Minister Batuhan Mumcu demanded Spotify establish a local office and accused it of bias in artist visibility and failing to support Turkish music. While Spotify insists it complies with local laws and is cooperating with an antitrust investigation, the company is evaluating whether to pause or cease Turkish operations, echoing past standoffs in Uruguay. ([thetimes.co.uk](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/spotify-turkey-president-erdogan-8dglc0w32?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Amid broader market discussions, Bernstein analyst Ian Moore raised his price target on Spotify stock from $825 to $840, citing underappreciated pricing power. Moore projects high-single-digit ARPU growth driven by tiered pricing strategies—potentially including a “superfan” subscription with perks like early ticket access and AI tools in 2026—and notes the firm’s expanding high-margin non-music content portfolio. Despite a recent pullback, Spotify shares have hit record highs, reflecting investor optimism around monetization levers beyond ad-supported streams. ([investors.com](https://www.investors.com/news/technology/spotify-stock-touted-for-pricing-power/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

## Noteworthy Updates

No major global streaming service announced price hikes this week, but competition remains fierce as Apple Music reportedly holds off on raising subscription fees “for now,” while Netflix explores music-themed programming and live concert series in talks with Spotify. Although no formal partnership has been confirmed, sources suggest joint ventures could include a Netflix-hosted music awards show, signaling continued convergence between streaming video and audio platforms. ([americansongwriter.com](https://americansongwriter.com/music-business-roundup-netflix-and-spotify-teaming-up-apple-music-not-raising-prices-yet-and-mass-layoffs-at-warner-music-group/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Looking ahead, summer festival lineups, tour announcements, and Q3 release schedules will further shape the music landscape. With surprise album drops, legacy acts revisiting their catalogs, and streaming platforms navigating geopolitical and pricing challenges, the week of July 7–13 underscored the industry’s dynamic interplay of creativity, commerce, and global streaming politics.

Tune Talk: Weekly Music News