⚡ Fast Facts

• Indie bands like Deerhoof and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have pulled their music from Spotify amid ethical concerns and AI backlash Search topic
• Doja Cat’s fifth studio album, Vie, arrives September 26; lead single “Jealous Type” is out now Search topic
• Stray Kids dropped their new album Karma August 22, complete with a sci-fi sports-themed rollout Search topic

🗞️ Big 5

• Pop: Sabrina Carpenter defends her album cover for Man’s Best Friend, saying critics are missing the symbolism behind control vs submission Search topic
• Hip-Hop: Doja Cat gears up for her “Ma Vie World Tour” ahead of her album release Search topic
• Rock/Alt: Deftones released their long-awaited 10th album, Private Music, marking their return since 2020’s Ohms Search topic
• Country: Craig David released his ninth studio album Commitment on August 8, following several successful singles Search topic
• Global/Indie/EDM: K-pop group Ive came back with their EP Ive Secret on August 25, featuring the single “XOXZ” Search topic

📈 Charts & Streams

• On American Top 40 this week: “Ordinary” by Alex Warren leads, followed by Benson Boone’s “Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else” and Ravyn Lenae’s “Love Me Not” Search topic
• iTunes Top New Songs: HARDY & ERNEST’s “Bro Country” is #1; Sabrina Carpenter’s new single “Tears” is at #2 for August Search topic

🎟️ Tours & Festivals

• John Fogerty launches “The Legacy Tour” across North America this fall, including NJ stops on Halloween and November 12 Search topic
• Doja Cat’s “Ma Vie World Tour” kicks off November 18 in Auckland and wraps December 21 in Kaohsiung Search topic

🆕 New Releases

• Mélancolia dropped their new album random.access.misery along with a music video for “Lithia” today (Aug 30) Search topic
• Sabrina Carpenter’s single “Tears” is making waves on iTunes as part of her recent rollout Search topic

💼 Biz & Tech Moves

• Spotify faces backlash as indie acts like Deerhoof and Godspeed You! Black Emperor pull their catalogs in protest over ethics and royalties Search topic

📝 Editor’s Take

It’s a bustling day in music: big-name comebacks, indie artists staking a moral ground, and new releases shaping up to be major talking points. From Doja Cat’s soon-to-arrive album and world tour to Deftones’ long-awaited return and Spotify’s growing artist exodus—it’s clear that creativity and conscience both have a loud voice in 2025.