Global Music Pulse: New Releases, Major Tours, and Festival Expansions Ignite Mid-June 2025

The global music industry continues its rapid pace, with a wealth of new releases, significant tour announcements, and major festival developments making headlines. As chronicled in this edition, published on June 13, 2025, the week has delivered a dynamic mix of fresh sounds and forward-looking plans from across the diverse musical landscape.

This Week’s New Music Friday Highlights

Listeners had a substantial offering to explore with the latest wave of “New Music Friday” releases. A diverse array of albums and EPs dropped from notable artists including Lil Tecca, CKay, Annahstasia, Smiley, iann dior, EST Gee, King Isis, Jahnah Camille, KARABA, and Brandee Younger. These projects span various genres, reflecting the vibrant and multifaceted nature of contemporary music production.

Alongside the longer-form releases, a series of impactful singles also arrived. Standout tracks included the release of “2 Pair” by Kane Brown, “Snakeskin” by Tanner Adell, “My Love” by Hannah Jadagu, and “Hold On” by Leon Bridges. Collaborations featured prominently, with the debut of “2 Mazza” by Drake featuring Smiley, “Raincheck” from Madison Bailey with KAIRO, and “NSYNC” by BAMBII and BEAM featuring BEAM, highlighting cross-genre and cross-platform creative partnerships.

Rising Artist Spotlight

Emerging talent continues to capture attention. This week, Irish R&B singer MOIO garnered particular focus following the release of his latest single, “Figures On The Wall.” The track is positioning MOIO as a compelling new voice within the R&B scene, drawing praise for its distinctive sound.

Anticipating Next Week’s Releases

The stream of new music shows no sign of slowing. The coming week is anticipated to bring highly awaited projects from a wide range of artists. Releases are expected from Benson Boone, HAIM, midwxst, Loyle Carter, YUNGBLUD, Karol G, Badflower, Dro Kenji, Yaya Bey, Hotline TNT, Aitch, Keke Palmer, Florence Road, and Sam Austins. This diverse lineup promises to deliver fresh sounds across pop, rock, hip-hop, R&B, and alternative genres.

Major Album Announcements

Beyond the immediate release schedule, several significant album announcements were made over the past week, setting expectations for future months. New projects were revealed by artists including Sabrina Carpenter, Tyler Childers, Karol G (signaling a busy period for the artist), David Byrne, Margo Price, Zach Top, and The Barr Brothers. These announcements from established and rising artists alike indicate a robust pipeline of major releases.

The Touring Landscape Evolves

Touring remains a vital component of the music ecosystem, and this week brought several key updates to artists’ live performance plans. Legendary artist David Byrne unveiled details for an extensive 68-date world tour, confirming a broad series of engagements for his global fanbase. Hip-hop superstar Kendrick Lamar announced an expansion of his acclaimed Grand National Tour, confirming additional dates in Australia scheduled for December. Meanwhile, pop icon Miley Cyrus is confirmed to perform at Spotify’s second Billions Club Live show, set to take place in Paris next week, celebrating her massive streaming milestones.

Festival Circuit Updates

The festival circuit continues to build momentum, with several major events announcing lineups and expansions. Arizona’s Goldrush festival confirmed its return, unveiling headliners that include ILLENIUM b2b Zeds Dead, Excision, and Major Lazer Soundsystem, signaling a strong focus on electronic and bass music. Across the globe, the Brisbane Festival in Australia unveiled its ambitious 2025 program, promising over 1000 performances featuring more than 2000 artists across diverse disciplines. In New Mexico, the The Smoke Show BBQ & Country Music Roundup is set for August, headlined by country star Blake Shelton. Looking internationally, Rolling Loud, a prominent force in hip-hop festivals, announced a significant expansion into Mumbai, India, marking a major step in its global reach.

This week’s flurry of activity underscores the relentless energy and constant evolution characterizing the global music scene, from studio releases to major live events.