Madonna’s Support Story: Sam Smith says Madonna “made sure she got through” during the “Unholy” controversy, calling her music “a lifeline to queer people.” Streaming & AI Rules: The Official MENA Chart adopted new GenAI eligibility principles to keep purely synthetic or fraud-boosted tracks out of official rankings. AI Pressure on Musicians: A UK study warns AI is “squeez[ing] out” artists as regulators lag, pointing to bot-driven scams and inflated online metrics. Spotify Product Moves: Spotify is rolling out BPM-based Running Mode on Android, plus earlier reports of playlist “notes” and AI persona labeling. Industry Deal Watch: Hook, an AI-powered social music remix platform, struck a landmark Universal Music licensing agreement with “artist control” emphasized. Radio Still Matters: iHeartMedia’s study argues Gen Z tunes into radio for community and discovery, with radio taking the biggest share of ad-supported audio time. Music in Pop Culture: Phoebe Bridgers’ “Lost Weekend” gets planetarium listening parties, turning the album into a live sky-backed experience. Touring & Live: The Dandy Warhols announce an Australia/NZ run with a one-off symphony show in Hobart. Brand Music Collab: Central Cee’s Premier League anthem for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar ties football emotion to a new original track.