A public rift has opened in the music industry over how generative AI tools should be governed after a string of licensing deals and court fights in late 2025 and early 2026. On Feb. 2, Paul Sinclair, chief music officer at AI music company Suno and a former major-label executive, published a LinkedIn manifesto titled “Open Studios, not walled gardens,” advocating for creative freedom, downloadable output and broad user agency. Universal Music Group (UMG) and Udio have pushed a contrasting “walled garden” model—disallowing downloads or distribution outside platforms—to protect artist rights; Udio disabled downloads after its October 2025 settlement with UMG. Warner Music Group struck different terms with Suno in late 2025, allowing more functionality, while Universal and Sony remain in litigation with Suno. Industry executives warn of “AI slop” flooding streaming services and of potential cannibalisation of artists’ work, while AI firms argue closed systems would stifle innovation. The debate frames licensing terms, platform design and enforcement as key battlegrounds shaping how AI-created music is produced, shared and monetized going forward.

Sources tell TMZ that singers SZA and Shaboozey are not, and never have been, romantically involved, despite persistent fan speculation. The outlet published its report on Feb. 4, 2026, citing people with direct knowledge who describe the pair’s relationship as strictly platonic. Rumors first surfaced in May 2025 after a perceived interaction at the American Music Awards, then re-emerged in September when Shaboozey posted — and later deleted — an Instagram photo dump that included a video of SZA and a subsequent “Goodbye Horses” post showing a woman fans believed to be SZA. Speculation intensified again after both artists attended the GQ Men of the Year event in November 2025 around the same time. TMZ said it contacted representatives for both artists but had received no comment. The report aims to put to rest ongoing social-media-driven conjecture that has circulated for months.

Ronald “Schoolboy” Teasley, one of the last living links to baseball’s segregation-era Negro Leagues, has died at age 99, his passing reported Feb. 4–5, 2026. A Detroit native and standout at Northwestern High School and Wayne State University, Teasley served in the U.S. Navy in the mid-1940s before signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1948. He played for the New York Cubans of the Negro National League and later starred with Carman in the Mandak League, earning All-Star honors from 1949–51. After his playing career ended, Teasley earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and spent more than three decades coaching and teaching in Detroit public schools. He also worked as a columnist and photographer for the Michigan Chronicle. Teasley helped preserve Negro Leagues history and was cited by Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, for his character and service. News outlets noted he was among the oldest living former Negro Leagues players and reported he was the third-oldest former major-league player at the time of his death. MLB’s 2020 decision to recognize Negro Leagues records underscores the renewed official recognition of careers like his.

The Dalai Lama won his first Grammy Award at the 68th annual ceremony on Feb. 1, 2026, taking the prize for Best Audiobook, Narration and Storytelling Recording for Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The 90-year-old spiritual leader’s 10-track album, released last August, blends his recorded reflections with music and features contributions from Rufus Wainwright (who accepted the award on his behalf), Maggie Rogers, Andra Day and Indian sarod performances by Ayaan Ali Bangash. Producer Kabir Sehgal said he curated the project from more than 100 hours of talks. The win drew warm congratulations from Indian political figures and leaders in the Tibetan exile community, who hailed its global reach. Beijing strongly criticised the award, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry calling it “anti-China political manipulation” and reiterating its stance that the Dalai Lama is a separatist and that China reserves the right to approve his successor — a long-running flashpoint in Sino-Tibetan relations.

Timothée Chalamet, currently promoting his Oscar‑contending film Marty Supreme, has stirred public interest this week with two linked developments. At a London Q&A on Feb. 1–3, 2026 he confirmed he is in a relationship and when pressed about marriage replied affirmatively, joking that answering might “get me in trouble.” His remarks fuelled speculation that he and longtime partner Kylie Jenner are moving toward engagement. Days later in Paris (Feb. 5), Chalamet was filmed leaving a hotel with a woman social media users say resembled actress Anamaria Vartolomei; footage showing the pair attempting to evade photographers sparked online cheating rumours. Fans were divided, with some defending Chalamet and others questioning the behaviour. Reports note the couple have been living together in Los Angeles for over a year, Jenner attended awards where Chalamet publicly thanked his “partner of three years,” and sources say they are serious. Chalamet’s schedule includes awards season appearances and an upcoming role in Dune 3, keeping the relationship in the public eye as both a personal and PR matter for the actor and Jenner.

Stockholm-headquartered Soundtrack Technologies announced on Feb. 4-5, 2026 that it has acquired UK background-music provider Ambie and Benelux B2B music service Tunify, expanding its operational footprint in the UK and Belgium/Netherlands. Financial terms were not disclosed. Both businesses’ teams will join Soundtrack and are due to rebrand under the Soundtrack name, giving existing Ambie and Tunify customers access to Soundtrack’s platform — including remote management tools, an AI-driven playlist generator and a catalogue of more than 100–125 million licensed tracks and thousands of direct licensing deals. Soundtrack, founded in 2013 as a joint venture with Spotify, serves over 100,000 business subscribers across about 75 countries and counts clients such as Uniqlo, Four Seasons, Dr. Martens, Kiehl’s, Joe & The Juice and TAG Heuer; Ambie and Tunify add hospitality and retail relationships including Hyatt, Hilton, Rocco Forte and D&D London. The company, which raised $15 million in a 2023 round led by MUSIC and lists investors including Balderton and Industrifonden, said the moves are part of a strategy to consolidate a fragmented music-for-business market it values at roughly $40 billion.

Nick Jonas has publicly recounted the harrowing circumstances surrounding daughter Malti Marie’s premature arrival, speaking on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast in early February 2026. He said Malti was born via surrogate in January 2022 about three months early, weighing roughly 1 pound 11 ounces, and was “purple” at birth. Medical teams in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) resuscitated and intubated her; she required six blood transfusions and more than 100 days of round‑the‑clock care before she could go home. Jonas and his wife, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, alternated 12‑hour hospital shifts amid COVID‑era restrictions during the roughly 3.5‑month stay. He credited NICU staff with saving their daughter’s life, described the experience as both “comforting and frightening,” and said it permanently changed his perspective on parenthood. Malti, who turned four in early 2026, is now thriving, and Jonas framed each day with her as a gift. The interview marked one of the first detailed public accounts of the family’s early months as parents following the 2018 marriage.

Barry Manilow, 82, has postponed his mid-February Las Vegas residency at the Westgate after undergoing surgery in December to remove a cancerous spot from his left lung. Manilow said in a social-media statement on Feb. 4–5 that the operation was successful, doctors do not believe the cancer has spread, and he is ‘recovering very well,’ exercising and spending time in the studio. On medical advice he has delayed the Feb. 12–21 Westgate dates; tickets will be refunded. The singer remains scheduled to launch a U.S. arena tour on Feb. 27 in Tampa (Benchmark International Arena) with stops through April, and is due to return to the Westgate on March 26–28. Manilow previously rescheduled January dates after the diagnosis and has said he likely will not need chemotherapy or radiation. The announcements come after an MRI—ordered following prolonged bronchitis—discovered the early-stage lung lesion.

Chuck Negron, a founding member and lead vocalist of Three Dog Night whose voice propelled hits including “Joy to the World” and “One,” has died at 83. His publicist, Zach Farnum, said Negron passed away at his Studio City, Los Angeles home surrounded by family on Feb. 2. He had long battled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in recent months suffered heart failure; several outlets reported his death was linked to complications from those conditions. Negron co-founded Three Dog Night in 1967 with Danny Hutton and the late Cory Wells; the group scored more than 20 Top 40 hits between 1969 and 1975 and helped bring songs by writers such as Hoyt Axton, Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson to mainstream audiences. Negron’s career was marked by a public struggle with heroin addiction that led to homelessness in the 1980s; he recovered and became sober in 1991, later publishing a memoir, Three Dog Nightmare, and releasing solo albums. He is survived by his wife, Ami Albea Negron, five children and extended family.

LaMonte McLemore, a founding member of the Grammy-winning vocal group The 5th Dimension, died at age 90 on Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas, his representative said. McLemore — born Sept. 17, 1935, in St. Louis — had suffered a stroke several years earlier and died of natural causes surrounded by family. He co-founded the group in the mid-1960s with Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue and Ron Townson; The 5th Dimension scored multiple hits including “Up, Up and Away” and the six-week No. 1 medley “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” and won multiple Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year twice. McLemore’s warm bass vocals anchored the group’s polished pop-soul harmonies. Outside music he was a longtime photographer whose work appeared in Jet and other publications and who trained as an aerial photographer in the U.S. Navy; he also briefly pursued baseball in the Dodgers’ farm system. The group’s role in events such as the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival has been revisited in recent years. McLemore is survived by his wife, Mieko, a daughter, an adopted son, a sister and three grandchildren; memorial arrangements were not immediately announced.

Kelly Clarkson announced on Feb. 2, 2026 that The Kelly Clarkson Show will conclude at the end of its current seventh season, which NBC said will continue to air through autumn 2026. In a statement posted to social media the 43-year-old singer and host said the decision — “not an easy” one — was motivated by a desire to “prioritise my kids” following the death of her ex-husband and former manager, Brandon Blackstock, who died in August 2025. Clarkson thanked her production teams in Los Angeles and New York, fans and NBC for their support. The Emmy-winning daytime series, noted for its music-led “Kellyoke” openings and multiple Daytime Emmy wins, will feature special guest hosts across the remainder of the season. Clarkson said she will not leave the public eye entirely, planning to continue making music, play occasional shows and may appear on NBC’s The Voice in the future. NBC has confirmed the show’s end rather than a replacement host continuing the format.

Bruce Hornsby will release Indigo Park, a 10-track album, on April 3, 2026 via his Zappo Productions imprint and Thirty Tigers. Backed by his longtime band the Noisemakers and joined by collaborators Blake Mills, bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Chris Dave, the record features high-profile guests including Bonnie Raitt, Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig and contributions from the late Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir. Two songs, “Alabama” and “Might As Well Be Me, Florinda,” were co-written with the late Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. Hornsby co-produced the album with Tony Berg and Will Maclellan and has released the title track as a preview single and video. He will support Indigo Park with a North American tour that begins April 9 in Cincinnati and runs through July 25, 2026, with stops including festivals such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Great South Bay Music Festival.

Undefeated boxer Gervonta “Tank” Davis was arrested in the Miami Design District on Jan. 28 after a two‑week manhunt involving Miami Gardens police and U.S. Marshals, following allegations from an Oct. 27, 2025 incident at a Miami strip club. Authorities say a woman, identified as Courtney Rossel, told investigators Davis grabbed her by the hair and throat, took her to a back room and later to a parking garage. He faces charges of battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping; reports say he was booked and released after posting bond (reported between $8,500 and $16,000). A Miami judge ordered no contact with the alleged victim. On Feb. 4, a Baltimore judge issued a separate warrant alleging Davis violated probation tied to a 2020 hit‑and‑run case by failing to surrender to authorities; his lawyer has asked that the warrant be converted to a summons. Davis’s legal team denies the Miami allegations and plans to contest the cases. The arrests have already led to fight cancellations and increased scrutiny of his career and travel.

Kim Kardashian told Complex’s Sneaker Shopping in early February that she is a devoted collector of Travis Scott’s Nike collaborations and even called the rapper to secure a recent limited release. Describing herself as a “sneaker snob,” Kardashian said Travis Scott designs make up the bulk of her collection and that she “had to call” to get the pink Air Jordan 1 Low from Scott’s forthcoming “Pink Pack,” due to hit retailers in May 2026. The episode also highlighted Kardashian’s own footwear debut: the Skims x Nike Rift Mesh, released on Feb. 5 as part of the NikeSKIMS Spring ’26 Collection. Kardashian said BLACKPINK’s Lisa was her dream collaborator and stars in the Rift Mesh campaign, which was shot in Paris. The appearance underscored how celebrity networks, brand partnerships and limited-edition drops continue to drive demand in the hyped sneaker market, where even high-profile figures say they sometimes need to call in favours to secure ultra-rare pairs.

Charli XCX has moved from pop stages to the big screen with The Moment, an Aidan Zamiri‑directed mockumentary inspired by the singer’s blockbuster 2024 album Brat and its ensuing ‘Brat summer’ phenomenon. The film — shot over 29 days and premiered at Sundance late January — stars Charli as a fictionalised version of herself and features Alexander Skarsgård, Hailey Benton Gates and cameo turns from Kylie Jenner and Rachel Sennott. Reviews this week were mixed: some critics praise Charli’s onscreen presence and the film’s satirical take on fame, while others (including a Globe and Mail review) found the mockumentary flat and lacking in sharp comedy or memorable moments. The release coincides with Charli’s broader pivot into film — she has acting roles in multiple upcoming projects and is due to release a Wuthering Heights soundtrack in mid‑February — and follows the commercial and critical success of Brat, which expanded her audience and elevated her profile across several markets.

Mötley Crüe declared a decisive legal victory after a retired judge acting as arbitrator rejected all claims by founding guitarist Mick Mars and issued a final award filed in Los Angeles in late January 2026. Arbitrator Patrick J. Walsh found Mars forfeited rights to touring revenue when he stopped touring in 2022 due to ankylosing spondylitis. The ruling upheld the band’s termination of Mars as an officer and director for cause and ordered him to repay about $750,030 in unrecouped tour advances. Mars was also directed to sell his ownership stake to Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee and Vince Neil for roughly $505,737, producing a net judgment in favour of Mötley Crüe of about $244,293. During arbitration Mars recanted public accusations that the band mimed on its 2022 tour after testimony and analysis from a retained expert. Mars’s attorney, Ed McPherson, called the decision “awful” and said they are considering whether to challenge the award. Mötley Crüe’s lawyers have asked a Los Angeles court to confirm the arbitration award as the band prepares a North American tour for summer 2026.

Eric Murphy and Jasmin Lawrence, the eldest children of comedy stars Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, announced they are expecting their first child in early February 2026. The couple shared a joint Instagram post — photos showing Jasmin cradling her baby bump and the pair together — with the caption, “Thank you Jesus for the greatest gift.” The pregnancy follows a public engagement in November 2024 and a private church wedding in May 2025. The news was widely reported across U.S. entertainment outlets from Feb. 2–4, 2026 and drew an outpouring of congratulatory messages from fans and peers. Martin Lawrence posted images from the couple’s maternity shoot and wrote that he is “overflowing with love and gratitude”; Eddie Murphy has previously spoken warmly about the relationship on national television. Eric is the eldest of Murphy’s ten children; Jasmin is the eldest of Lawrence’s children. Neither the couple nor their representatives have disclosed further details such as a due date or the baby’s sex.

Palm Beach County authorities have arrested a second suspect in the armed break-in at rapper 6ix9ine’s Wellington, Florida home in November 2025. Eighteen-year-old Sergio Andrade was taken into custody on Jan. 31–Feb. 1 and faces charges including home invasion with a firearm, false imprisonment and grand theft/larceny. Investigators say Andrade and an earlier-arrested suspect, 19-year-old Pedro Rodriguez, lived together and were tracked through cell-phone data and trail-camera footage. A West Palm Beach search of their apartment recovered luxury items — a pink Chanel purse, a Dolce & Gabbana bag and a Louis Vuitton pochette — valued at about $11,000, plus a Glock 19 with an extended magazine that matches surveillance video from the crime. Three masked men forced 6ix9ine’s elderly mother at gunpoint, ransacked the main house and a Mercedes Sprinter, and fled; the rapper was not home and is currently serving a three-month federal sentence in Brooklyn for violations of supervised release. Police continue to seek a third suspect as the investigation and prosecutions proceed.

Megan Thee Stallion will guest-star in NBC’s new sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, the network announced this week. The series, produced by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, stars Tracy Morgan as a disgraced former NFL player trying to rebuild his life after a gambling scandal, and Daniel Radcliffe as a documentary filmmaker hired to tell his story. Megan will appear as a divorced mother who begins a romantic relationship with Radcliffe’s character; the length of her arc has not been disclosed. The show’s ensemble also includes Erika Alexander, Precious Way, Jalyn Hall and Bobby Moynihan. NBC previewed the pilot after a playoff game; the series is set to premiere on Feb. 23 with two episodes and will continue Mondays at 8:30 p.m. ET beginning March 2. Megan promoted the casting on Instagram and brings recent acting credits (including Dicks: The Musical and P-Valley) alongside an active music career following her 2024 tour and LP.

On Feb. 4, 2026, hip-hop group Public Enemy released “She Got Game,” a reworking of their 1998 track “He Got Game,” recast as a women’s-empowerment anthem timed to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The new version opens with an excerpt of Gloria Steinem’s Address to the Women of America and features performances from rapper Flau’Jae, Retina MC, drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, Olympic swimmer Elizabeth Beisel on strings, and guitarist Grace Bowers. Members of the U.S. women’s water polo team provide additional vocals. Flavor Flav, who helped sponsor the 2024 U.S. women’s water polo team and U.S. bobsled and skeleton squads, has promoted the track and will serve as a hype man for Team USA in Milan. Released for National Girls and Women’s Sports Day, proceeds will go to the Women’s Sports Foundation and the Black Music Action Coalition’s Female Fund. The song links Public Enemy’s legacy — the original soundtrack to Spike Lee’s 1998 film — with contemporary advocacy for female athletes and aims to raise both visibility and funds ahead of the Games.