British trip‑hop duo Massive Attack and American singer‑songwriter Tom Waits released a politically charged single, “Boots on the Ground,” on April 16, 2026. The collaboration is Waits’ first new original material in 15 years and the group’s first new music in several years. The track — featuring additional vocals from Waits’ son Casey — layers Waits’ gravelly narration over Massive Attack’s pensive atmospherics and uses stark, violent imagery to indict overseas wars, domestic policing and congressional leaders. A film by US photographer thefinaleye accompanies the single, tracing scenes from the George Floyd protests to recent ICE raids; the band says all profits from an eco‑friendly 12‑inch vinyl pressing (which includes a Waits spoken‑word B‑side, “The Fly”) will go to the ACLU and the Immigrant Defense Project. Massive Attack are withholding the release from Spotify as part of a dispute over the streaming company’s executive ties to military‑technology investment. The band has framed the song as a response to what it calls a growing wave of state authoritarianism and militarisation across the western hemisphere.

Ed Sheeran revealed in a late-April Instagram post that he has spent the past month battling shingles but is "on the mend" and preparing to resume his Loop Tour. The 35-year-old singer shared a series of personal updates, including debuting a shaved head as a symbol of a "fresh start," posting photos of downtime activities and recommending the novel Demon Copperhead. Sheeran said he would "wouldn't recommend" shingles, a painful viral reactivation of varicella-zoster, and indicated he will restart the Latin America leg of the Loop Tour in the coming weeks with dates across Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico and Chile after recently completing shows in Australia and New Zealand. He also referenced catching up on the final season of Stranger Things and reiterated that his wife, Cherry Seaborn, who had surgery for a cancerous tumour in 2022, is recovering well. The disclosure was published across multiple outlets on April 29, 2026.

Duran Duran unveiled their new single “Free to Love,” featuring veteran producer-guitarist Nile Rodgers, with a televised performance on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on April 29, 2026. The disco-tinged track, drawn from sessions around the band’s recent work, was presented with upbeat, party-style staging and backing vocalists; the group described the song as a call for unity and freedom. Founding members John Taylor and Nick Rhodes reflected on the band’s nearly 50-year partnership and chemistry, saying the collaboration with Rodgers helped crystallize the track. The performance follows the single’s release earlier in April and precedes a string of live dates: BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach, California on May 1, a multi-night residency at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas through May 9, and an extended European tour this summer. The appearance marks the band’s continued strategy of pairing new material with high-profile TV and festival slots to promote touring and connect with both long-time fans and new audiences.

Maurice “Mopreme” Shakur filed a wrongful death lawsuit on April 28, 2026 in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking unspecified damages over the 1996 killing of his stepbrother Tupac Shakur. The complaint names Duane “Keffe D” Davis — the only person criminally charged in the case after his 2023 arrest — and up to 100 unnamed “John Doe” co‑conspirators. The family’s lawyers say recently released grand jury transcripts and the 2025 Netflix documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning reveal a “broader, more complex conspiracy” than prior civil and criminal inquiries alleged. The suit cites alleged meetings and statements attributed to Davis that suggest involvement by additional parties, and while it references allegations in the Netflix film tied to Sean “Diddy” Combs, Combs is not named as a defendant and has denied involvement. Davis has pleaded not guilty; his criminal trial is scheduled to begin on Aug. 10, 2026 in Nevada. The filing, brought by Maurice Shakur as administrator of the estate of Mutulu Shakur, says discovery is needed to identify and hold accountable those the family believes were involved.

Amyl and the Sniffers were the standout winners at the 2026 APRA Music Awards held at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on April 29, sweeping three major prizes. Their profane single “Jerkin’,” from the album Cartoon Darkness, won peer-voted Song of the Year (the band’s second consecutive win in that category) and Most Performed Rock Work; the group also took Songwriter of the Year. The ceremony, marking APRA’s 100th anniversary, honoured INXS with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music and paid tribute to the late Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst. Sia won Most Performed Australian Work Overseas for “Unstoppable,” her third straight win for that category and a record-extending 14th APRA award. Guy Sebastian’s “Maybe” claimed Most Performed Australian Work and Most Performed Pop Work. Songwriter Sarah Aarons received the International Recognition Award, and Emily Wurramara was named Emerging Songwriter of the Year. Winners across genre categories included Ball Park Music, Ocean Grove, ONEFOUR, Karen Lee Andrews and Sonny Fodera, reflecting a diverse night of performances and industry recognition.

Billie Eilish and filmmaker James Cameron have teamed up to bring the pop star’s Hit Me Hard and Soft world tour to cinemas in a 3D concert film that premiered in London in late April and is being released theatrically by Paramount on May 8. Co-directed by Eilish, 24, and Cameron, 71, the movie was shot mainly during the Manchester leg of her 2024-25 tour, using as many as 17 cameras including tiny 3D rigs to capture both high-energy performance and intimate behind-the-scenes moments. The film blends full-stage spectacle with candid scenes of Eilish warming up, discussing her creative choices and interacting with fans, whom she calls central — even “more important than me” — to the project. Cameron at times operated cameras himself and said the work exposes the emotional bond between artist and audience. Industry observers note the film follows recent successful concert movies from artists such as Taylor Swift and Beyonce and could boost cinema attendance and merchandise revenues while offering fans a communal viewing experience.