World Cup Music Launch: FIFA World Cup 2026 opening goes multi-city with big-name performances across Mexico City, Toronto and Los Angeles, including Shakira & Burna Boy in Mexico City and Katy Perry headlining at SoFi. Touring Pop: Charli xcx announces her “Music, Fashion, Film” arena run across North America, with an album out July 24 and presales starting June 12. Global Stadium Moment: José Carreras brings “Carreras & Friends” to Brisbane’s Gabba on Dec. 5 with Robbie Williams, The Corrs, Katherine Jenkins, Ronan Keating and more. Classical for Communities: Wisconsin Public Radio wins a $100,000 grant to expand its free “Classical Music Day” statewide with youth orchestras and regional bureaus. Hip-Hop Documentary: “Notes from the Underground” traces Cape Town hip-hop’s roots in resistance and identity, expanding beyond music into dance and graffiti. Local Live Music: Royal Northern Sinfonia heads to Hexham Abbey on June 26, while St. Martin’s Lutheran Church marks a 10th anniversary free concert series in Archbold. Music + Tech/Legal: Spotify and other platforms face fresh scrutiny over streaming rules and live-video ambitions, as copyright and royalty fights keep heating up.