Mercedes Brown Releases “No Tomorrow” as Debut Single Tops Indigenous Music Countdown

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Red Deer, Alberta alt-rock artist Mercedes Brown has released “No Tomorrow,” the latest single from her debut album “Light the Fire” on Small Frog Records. The release follows news that her debut single “Playing With Fire” reached No. 1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown, according to the announcement.

Brown, who is Wet’suwet’en Tsimshian, says “No Tomorrow” grew out of a memory of her father advising her to “stop to smell the wildflowers.” The track was recorded in February 2026 at Ukee Sound with producer Brent Halfyard, who also played guitar and bass and contributed backing vocals. Additional musicians include guitarists Jon Roper, Chris Potter and Vincent Jones, with Jones also on keys, and drummer Ashwin Sood. Potter mixed and mastered the track.

Her prior single “So What?” was added to Apple Music’s Indigenous Now playlist and drew coverage from outlets including Tinnitist, Cashbox Canada, Radio and Music and Record World International, according to the announcement. Brown has toured in British Columbia opening for Kiva MH, LOV and Siibii, and performs both solo and with a full band.

Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Eric Alper, thatericalper.com.

Country Music Community Remembers John Anderson

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Country singer John Anderson, known for hits including “Swingin'” and “Seminole Wind,” has died, prompting tributes from across the country music community. Fellow artists including Lee Greenwood, Nancy Jones, William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys, T. Graham Brown, David Frizzell, Janie Fricke and Andrew Farriss shared remembrances of Anderson, who was a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Several of those paying tribute recalled personal encounters with Anderson, including Golden, who said he had spoken with Anderson just days earlier at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Others, including Jim VanCleve of Appalachian Road Show and Heath Wright of Ricochet, recounted memories from tours and backstage visits, describing Anderson as a distinctive and influential voice in country music.

The tributes were compiled and distributed by Nashville-based 2911 Media.

Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Jeremy Westby, 2911.us.

ALYA Releases New Single “Dreaming,” Second Chapter of Upcoming Album

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Grammy-winning pop singer ALYA has released “Dreaming,” a new single serving as a prequel to her earlier track “Believer.” Both songs are part of her upcoming album “In The Moment,” an autobiographical project tracing her journey to finding love, slated for release in spring 2027, according to the announcement.

ALYA, who is based in Los Angeles, says she wrote the song’s lyrics quickly and developed its groove herself in her home studio before bringing it to producer Tim Carmon. The track was co-produced by Yeezo, who also co-wrote the chorus and contributed backing vocals alongside ALYA. Contributing musicians include bassist Courtney Leonard, guitarist Errol Cooney and multi-instrumentalist Mateo Laboriel. The song was mixed by Dexter Simmons and mastered by Dave Collins, with additional lyrical input from Kim Rutherford.

According to the announcement, ALYA’s work has drawn more than 50 million views across social platforms and she has collaborated with Eric Clapton, Erica Campbell and D Smoke. She is also known for her ongoing “Hope” project, including “Hope: The Sequel.”

Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Eric Alper, thatericalper.com.

Owen Sound Folk Artist Gracie Jet Releases Debut Album ‘Smile’

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Gracie Jet, a folk rock artist based in Owen Sound, Ontario, has released her debut album, “Smile,” featuring the single “Point of View.” Jet wrote the song following a concussion that affected her memory and mental health, according to the announcement, with the track emerging after she found she could no longer recall the chords to Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.”

The single was produced by Josh Ritchie, who also contributed vocals, guitar and drums, with additional contributions from Rob Ritchie on keys and Sandra Young on violin and viola. Vocals were recorded at a cottage near Wiarton, Ontario, the same location where Jet first played the song for Ritchie, and the accompanying music video was later filmed at the same site.

Jet, who works as a nurse and treated patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, previously released the singles “Sister,” “Sway,” “Forest Fire” and “Survive.” Her self-directed video for “Sister” has drawn more than 250,000 views, according to the announcement, and “Sway” and “Forest Fire” received international radio airplay and a feature on the Canadian program CMCTV Talent.

Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Eric Alper, thatericalper.com.

Slovak Pop Singer Adéla Makes U.S. TV Debut on ‘Fallon’

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Rising Slovak pop artist Adéla made her American television debut on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” sitting for an interview and performing her songs “Nicole Kidman” and “Ain’t In LA.”

The appearance follows attention for her track named after the Oscar-winning actress, who recently acknowledged the song. Adéla discussed the moment during her Fallon interview as part of a broader introduction to U.S. audiences.

Read the full story at Billboard.

Chad Hugo Fights Pharrell’s Bid to Dismiss Neptunes Lawsuit

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Chad Hugo is pushing back against Pharrell Williams’ attempt to have his lawsuit thrown out, with Hugo’s attorneys arguing that Williams is trying to rewrite the history of The Neptunes to claim sole credit for the duo’s success.

The filing accuses Williams of attempting to minimize Hugo’s role and contributions to the production partnership, which produced hits for numerous artists over the past two decades. Details of the original lawsuit’s claims were not specified in the latest filing.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

Three Six Zero Launches Entertainment & New Media Division, Taps Rebecca Dowell to Lead

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Three Six Zero has created a new Entertainment & New Media division and installed Rebecca Dowell to run it. The unit will focus on signing digital creators, multi-hyphenate talent and IP-based projects, broadening the company’s reach beyond its core artist management business.

The move reflects a wider push among talent and management firms to court online creators and build out intellectual property that can extend across film, TV and digital platforms.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

Liz Morentin Exits Virgin Music Group to Launch Greenvalley Media & Marketing

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Liz Morentin has founded a new communications agency, Greenvalley Media & Marketing. She departs Virgin Music Group, Universal Music Group’s independent label and distribution division, where she served as Senior Vice President and Head of Global Communications and Brand Strategy.

The new venture marks Morentin’s move from an in-house major-label executive role to running her own shop, positioning her to work across artists, labels and brands in the communications space.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

Producer Tony Berg Launches Crime & Punishment Records in JV With Warner

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Tony Berg, the producer known for his work with Phoebe Bridgers and Sombr, has launched a joint-venture label with Warner Records called Crime & Punishment Records.

Singer-songwriter Elle Bramhall becomes the new imprint’s first signing.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

Latin America Closes In on North America as Spotify’s No. 2 Subscriber Region

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Spotify’s Q3 2026 shareholder letter shows Latin America now accounts for 24% of the company’s 306 million Premium subscribers, putting the region on track to rival North America as its second-largest subscriber base.

The filing indicates more than one in ten people across Latin America now pay for the service, underscoring the region’s growing importance to Spotify’s subscription revenue as growth in more mature markets slows.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.