Justin Bieber performs during the Topps Final Halftime Show the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Also this week: Josh Ross and Cameron Whitcomb earn the most CCMA Award nominations for the second straight year, Celine Dion's rumoured Montreal concert, and the newest feat of the Heated Rivalry soundtrack.
The first-ever halftime show at the World Cup, arguably the biggest international sports event there is, grabbed plenty of attention over the weekend. Justin Bieber, Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Chris Martin provided the star power, though responses to the spectacle were mixed.
Elsewhere, dedicated concertgoers are prepared to soil themselves, the Heated Rivalry phenomenon is not slowing down and Celine Dion is rumoured to play at a renovated Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
Read these stories and more in our weekly roundup here.
The Canadian hitmaker’s stripped-down performance of “Everything Hallelujah” sparked debate on social media over the energy he brought to the show, which also featured Madonna, Shakira, Burna Boy, BTS and more. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
The Quebec government has approved plans to renovate the stadium, making it suitable for large-scale concerts and events. The upheaval of its indoor seating, premium spaces and concessions is set to complete in 2028. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
After closing its final location on Sainte-Catherine Street in Montreal, the beloved Canadian music store will auction off over 2,000 lots including instruments and musical gear on July 22 and 23. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
Known for her work with Hole and Smashing Pumpkins, the Canadian bassist's album of unreleased demos from the ‘90s, titled Bass Womb Room: My ’90s 4-Track Demos x Field Recordings, is out Sept. 4, coinciding with her Toronto photo exhibit. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Invitees of the award-winning event could hardly contain themselves as the Toronto rapper delivered his words of encouragement. – Angel Diaz, Billboard
After a recent visit to the family-run Kerrisdale restaurant, Bublé shared photos on Instagram and admitted he was "late to the party" while thanking Reynolds for steering him to Minerva. Vicki Duong, Georgia Straight
Hacked source code from AI music company Suno lists YouTube Music, Deezer, and Genius among the platforms it scraped to build its AI models, according to a report from 404 Media on July 15. – Corben Boiles, Variety
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Lorde Slams ‘Inaccurate’ Spotify AI Song Descriptions of ‘Current Affairs’: ‘We Don’t Want This’
Spotify responded that "when something's off, we move fast to fix it." – Gil Kaufman, Billboard
Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan and Morgan Wallen have all dealt with audience effluence in recent weeks – but that’s only one part of a fearsome subculture that has built up around fandom, endurance and ‘getting barrier.’ – Kate Solomon, The Guardian
The hit show's soundtrack skates onto multiple charts, including Soundtracks, Top Album Sales, Vinyl Albums, Indie Store Album Sales & the Billboard 200. – Keith Caulfield, Billboard
Riot Fest shared an image of a document on social media on July 16 titled "William Shatner Riot Fest 2026 Artist Rider Requirements."Some of the requests are rather bizarre. – Rob Carroll, Loudwire
