Olivia's 65-date Tour, Taylor's Spotify Payout, Michael 2 Greenlit

Olivia Rodrigo Announces "The Unraveled Tour" in Support of Third Studio Album

Olivia Rodrigo has unveiled plans for an expansive 65-date global arena run, titled "The Unraveled Tour," set to commence this September. The announcement serves as a massive logistical precursor to the release of her third studio effort, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, which is slated for a June 12 arrival via Geffen Records. Promoted by Live Nation, the tour features a series of high-profile multi-night residencies in major hubs such as Chicago, Atlanta, and London, with a diverse roster of support acts including The Last Dinner Party, Wolf Alice, and Grace Ives joining on select dates.

Amidst the anticipated high demand, Rodrigo is maintaining her commitment to tour accessibility by reintroducing her "Silver Star" ticket program. The initiative will offer a limited supply of $20 tickets for every tour stop, a strategy originally implemented during her GUTS world tour to mitigate rising secondary market prices. With American Express presales beginning May 5, the tour is expected to be one of the most commercially significant live music events of 2026.

Taylor Swift’s Landmark 2018 UMG Clause Triggers Major Payouts for Fellow Artists

A pivotal moment in Taylor Swift’s career-long advocacy for artist rights has reached a multi-million dollar fruition. In 2018, when Swift signed with Universal Music Group (UMG), she famously made her contract contingent on a specific "Spotify clause": should the label ever sell its equity in the streaming giant, the proceeds must be distributed directly to its roster of artists on a non-recoupable basis. According to UMG’s 2026 first-quarter earnings report, the company is now preparing to sell roughly half of its Spotify stake, effectively activating Swift's provision and ensuring that thousands of artists receive direct payments regardless of their current debt status with the label.

The inclusion of the term "non-recoupable" is the technical linchpin of the deal, as it prevents the label from using these funds to pay off an artist’s existing balances for recording budgets or advances. In a standard industry framework, "unrecouped" artists rarely see liquid cash from secondary revenue streams until their initial costs are paid back; Swift’s negotiation bypassed this hurdle entirely. This payout marks a significant victory in the singer’s evolving history with streaming platforms, moving from her 2014 catalog boycott over low royalty rates to securing a structural shift in how major labels share corporate profits with their talent.

ICYMI:

• Olivia Rodrigo’s SNL promo references ‘The Devil Wears Prada.’ She is set to both host and perform this weekend.

• Kacey Musgraves has announced her ‘Middle of Nowhere Tour.’

Lionsgate Greenlights Michael 2 Following Record-Breaking Global Opening

Fresh off the historic $218 million worldwide debut of the Michael Jackson biopic Michael, Lionsgate has officially confirmed that a sequel is in development. Appearing on The Town podcast, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson revealed that the massive commercial success, marking the biggest opening ever for a biopic, has accelerated plans to continue the story. While the first film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, concludes its narrative around the late 1980s, Fogelson noted that the icon's post-1988 life offers a "massive amount of music and life experiences" that could easily span multiple follow-up films.

Future instalments are expected to focus on cultural milestones such as the 1993 Super Bowl halftime performance and the release of the Dangerous album. Though director Antoine Fuqua has already begun work on the script, the production timeline remains fluid as the creative team balances upcoming projects with Denzel Washington and Netflix. Despite critical scrutiny, the franchise’s momentum appears unstoppable, with Jaafar Jackson’s breakout performance serving as the foundation for what Fogelesson envisions as a long-term exploration of the King of Pop’s complex legacy.

POP FACT: On this day in 1969, iconic director Wes Anderson was born.

Rachel Zegler’s Award-Winning Evita Sets 2027 Transfer

Rachel Zegler is set to bring her Olivier Award-winning portrayal of Eva Perón to Broadway in the spring of 2027, as director Jamie Lloyd’s acclaimed London revival of Evita prepares for a highly anticipated New York transfer. Following its successful West End run, Lloyd’s production will find a home in a yet-to-be-announced Shubert theater, marking a major homecoming for the New York native. While the revival became famous in London for Zegler’s divisive choice to perform “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” from the theater’s external balcony, the Broadway staging promises to maintain the same raw, symbolic energy that redefined the 1978 Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice classic for a modern audience.

ICYMI:

• A live-action adaptation of Steven Spielberg’s ‘Casper’ is being developed at Disney+

• Zara Larsson has teamed up with Paris Hilton for the trailer for ‘Midnight Sun: Girls Trip.’

• Maya Rudolph has made her Broadway debut in ‘OH, MARY!’

— Katie Macbeth

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