| April 18, 2026 
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The Live Nation antitrust trial — a case closely watched by the music industry and a lot of fans who have felt wronged while trying to score tickets to a major concert — ended on Wednesday with a federal jury finding the concert giant that includes Ticketmaster has operated as a monopoly. The judge overseeing the case (the same judge from the Sean Combs trial), will next determine monetary damages and further remedies — like whether the company should be split up. Ben Sisario, who has been closely following the case, broke it down into five takeaways. Olivia Rodrigo returned this week with the first song from her third album, and Lindsay Zoladz was out of the gate with praise for “Drop Dead,” “the most visceral evocation of dreamy romance that Rodrigo has released yet.” And Madonna announced “Confessions II,” her follow-up to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor” which fans (including me) have been begging for. (A first taste, “I Feel So Free,” arrived after Jon Pareles wrapped up his week in songs, but trust I will be asking his opinion on it ASAP!) Ross Scarano profiled Baby Keem, the 25-year-old rapper and producer (and Kendrick Lamar’s cousin) who tells his origin story on his second album, “Casino,” which he’s taking on the road starting this week. And Olivia Horn chatted with Sofia Isella, who “has found an audience, on social media and as an opener for a series of high-profile acts, with gothic pop songs that bristle at patriarchy.” |
