Plans to bring ABBA Voyage – the holographic concert experience from the eponymous Swedish pop group – to Australia have reportedly failed.

First launched in May 2022, ABBA Voyage saw the quartet – which comprises Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog – taking to the first stage for the first time in 40 years, albeit as digital avatars (or ‘ABBA-tars’).

While the group themselves have resisted lucrative offers to re-form since their 1982 split, the holographic concert experience provided a way for fans to relive the band’s live concerts in the modern age. First launched in London in 2022, the immersive spectacle features 1979 versions of the band playing their biggest hits, backed by a 10-piece live band and a lofty light show.

Currently, the experience is scheduled to wrap in January 2026 with questions having been raised as to where it may be held next. While reports of a Las Vegas debut have surfaced recently, discussions in regard to an Australian edition of ABBA Voyage have been in the works since 2023.

Initially, both the cities of Sydney and Melbourne were in competition to host the production, with the latter reportedly winning out as the Victorian state government entered into what were labelled “advanced conversations.”

However, reports in May 2024 of an imminent announcement of a production at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse were later replaced by reports of stalled negotiations, with an unnamed government official claiming that ABBA Voyage organizers – which includes Melbourne’s Craig Hartenstine as CEO – “got greedy.” 

Now, a new report from the Herald Sun has stated the event is “not going ahead” in Melbourne after talks had “failed,” with money and value for taxpayers being the sticking point.

Reportedly, the ABBA Voyage production would require a purpose-built 3,000 seat venue to host the event and would cost $100 million AUD to be staged. 

Paul Dainty – who serves as the president and chief executive of promoter TEG Dainty, and was responsible for bringing the group to Australia in 1977 – called the news “disappointing.”

“It’s been a long journey, but [ABBA Voyage] is a super expensive project,” he added. “Maybe we can revisit it in the future.”

Though it’s unclear what sort of value ABBA Voyage had been predicted to generate for the Australian economy, a December 2024 economic and social impact report noted that in the two years since its opening in May 2022, ABBA Voyage had generated £1.40 billion for the U.K. economy.

Martin Solveig, the acclaimed French producer, singer, and songwriter, has announced his official retirement from the world of DJing.

Solveig shared the news with fans at France’s Les Vieilles Charrues music festival on Saturday (July 19) – his one and only performance of 2025, and first live appearance since November.

“It’s a special moment,” Solveig told the crowd of 70,000, France 24 reported. “All my life, each time I came onstage I told myself: ‘Play like it’s your last concert.’ Just until that moment arrives.

“Some of you have been following me for decades,” he added. “Thank you for coming, I know some have come from far away. Some of you will take my place. Thank you for being here, from the bottom of my heart.”

Solveig later confirmed the news in a social post shared on Tuesday (July 23rd), explaining that he would not, however, be retiring from making music.

“To new beginnings,” he wrote. “I’m leaving the stage with a full heart, stepping aside for the next generation. You’ll find me in the crowd, cheering them on at concerts and festivals.

“Music is my life — and always will be,” he added. “I’ll keep creating, for the joy, for the kids, and for/with artists I look up to.

Per France 24, Les Vieilles Charrues Director Jerome Trehorel explained that the festival was itself unaware they would be hosting Solveig’s final live performance until only recently.

“It was a surprise when he told us several weeks ago that the Vieilles Charrues would be his only concert date this year, and that it would be his last,” Trehorel said. “It’s an immense honour.”

Solveig began DJing at the age of 18 in the early ’90s before rising to fame throughout the early ’00s as a prolific producer and songwriter. Alongside collaborations with names such as David Guetta, Madonna, and Laidback Luke, Solveig released a total of five studio albums, including his most recent, 2023’s Back to Life.

The 2011 single “Hello” (which featured Canadian musician Martina Sorbara’s Dragonette project) became Solveig’s most successful track, peaking at No. 5 in his native France and giving him his sole appearance on the Hot 100 at No. 46.

Solveig also made a small number of appearances on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart across his career, with collaborative singles “All Day and Night” and “Thing For You” reaching No. 14 and No. 19, respectively, in 2019.

Nine months after Liam Payne died at age 31, his still-grieving fans can find a beacon of light in a new clip shared by Building the Band, the Netflix reality competition series the One Direction star filmed before his tragic death.

In the clip, “What Makes You Beautiful” — the 2011 breakthrough hit for the X Factor-formed boy band One Direction — plays in the studio while Payne films with the Breaking the Band judging panel in front of a live audience. Payne gives a sly smile and taps his fingers as the crowd passionately sings along to the upbeat smash before standing up out of his chair to rapturous applause and beginning to perform the song onstage. The best part: You can hear Payne clearly singing his baritone part in the song’s five-part harmony, just like he did for all those years with One Direction.

For the post-chorus “na-na-na’s,” Payne stops resisting the urge to join in on the crowd’s dance party, making his way down the stairs and into the audience to sing arm-in-arm with a group of fans who know every word. He weaves his way through the crowd, high-fiving everyone he passes, until he’s back onstage for the big finale.

“Let’s go, Liam!” cheers fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger, who — along with third judge Kelly Rowland — was clapping and singing along the whole time. When Payne returns to his chair, he looks ahead with a big smile and says, “That was so fun.” It’s a beyond-sweet moment that can offer a minor bit of comfort to Directioners that Payne definitely felt their love before his untimely death.

The new clip begins with the message “In loving memory of Liam Payne.”

When the Netflix show premiered earlier this month, host AJ McLean of Backstreet Boys dedicated the series to Payne and his loved ones. “When we came together to film Building the Band, we never imagined we’d soon be saying goodbye to our friend Liam Payne,” McLean says in the first episode. “Liam is a guest judge in later episodes, and through his presence, we see his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice. It’s through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family.”

Building the Band was one of the final projects Payne worked on before his death in October. About two months after wrapping filming in August, he suffered a fatal fall from the fourth-floor balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires. High levels of alcohol and other substances were in his system at the time of his death, toxicology reports later confirmed.

With the blessing of Payne’s family, Netflix moved forward with streaming Building the Band, which separates hopeful singers into closed-off pods where they then seek to assemble a musical group before ever seeing one another. The third and final batch of episodes will be available to stream starting Wednesday.

Ciara is preparing for the release of her anticipated CiCi album, which arrives Aug. 22. Prior to the LP, the singer sat down for an exclusive Billboard Family interview with her 8-year-old daughter Sienna.

Ciara and her bubbly daughter spoke at length about the forthcoming album, which has origins dating back to the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s been a long time coming with this project, so I like to say it’s a labor of love because I put a lot of time into it,” she explained.

Putting it simply, Ciara says her personal life is what’s inspired her the most heading into her eponymous album, which is her first LP since 2019’s Beauty Marks. “It’s really an extra special gift for my fans,” she added.

The next question drew a laugh out of Ciara when Sienna took it upon herself to answer if her mom should ever work with her husband, Russell Wilson, on music. “No, Dad is crazy,” Sienna said. “His singing’s a little off. Seriously, I’m telling the truth.”

Ciara tends to agree. “I think it is best that Dad plays football and Mommy does music,” she suggested. The Grammy-winning artist teased collabs with Latto and Jazze Pha on CiCi, which also boasts features from Lil Baby, Busta Rhymes, Big Freedia, Bossman Dlow and Chris Brown, according to the Apple Music track list.

The 39-year-old highlighted some of her favorite collaborations from over the years of her decorated career, such as team-ups with Missy Elliott (“Lose Control”), Chris Brown (“How We Roll”) and Ludacris (“Oh”). When it comes to specific moments, she hit on being proud to launch her own record label and winning a Grammy (best short form video for “Lose Control” at the 2006 ceremony).

Ciara also wants to dabble in the Latin market in the future. “I want to sing in Spanish,” she admitted. “Like work with an artist like Bad Bunny would be super cool.”

Look for CiCi to hit streaming services on Aug. 22 and for Ciara to hit the road for a tour. Watch the full interview above.

Sir Tom Jones will no longer be taking the stage in Germany as previously scheduled, as the Welsh singer has announced that illness has made him unable to perform at his upcoming show.

As announced Tuesday (July 22) via a statement on his Instagram, the icon shared that he’d be postponing that night’s concert in Bremen to a later date. The performance at Seebühne waterfront will now take place on July 28.

“Hello to all the fans in Bremen,” Jones began in his statement. “Unfortunately, I must postpone my show this evening, as I’ve contracted an upper respiratory infection that needs treatment and rest. I know this is really disappointing and will cause inconvenience to you all, and I’m very sorry about that.”

The musician went on to emphasize that all tickets purchased for the postponed show would remain valid for the makeup performance on the 28th. “I look forward to seeing you then,” he added. “Until then, thank you for your understanding.”

The announcement comes as Jones — the hitmaker behind Billboard Hot 100 top 10s “It’s Not Unusual,” “What’s New Pussycat?” and “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” — is traveling through Europe on a summer-long tour that will wrap in late August. Shortly before kicking off the trek in June, he wrote on Instagram, “I’m very much looking forward to be performing again for you all.”

Also in June, Jones rang in his 85th birthday, which he celebrated on the set of The Voice U.K. The musician has been a coach for 14 seasons, and he is currently filming the next installment with fellow judges Kelly Rowland, Will.I.Am and McFly.

See Jones’ announcement below.