More than three dozen individuals from across the music industry are scheduled to speak at the third annual Music Sustainability Summit happening in Los Angeles on April 14.

Announced Thursday (March 5), the speaker roster includes Lindsay Arell of Legends Global, Maggie Baird of Support+Feed, Zoe Berman of Sound Future, Kelly Brennan-Kleyn of KBK Management, Jamal Chalabi of Backlash Productions, Mary Conde of Another Planet, Erik Distler of AEG, Kristen Fulmer of Oak View Group, Adam Gardner of Reverb and Guster, Lara Seaver of Reverb, Cheryl Liguori of Z2 Entertainment, Lesley Olenik of Live Nation, Scott Paul of Taylor Guitars, Stuart Ross of The Conference Live At Lititz, Carol Scott of TAIT and Neel Vasavada of Overdrive Energy Solutions.

These speakers will participate in a flurry of conversations centered around merch, fan travel, fan engagement, sustainability in small and midsize venues, foodservice, and more, as the 2026 Summit focuses on addressing the industry’s most crucial environmental impacts.

Presented by the Music Sustainability Alliance, the day-long Music Sustainability Summit will be held at Solotech Studios in Hollywood. Passes are $382 through March 31 and available here.

“This year’s summit program focuses on turning ideas into impactful, practical, and scalable
solutions,” the Alliance’s CEO and co-founder, Amy Morrison, says in a statement. “We designed a series of workshops, panels, and mainstage presentations to bring together artists, venues, crews, vendors, labels, promoters, managers, platforms and others to move the industry forward.”

2026 Summit partners include AEG, AEG Presents, AXS, Back of House, Green Disco, PRG, Solotech and Warner Music Group.

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What do you get the person who knows everything? We’ve got some ideas, at least when it comes to know-it-alls about pop culture.

Whether they’re a music junkie who won’t shut up about the B-sides of their favorite album, a scrolling social media addict who knows the trends before they’re trending, or a superhero-obsessed comic book nerd (self-proclaimed) who has thoughts about a new Marvel movie casting, we’ve got something for every pop culture taste. Keep reading to shop the best gifts for pop culture fans below.

Whether the Swiftie in your life is still mourning the end of the Eras Tour, or they’re celebrating the upcoming Tayvis nuptials, this Taylor Swift-themed cocktail book, is sure to be a hit. Featuring 65 recipes alongside tips for starting a home bar and stunning illustrations, it’s a must-have how-to guide for every musical mixologist. With recipes for drinks like the “Fiftini,” “Fizz the Damn Season,” “New Rum-antics,” and our personal favorite, “King of My Bar Cart,” it’s the perfect gift for the pun-loving Taylor fan who loves to throw a (Lover) house party. Note: Taylor sang about being “22” and this book is for the over 21 Swiftie only!

As if your kids weren’t already obsessed with KPop Demon Hunters, now they have a new way to follow the adventures of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. With tons of glossy pictures and a story based on the film’s screenplay, it’s great for little HUNTR/X fans. Plus, it’s got the iconic gold spine of our own childhood favorite bedtime stories. In fact, you could say this gift is gonna be gonna be Golden…book.

Calling all Eyekons! While the “Internet Girls” try to crack the case of Manon’s hiatus, we can keep supporting our girls. This adorable acrylic Katseye keychain mimics the design of the group’s signature light stick. Rock it proudly on your keys or as a bag charm to add a “Touch” of global girl group glam to your purse. And if anyone says it’s not cute, just tell them to eat zucchini.

While we all mourn the sudden end of Tell Me Lies on Hulu (and can please discuss that ending?!), it’s a good time to remember that the series was actually based on a novel by Carola Lovering. Relive Lucy and Stephen’s collegiate origin story as the book alternates between each of their voices. Then, follow the toxic couple to New York as they live their post-college life in a world of, well, lies. It’s a dark, sexy tale that plays out just as vividly on the page as it did the screen. And for a couple hundred pages you can lie to yourself that this story will never end.

She may have lost her count, but she kept her title. Sort of. The lyrics from “Countess” Luann De Lesseps’ breakout dance hit “Money Can’t Buy You Class” (along with her famous fall into the bushes in Mexico) takes center stage on this polyester makeup bag. Great for your own girls’ trip, the 10” x 7” pouch is a great way to keep tracks of your beauty products or charging devices. Toss it in your bag before a flight and when you touch down, grab that intercom and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is the countess speaking. We have arrived.”

After watching the America’ Next Top Model doc it’s safe to say the show may not have aged well. (But Tyra sure has!) That doesn’t make the 2000s reality show any less iconic. And the most iconic moment of all? The episode where Tyra lost her cool on eliminated model Tiffany. Relive Banks’ catchiest accidental catchphrase every time you rock this sweatshirt. Just remember to smize while you do it.

It’s safe to say none of us will be using hotel coffee makers after seeing that TikTok. (You know, the one where the lady showed us her “hack” of washing her underpants in her hotel room Keurig). From now on, bring your own! This portable espresso machine is the same size as your emotional support water bottle and brews up a damn fine cup of coffee. Pop in a compatible capsule, add water, and brew for four minutes. It’s an easy (and sanitary) way to make a great cup of joe in your room. The machine is slim and can be stored in your backpack for ease of use, unlike your standard espresso machine.

Why is everyone learning to play Mahjong these days? We don’t know. But that hasn’t stopped us from jumping onboard! And if your friends are fiends too, this candle is a solid hostess gift to bring along to your next Mahjong night out. With notes of sea salt, citrus, musk, and amber, it’s a crowd-pleasing, clean-burning scent that will make you a winner — even if your hand isn’t one.

Lately, beer drinkers in every bar around the world seem to be trying to perfect their ability to “split the G,” a precise first sip of Guinness that aligns perfectly with the horizontal bar of the ‘G’ in the iconic logo on a pint glass. But how do you do it? And why? This book explains the frothy trend that’s sweeping your local watering hole, while also exploring the iconic beer’s origin story. Hoppy reading!

As we countdown the days until March 20 when BTS will finally release their fifth studio album Arirang, what better way to mark off the days on your calendar than with these BTS-themed ballpoint pens? With a pen to match each member (and a different color for each) you can write with your bias or choose a different idol every day. And the quality? Don’t worry. The ink is smooth like butter.

Start your day right with this fun calendar. Each day, you’ll pull an answer and you’ll have to respond with a question (like the show). Match your question to what’s on the back of the page to win. There’s even JEOPARDY! and DOUBLE JEOPARDY! clues with assigned dollar amounts and a FINAL JEOPARDY! round where you can wager all or part of your “winnings.” Test your knowledge of topics including movies, TV, music, Broadway, books, social media, sports, fashion, current and iconic events, fads and trends, and more. 

You have to keep track of your keys to the cottage somehow, and what better way than these Hollander and Rozanov jersey keychains? Embroidered in cotton, their jersey-shaped design was inspired by classic hockey uniforms—namely those worn by our two favorite players. Whether you hang them on your gym bag or attach them to your car keys, you’ll have an excuse to fall back into your feels on a daily basis. Especially since we’re going to have to wait over a year for season two.

With a new movie seemingly out every season for the past 10 years, Marvel fans have little time to rest. But in their downtime, they’ll love to try their hand at this puzzle. With 3,000 pieces, it showcases the superheroes and super villains that make up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Spot Spiderman, Thor, Iron Man, and more as you painstakingly piece this behemoth together. And when it’s done, just like all great Marvel movies, there’s a sequel: Aquaraius offers plenty more Marvel puzzles where this one came from.

This Concerts Remembered Journal is a perfect gift for longtime concertgoers trying to remember some of their favorite shows or a newbie just getting their first tickets and hoping to make every memory last. With journal prompts to capture show stats like tour names, set lists, venues, and more, plenty of space to write notes and draw, and even a spot to hold your ticket stubs (for those who love an analog moment), it’s a must for live music lovers. Now they can document every smoke-filled room surprise show, every mega music fest, and every second of s stadium show.

Do you have a friend who’s full of useless information? Like, which celeb claims to have met Bigfoot? How about which pop star had a romantic encounter with a ghost? That’s the type of knowledge that wins Brass Monkey’s Irrelevant Celebrity Trivia game. Let your friend revel in their know-it-all-ness over a rousing round…even if everything they know is irrelevant.

True Batman fans will geek out (pun intended) over this gorgeous picture-filled hardcover book. It takes readers under the hood of Batman’s most iconic vehicle, including cars seen in The Batman, The Animated Series, and the films of Christopher Nolan, Zack Snyder, and Tim Burton. Because at the end of the day, Gotham’s greatest superhero is just a man in a tight suit with a killer car collection, am I right?

Any musically inclined Benson Boone fan would flip for this songbook, which features 12 of the star’s most popular songs arranged for piano, vocal, and guitar. Whether you’re budding Benson is looking to shred to “Mystical Magical” or belt “Beautiful Things,” this book has each song’s complete vocal lines, piano notation, full lyrics, and chord symbols included. Great for at-home harmonizing or as a tool to bring to lessons, it’s the perfect way for the next generation of pop stars to start honing their craft.

This laugh out loud funny trivia game begs the question, “What if ‘Sweet Dreams’ really were made of cheese?” Join two to eight players and guess popular songs based on hilariously incorrect lyrics. With 300 cards and unlimited genres, this game promises endless fun for music lovers and casual radio listeners alike. Put your musical skills to the test and get ready to laugh.

Our millennial queen has returned to music with an album full of songs about love, marriage, and all the grownup things. (All that kid stuff is so yesterday.) But that doesn’t mean we should forget her roots. Celebrate one of her most iconic moments of all-time with this That’s So Girl Wearing a Skirt as a Top t-shirt. It’s a reminder that Hilary has always been an ally, harkening back to her 2008 “don’t say gay” PSA.

This canvas tote is not only eco-friendly, but it’s Bravo-centric and perfect for the network’s super fans. Whether they’re obsessed with the housewives, love to hit the high seas with Below Deck, or all about Summer House and Southern Charm, this bag makes a great gift for the reality TV lover in your life. The 15” x 13” tote is ideal for a quick grocery run or even to toss papers and a book into. It’ll have everyone saying, “Bravo, Bravo, f__ing Bravo!”

Universal Music Group (UMG) reported nearly 9% revenue growth in 2025, as the label and publisher represented nine out of the top 10 top-selling acts in the world, including Taylor Swift, UMG executives said on Thursday (March 5).

UMG reported revenue of 12.5 billion ($14.7 billion) for the full year ending Dec. 31, up 8.7% from a year ago on a constant currency basis. Recorded music revenue rose 9.3% to 9.456 billion euros ($11.1 billion), driven by sales of Swift’s latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, and an 8.6% uptick in subscription streaming revenue. Other top sellers for the year included the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, Morgan Wallen, Lady Gaga and Sabrina Carpenter.

The company’s closeness with the biggest names in music led to “extraordinary success” this year, UMG CEO and chairman Lucian Grainge said on a call with investors.

“[Last year] was the third year in a row that we have represented nine out of the top 10 best-selling artists on the planet,” Grainge said. “The only recording artist whom we did not represent is Bad Bunny, and he’s represented by our Universal Music Publishing division.”

In other metrics, subscription revenue grew 8.6%, streaming revenue grew 4.7% in constant currency and physical revenue grew 11.4% in constant currency from a year ago.

Recorded music earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization grew 13.5% in constant currency to €2.3 billion ($2.6 billion), while the division’s EBITDA margin increased by 0.8 percentage points to 24.1%, up from 23.3% in 2024. 

Music publishing revenue grew by 9.3% to €2.26 billion ($2.6 billion), driven by 11.4% growth in digital revenue — a result of continued growth in subscription and streaming revenue, as well as improvements in synch, performance and mechanical revenue. Music publishing EBITDA rose nearly 12% to €531 million ($624 million), while EBITDA margin for the division increased to 23.5% from 22.9% in 2024.

“Our extraordinary momentum continues to build,” Grainge said on the earnings call.

A photo appears in the documentary Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It in which Preston is sitting at an organ across from Barbra Streisand in a recording studio. He’s playing on the Carole King song “Where You Lead” that Streisand covered in 1971 — an accompanying snippet of which soundtracks the photo. Listening to that recording speaks volumes about the gifted, Grammy-winning musician-singer-songwriter.

“You can hear how he pushes her to a funkier extreme,” explains Paris Barclay, the Emmy Award-winning director behind Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It. “When you’re talking about the foundation of popular music, it’s Black music. And Billy shows that incredibly well. Because of his foundation in gospel and the blues tradition of that, he was able to pollinate that around all sorts of pop and rock musicians going all the way through to rap artists who have sampled him.”

“It’s really a testament to Billy’s genius,” adds Stephanie Allain, a producer of the documentary. “He could just slip into any genre and, as Eric Clapton says, be the glue.”

Sparked by a book proposal from David Shaw, That’s the Way God Planned It traces Preston’s life and career trajectory starting from five-year-old gospel prodigy backing Mahalia Jackson to being mentored by Ray Charles and Little Richard. It was on tour at 15 with Little Richard that he met the latter’s young opening act, The Beatles. Thus began Preston’s legendary musical odyssey of performing and recording not only with The Beatles (earning the nickname “Fifth Beatle”) and Streisand but Sly Stone, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Clapton, Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond, among many others. In between, Preston crafted a hit career of his own that included No. 1s like “Outa-Space,” “Will It Go Round in Circles” and “Nothing From Nothing.”

Part history lesson and part walk down a star-paved memory lane, Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It — now playing in theaters across North America — is also part cautionary tale. Despite the career highs, Preston also experienced the lows of addiction and several run-ins with the law. In addition, he grappled with secrets tied to his early sexual abuse and sexuality. The latter fostered a tug of war with his faith that he came to terms with before his death in 2006.

During a recent phone interview, Barclay and Allain spoke with Billboard about illuminating a musical genius — and the troubled soul inside.

One comment early in the documentary immediately stands out: “How did we let this boy get away?”

Barclay: When Gloria Jones [a member with Preston of ‘60s gospel group The Cogics] said that, it was a thunderclap for us. It summarized a lot of the people who really love Billy. You can see that love in the film, but also their regret that somehow they missed helping him when he really needed help. So it seemed like sort of a benchmark for the film. It’s our hope that people will look at this film and think about how they can help people they love.

That’s reason enough to have a film like this out there: not just about the glory of Billy Preston, but also the cautionary tale about the next Billy Preston who might be in a similar situation. Like not finding a place in church, even though he loves God. Feeling lost and very lonely — from friends’ accounts — even though he was there with the biggest stars of the era.

Toward the end, there’s another striking comment: “Can you imagine if church was really what it says it is?”

Barclay: Coming from Sandra Crouch as a pastor really says a lot. And that’s a question we bring up. The Black church has always had a huge influence on music. But it’s also had a huge influence on the psyche of many of the people who believe and want to please God with their music and their lives. And there comes this conflict. And so what if the church was embracing and tolerant and did the things that Jesus says we should be doing? That would be something we’d all want to flock to.

Allain: And when Billy Porter says that everybody knows there are queens in the church, that’s something we also don’t talk about. I love that we touch on it in the film because, just like Paris was saying, there are so many people that are affected by this sort of hypocrisy going on.

In chronicling Preston’s life, how did you go about balancing his illustrious career, his faith and the sexual politics?

Allain: We didn’t want to do a hagiography and just talk about all the great things without really understanding him. What we attempted to do was to really get behind his smile a little bit and see what else was going on there. I think his music actually shines brighter because of it, you know. It was definitely a balancing act, though.

Barclay: We approached it through the eyes of love. When you love someone, you see everything: their faults, failings and what makes them lovable. In Billy’s case, it was not only that enormous talent, but his kindness that his smile sort of exemplified. We just really focused on that. We struggled with the balance, trying to figure out how we actually put this together in a way that expresses that love. But I think we found something that seems to work.

What’s your favorite Billy Preston song?

Barclay: I’ll go with “Morning Star,” which is pretty obscure. But you hear it in the movie after his mother dies. It’s really poetic, featuring more of his classical leanings in how he plays the piano. It’s also a love song to his mother. When I hear that song, I also think of my mother, who’s 90, and how she is my morning star, as Billy says in the song. I also think that song extends his legacy of love even further into the new generation.

Allain: I love “I Wrote a Simple Song.” Every time that comes on, I just groove to it. Then there’s “You Are So Beautiful.” And, of course, “That’s the Way God Planned It.” There’s so many, it’s hard to pick.

How did you come to choose that George Harrison-produced song as the documentary’s title?

Allain: We had a lot of different titles, but kept coming back to that one. For a character who’s a little enigmatic, that you can’t really get beyond …  it was his statement.

Barclay: It also leaves the audience with the question: Is that the way God planned it? Billy says in the movie that everything he’s done and everything that’s happened to him has been what God has planned. And when you get to the troubles that he’s had, the addiction, you wonder if that’s the way God planned it as well. Or was there something else happening here.

Did you ever feel like Billy was watching while the documentary was being filmed?

Allain: So many of our interviewees said they had dreams about Billy coming to them. Gloria Jones told us that Billy came to her in a solid gold Mercedes. Since she knew him for so long, I asked Gloria if he would approve. And she said absolutely.

Barclay: Manny Kellough [Preston’s drummer] mentioned that before his interview, he had a dream about Billy appearing, nodding to him and then disappearing. And we actually had it in the movie for a minute, although it was one of those things that has to go when you want to tell the story. But we’re feeling touched and blessed by this film.