Amid a hiatus that the Mexican band Café Tacvba began at the end of 2024, vocalist Rubén Albarrán reappeared last week (Jan. 7) on social media to publicly make a request on behalf of the group to its former record labels, Universal Music and Warner Music Mexico: to remove their catalog from Spotify, arguing that the platform “contravenes their artistic principles.”

The request from the famous rock quartet, also composed of Emmanuel del Real (keyboards), Joselo Rangel (guitar), and Quique Rangel (bass) — an unprecedented move in the Latin American music scene until then — refers to ethical concerns over “reprehensible” actions by the streaming company, such as investments in weaponry and propaganda for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, and questions the royalty distribution model and the use of AI.

“It’s time to raise our voices,” Albarrán tells Billboard Español in an interview in Mexico City. “I’ve received opinions that asking for our music to be taken off Spotify is an attack on ourselves as musicians. And what I respond is that, as musicians, we are trying to use our platforms to speak out about what we find morally reprehensible.”

An eight-time Latin Grammy-winning and Grammy-Award-winning group, Café Tacvba was formed in 1989 and is one of the most influential bands in Spanish-language music, with 7.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify at present.

Spotify Mexico responded to Albarrán on January 8 in a message shared with Billboard Español via email, stating that “Spotify does not finance war. Helsing is an independent company that has been supplying defense technology to Ukraine. Additionally, there are currently no ICE ads on Spotify; the mentioned advertisement was part of a U.S. government recruitment campaign that was broadcast on major media outlets and platforms. Spotify is a platform for music, and our AI policy focuses on protecting human artists from clones and fraud.” The company added that it is “proud that Café Tacvba’s music has generated millions of dollars on Spotify over the years.”

The Mexican band’s request to remove their catalog from Spotify follows similar efforts from global acts such as Massive Attack, Björk, and Lorde, with each of those acts’ music still being available on the platform.

Albarrán reflects on the reactions sparked by the group’s stance on the digital platform and opens the conversation about the use of music in a context beyond its cultural vocation.

A week after the band made their request to leave Spotify public, what do you think about the reactions this decision has triggered?

I think that’s what’s important, is that a conversation is generated… Many people who are unaware of the actions of this corporation can become informed, and also learn about the reasons why we are requesting that Café Tacvba’s catalog be removed from the platform. I believe all of that is beneficial, that people see that we as musicians are trying to use our platform to speak out about what we find morally reprehensible. Opening the dialogue — that’s the best part of it all.

Have you received a response from your former record labels about the request?

So far, we haven’t received a response. And I want to clarify: we’re not confronting the record labels; we’re confronting Spotify because it’s the corporation that is acting in this way. We have a responsibility to the agreements we signed through contracts with both companies. When we signed a contract, we gave away the rights to exploit our songs, our music, and it’s the labels who, in turn, contract with digital platforms. They are the ones who must remove our catalog. We can’t do it directly. People might think it’s an automatic process, but it’s not. It’s a procedure that will take time, but we hope it will work in our favor.

Did you read Spotify’s response to the group’s statement?

Yes. It seems to me that they are trying to create controversy where there isn’t any, denying things the way politicians do, denying the indefensible. In that sense, what Spotify is saying is indefensible. Something I believe is that music must accompany people, communities, give them strength, energy, especially in difficult times like the ones we’re living in. What their former CEO, Daniel Ek, does, using the money he earns from the effort of millions and millions of musicians to invest in military technology, is almost like a magic trick — but dark magic. It’s a millionaire elite attacking and violating people; that’s not right, no matter how you look at it.

Also, in their response, Spotify says there are no longer ICE ads on the platform, even though they previously said they wouldn’t remove ICE advertising because it didn’t violate their policies. Now they’ve done so because they’re seeing the scale of the problem after the murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis by ICE agents.

Will your other band, Los K’comxtles, also request to be removed from Spotify?

Yes, we’re also in talks. We had a meeting with the directors of our label, Faro Latino. Although it’s a small, independent aggregator, we encountered resistance to our stance. So far, we haven’t submitted the letter — but we will in the coming days to set a precedent, and we’ll wait for the platform’s response.

What’s your response to the platform when they say Café Tacvba’s music has generated millions of dollars over the years?

Who better than us, the musicians, to know how much we receive in royalties? It’s far from being millions of dollars. That’s not the case, and maybe they’re the ones keeping that money. With what they pay artists and the abuse toward musicians, there’s no way to have an honorable life, no matter what Spotify says they pay. Those claims that Café Tacvba’s music generates millions of dollars — they should prove it.

How long did it take the group to agree on this decision? Café Tacvba is currently on a sabbatical year…

Precisely because we’re on a sabbatical year, it was something complex that took time, and we reached a consensus, for which I’m very grateful to my bandmates. In Café Tacvba, we have different opinions, but as a group, we believe it’s important to take a stand — because we know the space and place we occupy in people’s hearts, what our music means to them, and we can’t turn a blind eye to the injustices we are experiencing as a society and pretend nothing is happening.

But the call isn’t just for artists; it’s also for users who can also make a change. This process is long, tedious, heavy — it’s about confronting companies, confronting company executives, confronting Spotify. But users can make it easier if they cancel their subscription in just 20 minutes. I hope that musicians and the public can become aware and, together, make a big change.

When will the band end their hiatus and return to the stage?

We think that this pause could end in the middle of this year, but it could also be extended. Each of us is enjoying a moment where the speed, the workload we’ve carried in other years, is now harder for us; it weighs more. We’re also slowing down a bit — and I like that because, in the face of what we’re living through, the answer is to slow down.

R&B superstar Daniel Caesar will both perform and receive the international achievement award at the 55th annual Juno Awards, set for Hamilton’s new TD Coliseum on Sunday, March 29.

Caesar’s Juno honor reflects the global impact of a career now encompassing four albums. He is still riding high from last year’s Son of Spergy, which became his third top 10 album on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. Caesar recently returned to popular NPR performance series Tiny Desk.

Caesar, who was born in Toronto, won a Grammy for best R&B performance seven years ago as a featured artist on H.E.R.’s “Best Part.” He received four Grammy nods, including record and song of the year, as a featured artist on Justin Bieber’s “Peaches.” That 2021 pop/soul smash, which also featured GIVEON, became Caeser’s first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Caesar has since returned to the top 10 on that chart as a featured artist on Tyler, the Creator’s “St. Chroma” (No. 7 in 2024).

Caesar appeared on the cover of Billboard and Billboard Canada last year and performed an intimate hometown concert at NXNE in Toronto, returning to the site of his first ever headlining show, the Mod Club. In the story, he talks about moving to the United States and feeling caught between his Canadian upbringing and his entry into the music industry machine. This Junos moment follows the full-circle moment of embracing his past and the people who helped him turn into an international star.

That news leads the series of Juno announcements Thursday (Jan. 15) from The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and broadcaster CBC.

Mae Martin will host the televised broadcast on March 29. The multi-hyphenate is known for acclaimed Netflix shows Feel Good and Wayward, which they created and starred in, as well as multiple stand-up comedy specials, podcasts and their debut music album I’m a TV last year, which gained traction and Billboard chart success on Canadian radio.

Acclaimed Indigenous folk/roots singer-songwriter William Prince joins the lineup of performers alongside previously announced Canadian rock bands The Beaches and Arkells, who have deep ties to the city of Hamilton.

On the industry side, Sandy Pandya of ArtHaus, Vinny Cinquemani of Paquin (both recent Billboard Canada honorees) and the late Alexander Mair (Attic Records) are set to receive Walt Grealis special achievement awards, recognizing their significant and lasting influence on the Canadian music business. These will be handed out at the non-televised Juno Awards gala on Saturday, March 28, as will the Humanitarian Award, presented to hard rock favourites Billy Talent in recognition of their community work and philanthropy.

This follows the previous announcement that Canadian icon Joni Mitchell, who rarely travels, will receive the lifetime achievement award at the 2026 Junos. Also previously announced, Nelly Furtado will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Also announced Thursday were the first round of performers for JUNOfest Presented by CBC, a festival that presents a diverse grouping of Canadian artists in multiple Hamilton venues during Juno Week: Amelia Maxwell, Ammoye, Bells Larsen, Billianne, Burs, Cam Kahin, Carrie Clark, Computer, cootie catcher, Dumb Crush, Ebril, Falls for the Elderly, Feura, GRAE, Ivy Gardens, JayWood, Jordan Astra, Kali Horse, Katie Tupper, Lindsay Schoolcraft, LU KALA, Mattie Leon, Myst Milano, Nicolette & The Nobodies, poolblood, Puma June, Rachel Bobbitt, Ralph Nyoni, Shawnee Kish, Silverstein, Sister Ray, Status/Non-Status, Superstar Crush, Tedy and Ten Minute Detour.

Additional performers, presenters and Juno Week programming will be announced in the coming weeks.

This story was originally published by Billboard Canada.

Ed Sheeran, John Mayer and Dave Grohl just cruised into the Jimmy Kimmel Live! studio to perform “Drive” from the F1: The Movie soundtrack, keeping their feet on the gas from start to finish.

Bringing intensity and high-energy to the rock track, the British pop star and American guitarist both strummed axes as Sheeran sang lead vocals in a video of the showcase posted Thursday (Jan. 15). The pair wrote “Drive” together with producer Blake Slatkin, who joined the two men on guitar for the performance.

A certain Foo Fighters frontman also pounded away on the drums behind Sheeran and Mayer, while Rami Jaffee and Pino Palladino also rocked out with the boys. All of them were backdropped by a screen showing a montage of footage of Brad Pitt and Damson Idris in the F1 film.

“Flyin’ through the city, I got God on my side/ But the real world is not far/ Push to the limit, I’ll be burnin’ all night/ Gettin’ tailed by a cop car,” Sheeran belted while Mayer, lost in the music, nodded his head to the riffs he was shredding on his electric.

The first live performance of “Drive” comes more than six months after the star-studded F1 soundtrack dropped, also featuring tracks by Tate McRae, Doja Cat, ROSÉ and Chris Stapleton. Upon its release, seven of the songs from the album occupied top 10 spots on the Tunefind Top Movie Songs chart.

Sheeran’s stop by Kimmel comes right before he’s set to embark on his Loop Tour, which kicks off Friday (Jan. 16). Two days prior to the performance, the hitmaker unveiled his career-spanning setlist for the trek via an Apple Music playlist.

Watch Sheeran, Mayer, Grohl and company perform “Drive” for the first time ever above.

There’s no limit to a mother’s intuition. Long before A$AP Rocky and Rihanna were partners and parents of three kids together, they were just friends — but the rapper says his mom always knew they were meant to be more.

In a clip from an upcoming episode of New York Times‘ Popcast posted Wednesday (Jan. 14), Rocky recalled how his mom, Renee, kept trying to get him and the Fenty mogul together years before they actually did. “My mother used to say s–t, like, ‘I know you like this girl that you with right now’ — I ain’t gonna say no names — ‘but I want you with RiRi,’” he shared.

“It’s like, ‘Ma, why you keep saying that? That girl don’t even want me like that,’” Rocky continued of what he used to tell his mother about Ri. “‘But we cool, Mom. Like, that’s just my friend, chill.’”

But his mom would insist, “I’m telling you, she’s real,” and of course, Renee ended up being right. “Mothers know best,” the hip-hop star emphasized.

In the clip, Rocky also spoke about how Ri added clarity to his life and helped him realize which of his relationships weren’t beneficial. “Being with my girl took a blindfold off,” he told the hosts. “She’ll tell you, like, ‘That’s not your friend. That, that’s your friend.’”

The two musicians have now been in a relationship for at least five or six years, becoming closer during the coronavirus pandemic. They now share two sons, 3-year-old RZA and 2-year-old Riot Rose, as well as a daughter named Rocki, whom they welcomed in September.

And according to Ri, they might just be adding a fourth soon. In the comments of an Instagram video about wanting to get pregnant in 2026, the hitmaker wrote recently, “So I’m not crazy then? Bet!”

Rocky is currently gearing up to release his long-awaited album, Don’t Be Dumb, which is due out Friday (Jan. 16). So far, fans have heard “Helicopter” and “Punk Rocky” from the LP.

See the clip of Rocky talking about his mom and Ri below.

@popcast

Tomorrow on Popcast … A$AP Rocky! In an exclusive sit-down, the rapper and actor discusses the release of “Don’t Be Dumb,” his first new album in eight years, plus settling down with his “boo” Rihanna, life as a family man, his forays into Hollywood, influence on rapper fashion and much more. Watch the full interview on Thursday at YouTube.com/Popcast. #asaprocky #asaprockyinterview #rihanna #music #fyp

♬ original sound – Popcast