As artificial intelligence moves further into the music space, how concerned should the country community, which has built its reputation on authenticity and a trusted connection between artists and fans, be?

One-third of the top 10 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart dated Nov. 15 is composed of AI-assisted artists, including “Walk My Walk,” attributed to Breaking Rust, which spends its second week at No. 1; Cain Walker’s “Don’t Tread on Me” which stands at No. 3; and Walker’s “Ain’t My Problem,” which debuted at No. 9. (Walker’s “Freedom” also debuted on the 15-position chart at No. 11).

“Walk My Walk,” which is spending its second week at No. 1, has a gospel, stomping feel, while Walker’s tunes are more dark country rock. All three share similar “stand my ground, don’t mess with me”-type lyrics with boisterous vocals.

The songs are selling relatively small numbers: Breaking Rust’s “Walk My Walk” sold more than 2,000 copies in the U.S. for the tracking week ending Nov. 6, according to Luminate, while Walker’s “Don’t Tread on Me” sold more than 1,000 copies, and his “Ain’t My Problem” sold slightly under 1,000. By comparison, the top-selling song on Billboard‘s all-genre Digital Song Sales chart for the week ending Nov. 6, Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” sold 29,000 copies.

“It’s a notable wake-up call but not yet an existential threat — more like a symptom of broader disruptions in how music is created, distributed and consumed,” says FEMco founder Leslie Fram. “In country, where authenticity and storytelling are core, this could erode trust if fans feel manipulated, but it’s mostly confined to sales charts so far, not airplay or streaming staples.”

Yet. But AI has already spread to another genre’s airplay chart: Xania Monet, who signed to Hallwood Media after bidding offers reached $3 million, became the first known AI artist to earn enough radio airplay to rank on a Billboard radio chart when she debuted at No. 30 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart dated Nov. 11. Several other AI or AI-assisted acts have also debuted on Billboard charts in recent weeks, including Childpets Galore on Christian Digital Song Sales, Unbound Music and Emily Blue on Rock Digital Song Sales, and contemporary Christian artist Juno Skye on the Emerging Artists chart.

Terrestrial country radio stations have not yet added Breaking Rust or Cain Walker to their rotations, and country radio consultant Joel Raab says that’s wise. “Listeners react negatively to the idea of AI voices on their stations,” Raab says, citing research done on the question of AI use in general. “Listeners don’t like the idea of AI voices, so by association, I don’t think they’d like the music.”

Furthermore, other than playing the songs for curiosity value, “leaning on that type of programming consistently seems very shortsighted considering radio makes money off of touring advertising and other artist-driven revenue,” says F2 Entertainment Group president/CEO Fletcher Foster, who manages MORIAH and other artists.

Fram agrees. “[Country] stations prioritize ‘real’ voices tied to tours and endorsements, so Breaking Rust might need active promo (e.g., fake ‘artist’ interviews or tie-ins) to cross over,” she says. ”It’s going to be a real conversation for gatekeepers. If [the song] hooks listeners, they may want to play it — radio’s job is curation, not purity tests.”

For real artists and their managers, though, the AI disruption could potentially make a difficult job even harder. “The artist development process has never been easy. Over the past few years, especially since COVID and the massive switch to DSPs, it has never been more challenging,” Fletcher says. “It’s incredibly detrimental to have AI-generated songs taking up precious spots on the chart because not only do they clog up the chart, but they take positions away from a well-rounded artist that can have a career generating revenue and publishing, touring, brand partnerships, etc.”

Some labels are embracing AI. Last month, Universal Music Group (UMG) announced a deal with Udio that settled UMG’s involvement in a lawsuit it had filed last year against the AI music startup, along with Sony and Warner — and paved the way for a version of Udio that would create a new commercial consumption and streaming experience that would pay participating UMG artists for lending their work to Udio’s AI model.

Country artist Martina McBride is among the artists who have been vocal about protecting artists and their voices. Earlier this year, she testified in support of the NO FAKES Act, bipartisan legislation that gives individuals the right to protect their voices and likenesses from being replicated by AI without their consent, both in music and in a broader context.  “AI technology is amazing and can be used for so many wonderful purposes. But like all great technologies, it can also be abused,” she wrote in a guest column for Billboard published in May.

Raab and Fram are betting on the human race over deep fakes, even though there may be challenging times looming. “Looking ahead, the realness of human music with heart and human soul will win every time,” Raab predicts.

“Casual streamers might shrug — ‘If it sounds good, who cares?’, but dedicated fans — especially in genres like country — crave the human ‘mistakes’ that add soul, per a study on what makes tracks memorable,” Fram says. “Bottom line: Fans will stream AI songs short-term, but loyalty? That’s earned through real stories, not algorithms…Over time, ‘fake’ acts risk fizzling like one-hit wonders; true superfans bet on humans who evolve with them. AI might open doors, but only flesh-and-blood keeps ’em coming back for encores.”

Four of the U.K.’s leading artists are among those coming together to call on the British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, to honour a pledge to protect fans from online ticket scalpers, also known as touts.

Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Radiohead and Sam Fender are all signatories to a joint statement published Thursday (Nov. 13), in which artists, managers and fan groups are asking Starmer to commit to resale price cap legislation in the U.K.

In its manifesto for the 2024 general election, the Labour Party proposed policies for new consumer protections on ticket resales. This evolved into an industry consultation in January, which invited views from venues, promoters, fans and other parties on a resale price cap, considering options from face value to a 30% uplift.

On Oct. 5, seven months after the consultation closed, the U.K.’s culture minister, Ian Murray, confirmed that the current Labour government would press ahead with plans for a price cap on resale tickets — but the specifics of these plans have yet to be revealed.

Now, dozens of industry figures are calling for the Prime Minister to make the commitment to price cap legislation in the next King’s Speech, which is set to take place next spring.

In the statement, the coalition says new protections are needed to “help fix elements of the extortionate and pernicious secondary ticketing market that serve the interests of touts, whose exploitative practices are preventing genuine fans from accessing the music, theatre and sports they love.”

It adds: “For too long certain resale platforms have allowed touts to bulk buy and then resell tickets at inflated prices, forcing fans to either pay above the odds or miss out entirely. This erodes trust in the live events sector and undermines the efforts of artists and organisers to make shows accessible and affordable. Introducing a cap will restore faith in the ticketing system, help democratise public access to the arts in line with the Government’s agenda and make it easier for fans to spot illegal behaviour, such as ticketing fraud.”

Alongside the aforementioned names, the list of signatories includes The Cure’s Robert Smith, New Order, Mark Knopfler, Iron Maiden, PJ Harvey, alt-J, Aluna Francis, Bastille, Ben Howard, Brix Smith, Mogwai, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Nubiyan Twist. (View the full list below.)

With the statement on Thursday, the group of signatories joins consumer choice organisation Which?, the FanFair Alliance, O2 and the Football Supporters’ Association, along with organisations representing the music and theatre industries, venues, managers and ticket retailers, among others.

The statement arrives alongside a new investigation from Which?, which outlines the global touting operations targeting the U.K.’s ticketing industry. The group identified prolific scalpers in locations including Brazil, Dubai, Singapore, Spain and the United States, all of whom were bulk-buying tickets for live music and sporting events in the U.K. before relisting them at inflated prices on platforms such as StubHub and Viagogo.

Examples of this practice included tickets for Oasis’ Wembley Stadium shows, which were listed for prices as high as £3,498.85 ($4,594.04) on StubHub and £4,442 ($5832.41) on Viagogo. Another finding showed that a seat for the recent Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns NFL clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was listed for £3,568.39 ($4685.35) on StubHub.

Elsewhere, Which? also found multiple cases of speculative selling, which is when tickets are listed on secondary sites for double the price — even though the seller has not bought them yet.

In a press release, Lisa Webb, a consumer law expert at Which?, said: “Today’s joint statement makes clear that artists, fan organisations and consumers reject the broken ticketing market that has allowed touts to thrive for too long. The Prime Minister pledged to protect fans and a price cap on resold tickets will be a critical step towards fixing this industry, but he must commit to this legislation by including it in the next King’s Speech.”

Webb concluded: “Further reforms are also needed to ensure sellers actually own the tickets they advertise before listing them, that resale platforms ensure the identities of sellers and key information about a ticket are verified and that the new rules are effectively enforced.”

Artist signatories: Alfa Mist, alt-J, Aluna Francis, Amy Macdonald, Andro, Bastille, Ben Howard, Brix Smith, Charlotte OC, Coldplay, Dana Margolin (Porridge Radio), Dua Lipa, Graeme Park, Howard Jones, Idlewild, Iron Maiden, Johnny Marr, Keane, Kelli-Leigh, Low Island, Mark Knopfler, Mogwai, New Order, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Nick Mason, Nubiyan Twist, Orlando Higginbottom, PJ Harvey, Quantic, Radiohead, Revenge of Calculon, Robert Mitchell, Robert Smith (The Cure), Sam Fender, SNAYX, Sweetie Irie, The New Eves, Travis.

Organisations: Fan Fair Alliance, Featured Artists Coalition, Football Supporters Association, LIVE, Music Managers’ Forum, Music Venue Trust, Musicians’ Union, O2, Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre, Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR), UK Music, Which?.

Damian Lazarus’ longstanding Day Zero party will debut in Bali in 2026. The Indonesian island’s first edition of the event is set to happy April 17, with the lineup to be announced in the coming months.

The expansion makes an already major year for Day Zero even bigger, as in June Lazarus announced that Day Zero’s first Brazil edition will also happen on Jan. 3 in São Miguel dos Milagres, Brazil, located on the country’s northern coast in the state of Alagoas. Day Zero also returns to its original location in Tulum, Mexico on Jan. 10, 2026 with a lineup featuring Mau P, Seth Troxler, Nicola Cruz, Lazarus himself and many others. The event has happened annually in this location since 2012, taking off in 2018 and 2021.

“There was never a concrete plan for Day Zero beyond our spiritual home in Tulum,” Lazarus tells Billboard of Day Zero’s new editions. “Over the years, however, my team and I have traveled to many far-flung places, exploring new opportunities—often at the invitation of established event producers and promoters. We’ve been deliberate in our expansion, never wanting to rush into anything that didn’t feel completely right for all of us.”

Day Zero Bali will be produced in partnership with the Savaya Group, a production team that puts on dance-focused events in Bali, Jakarta and beyond, and with whom Lazarus crossed paths with during his travels to the island.

“Some years ago, I also began exploring Bali as a potential destination to weave our magic,” he continues. “As I spent more time there, immersing myself in its rich culture, traditions, and cosmic energy, I fell deeply in love with the island. That connection led me to begin a dialogue with the Savaya Group, whom I immediately recognized as the perfect partners to help bring to life the vision I had been nurturing—a spectacular festival set in a truly extraordinary place I discovered.

Lazarus continues that the reason for the two new editions of Day Zero in 2026 is that it “just feels like the correct time to expand, in my soul. The Day Zero team comprises of incredibly talented people who connect in a very special way once a year in Mexico to create an other-worldly experience. We discussed the idea of bringing our love and honorable intentions to other special places and agreed that we were capable of building on what we have created so far; we all heard the call to make this kind of magic in a handful of other places.”

He adds that each site helps inspire the artist he books to play the event, saying that “every location speaks to me in different ways. I have to look at the location and try to imagine what would and would not work in each. I try to create a list of artists whilst walking the site, imagining how we will transform the site and what kind of sound and which kind of artist and personality will shine there.”

He also advises that these will be the only three editions of Day Zero to happen in 2026, given the demands of producing these shows. “We never want to water down our ethics, our care and attention to detail, our sustainability activations, or our performance led, heartfelt connections to mystical indigenous people and traditions.”

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Jessica Simpson’s popular Walmart clothing line has some great picks for holiday gifts, or for stocking up on seasonal wear. The latest drop from her top-selling fashion line includes cozy jackets and other winter wear to welcome the holiday season in style — all without breaking your budget.

The fan favorite collection features affordable jackets, tops, jeans, boots, bags, dresses, skirts and more, and many of the pieces have been topping the Walmart’s bestsellers list for months. What’s even better than shopping Simpson’s clothing line? Getting select items on sale for Black Friday, including a popular faux fur jacket that’s marked down to $60 (it looks way more expensive).

BLACK FRIDAY DEAL

Jessica Simpson Faux Fur Jacket

$62.50

Buy Now at walmart

The boxy cropped jacket features a fashionable leopard print set against an oversized rounded collar and snap button closure.

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What we like: it’s the perfect mix of practicality and style, with the cozy faux fur material and long sleeves keeping you warm, while the animal print and cape-style construction make it super on-trend for the season. The jacket pairs as easily with jeans as it does with a dress for a night out. The coat is almost out of stock, though you should be able to find select colors in sizes ranging from XS to XL.

Shopping for a different style? Grab the Jessica Simpson Women’s Sherpa Coat — currently on sale for $39.99 (it used to cost up to $79.99). The double-breasted sherpa peacoat is available in this chic cognac colorway with multiple sizes in stock as of this writing.

BLACK FRIDAY DEAL

Jessica Simpson Women’s Sherpa Fleece Peacoat

$39.99 $79.99 50% off

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The wooly sherpa material is warm and cozy and hugs you like a robe.

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We like the draped oversized fit, which is great for layering and flattering for all body types. The longer length, meantime, keeps you warm down below your knees. Two large pockets keep your hands snug and protected from the elements too.

Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, and Walmart is front in line with epic rollbacks on holiday gifts and winter essentials.

Right now, Walmart shoppers can save up to 50% off, with early Black Friday discounts across fashion, electronics, beauty, toys and other departments. Walmart’s Cyber Monday sale, meantime, starts on December 1. Walmart+ members can shop both Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales early to get first dibs on closeout deals before they’re gone for good.