Protest, partying, and observations on the great southern land and its people are among the themes that shine through in Australia’s National Songbook, into which the first batch of songs were inducted on Wednesday (Nov. 4).

Announced at a special event at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia in the nation’s capital, Canberra, 10 songs were elevated into The National Songbook, a new, annual initiative that recognizes the songs, songwriters and composers “whose creative vision has given voice to Australian stories.”

Among the standouts, Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning,” the Easybeats’ “Friday On My Mind,” Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman,” The Presets’ “My People,” Yothu Yindi’s “Treaty,” and Andrew “Banjo” Paterson’s “Waltzing Matilda.”

An initiative of APRA AMCOS and NFSA, the project preserves “the songs that have helped shape Australia’s cultural identity,” and launches to coincide with APRA’s 100th anniversary.

“No ten songs could ever tell the whole story of Australia, but together these inaugural inductees help us understand, as a nation, where we’ve come from, who we are and the values we’ve carried through generations,” comments Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS.

“As APRA celebrates 100 years of championing songwriters, composers and music publishers, we welcome these debut entries into The National Songbook as songs that have helped become part of our shared cultural story, reflecting the extraordinary breadth, diversity and richness of Australian songwriting and composing.”

As it grows, the songbook will serve as a permanent digital archive, a vault that safeguards music treasures for future generations.

“The National Songbook reflects the remarkable breadth of Australian songwriting and composition, from songs of protest, belonging and identity to works that have become woven into our national story and our DNA,” remarks Meagan Loader, chief curator of the NFSA.

“As Australia’s audiovisual archive, the NFSA will ensure these songs and stories are preserved in our national collection of works of significant cultural heritage, heft and heart, providing a new way for Australians now and into the future to engage with the songs and songwriters who have shaped us.”

The inaugural inductees are said to represent more than a century of Australian storytelling, creativity and cultural expression and are selected by an expert panel.

Stream the National Songbook playlists on Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube Music and visit NFSA for more.

Check out the first 10 works entered into The National Songbook:

“Beds Are Burning”
Written by Peter Garrett / Rob Hirst / Jim Moginie
Released: 1987

“Down City Streets”
Written by Ruby Hunter
Released: 1990

“Earth Cry”
Composed by Peter Sculthorpe
Released: 1990

“Friday on My Mind”
Written by Harry Vanda and George Young
Released: 1966

“I Am Woman”
Written by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton
Released: 1971

“My Island Home”
Written by Neil Murray
Released: 1987 (Warumpi Band) 1995 (Christine Anu)

“My People”
Written by Julian Hamilton / Kim Moyes
Released: 2007

The Boys soundtrack by The Necks
Written by Chris Abrahams / Tony Buck / Lloyd Swanton
Released: 1998

“Treaty”
Written by Dr M. Yunupingu / Stuart Kellaway / Witiyana Marika / M. Mununggurr / Cal Williams / G. Yunupingu /
Peter Garrett / Paul Kelly
Released: 1991

“Waltzing Matilda”
Written by Andrew ‘Banjo’ Paterson – lyrics, Christina Macpherson – melody
Released: 1927

Robbie Williams is the kind of guy who sings when he’s winning. He won big at the 2026 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday (Nov. 3), where he performed a mini-set for the almost-100,000 sports fans gathered at this race that stops a nation.

On a sunny spring day, the former Take That star had the spotlight all for himself as the cameras followed his stroll around Flemington Racecourse in a bedazzled suit, emblazoned with horses, for his opening number, “Feel.”

With support from a colorful cast of dancers, musicians and a marching band, the British pop artist then took to a stage for “Rock DJ,” got up close with the Cup during a performance of “Angels,” and closed things out in the round with “Let Me Entertain You.”

After the race, one of the premier events on Australia’s sporting calendar, Robbie delivered a full set at The Elms Live Stage, which included covers of hits by Oasis, Midnight Oil, Shania Twain, INXS and others.

For the record, Point Of Law won the 166th Melbourne Cup to lead a trifecta for trainer Ciaron Maher, during so in front of more than 97,000 race fans, for the biggest attendance on Melbourne Cup day since 2016.

Robbie is just warming up. He’ll play stadiums when his BRITPOP World Tour of Australia and New Zealand gets underway Saturday, Nov. 7 at Adelaide Oval. Produced by Michael Chugg’s​ Chugg Entertainment and the concert promoter’s partner Frontier Touring, the ANZ swing includes dates at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, Sydney’s Accor Stadium, Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium, and Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, then skips the ditch for shows on New Zealand’s North (Eden Park, Auckland) and South Islands ​(Christchurch’s One New Zealand Stadium).

He’s a superstar on Australia’s ARIA Charts, too, with 16 album appearances in the top 20 including No. 1s with Greatest Hits (nine weeks in 2004-05), Intensive Care (one week in 2005), Rudebox (one week in 2006), Reality Killed The Video Star (one week in 2009) and The Christmas Present (one week in 2019). 

Watch footage below and here from Robbie’s pre-Melbourne Cup performance.

KATSEYE’s Michigan debut will have to wait, after the pop group postponed their show set for Tuesday night (Nov. 3) at Little Caesars Arena due to illness within its ranks.

“Unfortunately, Megan is unwell and unable to perform tonight, and we want to make sure she has time she needs to rest and recover,” explains a message, posted just hours before showtime.

“We know so many of you have travelled, made plans and been looking forward to tonight. We are incredibly disappointed that we won’t get to see you, and we’re truly sorry for the inconvenience,” reads the post on KATSEYE’S Instagram Stories.

In another, the venue urged EYEKONS to hang tight. “We’re sorry to share that the KATSEYE show scheduled for tonight at Little Caesars Arena has been postponed,” reads a statement on the venue’s socials.

A new date will be announced, for which Tuesday night’s tickets will be valid. An email with further information will be distributed shortly.

“We sincerely apologize for the disappointment and inconvenience, especially to those who traveled to be with us tonight,” the venue statement adds. “Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support.”

According to sources at the show, the group did a VIP soundcheck with Megan missing and reportedly resting-up for the show. Doors had opened and fans were seated when a message confirming the postponement was splashed on the big screens, roughly 40 minutes before the scheduled start. 

The group is presenting its WILDWORLD TOUR, which has sold outruns across Europe, the United Kingdom and, currently, North America.

Assuming Megan Skiendiel makes a prompt recovery, the group is next booked for the United Center in Chicago, IL on Thursday (Nov. 5). KATSEYE’s 2026 North America shows are slated to conclude Nov. 28 with the second of two nights at Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, MX.

A two-month break will follow, after which the group will embark on a tour of Asia, Australia and New Zealand, kicking off Jan. 27, 2027 at Yokohama Arena, Japan.

Promoted by Live Nation, the sprawling arena trek is in support of WILD (HYBE x Geffen Records), which blasted to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in August for the group’s first leader. WILD was the followup to 2025’s Beautiful Chaos, which peaked at No. 4 on the all-genres albums survey.

Eminem‘s “Not Afraid,” the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper from the rapper’s 2010 Recovery album, soundtracks one of Michigan Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed’s latest campaign clips. The democrat released the video online early Tuesday morning (Nov. 3) as Election DAy kicked off.

“Michigan. It’s time. It’s up to us to show the country what’s possible,” El-Sayed wrote Tuesday in a social media post that featured the campaign video featuring the Eminem hit. “The world is watching.”

Eminem has not commented on El-Sayed’s usage of his song or publicly endorsed a candidate in the 2026 midterm election; The Detroit News reports he was not contacted by the campaign.

In 2024, Eminem made an appearance in Detroit in support of Kamala Harris, and in 2020, “Lose Yourself” was featured in a Joe Biden ad.

The rapper recently guested on track by fellow Detroit native Kid Rock, “Heal My Faith,” on which he raps about their years-long friendship and calls for unity across party and religious lines; Kid Rock has, of course, been outspoken about aligning with Donald Trump. Following the song’s release, Eminem noted, “Not about choosing sides, just choosing to make music with my old friend. Praying for all of us.”

As for El-Sayed’s current campaign, video footage posted online shows Common performed for the democratic candidate at a rally in Detroit on Monday night.

Michigan native Stevie Wonder also showed support for El-Sayed, getting on camera to voice his choice, as seen in a clip released on Election Day. “There is so much on the line this election,” Wonder says in the video. “We cannot be distracted … Go vote for Dr. Abdul El-Sayed for Senate, Jocelyn Benson for governor, and democrats down the ticket.”

Another artist who’s definitely in El-Sayed’s corner is Bruce Springsteen, who lent his endorsement on Monday.

“Dr. El-Sayed is a fighter for our American Constitution,” Springsteen wrote in a post on Instagram. “He’s a fighter for our American Democracy, and he’s a fighter against the corrupt, lawless, and anti-American leadership currently in the White House.”

It’s been a close competition in Michigan between El-Sayed and his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, in their bid to take over Democrat Gary Peters’ Senate seat. The race hadn’t been called at the time of publication Tuesday evening.

Tony Butala, who charted 20 songs (including six top 40 hits) on the Billboard Hot 100 in the early ’60s through early ’70s with vocal group The Lettermen, has died at age 87. He was the last surviving original member of The Lettermen, best known for their breakthrough release, their 1961 recording of “The Way You Look Tonight,” and enduring takes on “When I Fall in Love” (1961), “Goin’ Out of My Head/Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” (1967) and “Hurt So Bad” (1969).

Butala passed away on Sunday (Nov. 1), a representative for The Lettermen confirmed. A cause of death was not reported.

A statement was issued on Tuesday. It reads, “We have lost an integral member of The Lettermen family. It is with profound sadness that we announce the recent passing of Tony Butala, founding member of the international recording artists ‘The Lettermen,’ and recipient of a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Our most heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with his children, grandchildren, siblings, the love of his life, the entire Lettermen organization and all who knew and loved him.”

“Tony never met a stranger,” the statement continues. “His life was a living example of talent, perseverance, and refinement. But above all, his true joy was entertaining and sharing his music with audiences worldwide.”

Butala was born in 1938 in Sharon, Pennsylvania, and began singing at an early age, with a radio gig for KDKA in nearby Pittsburgh at just seven years old, and — after moving to Los Angeles with his mother — vocal work with the Mitchell Boys Choir in the films White Christmas, Peter Pan, War of the Worlds and On Moonlight Bay by age 10.

He entered his 20s with The Lettermen — Butala with Bob Engemann and Jim Pike — who originated as a trio in 1958.

They had their first hit on the chart in 1961 with their version of “The Way You Look Tonight,” a standard originally performed by Fred Astaire (and penned by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields) for the film Swing Time. Their highest-charting singles were “When I Fall in Love” and the double-sided release of their recordings of “Goin’ Out of My Head/Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” which reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Among their 20 recordings that became Hot 100 hits were six that made the top 20: “The Way You Look Tonight” (No. 13 in 1961), “When I Fall In Love” (No. 7, peaking in 1962), “Come Back Silly Girl” (No. 17 in 1962), “Theme From A Summer Place” (No. 16 in 1965), “Goin’ Out of My Head/Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” (No. 7, peaking in 1968) and “Hurt So Bad” (No. 12, in 1969). “Hurt So Bad” holds the act’s personal record for most weeks appearing on the chart, with a total of 21 weeks.

The Lettermen were nominated for four Grammy Awards throughout their career, including best new artist in 1962. They were nominated for best performance by a vocal group for their remake of the Oscar-winning 1936 classic “The Way You Look Tonight” and for their album which contained that hit, A Song For Young Love. They were also nominated in a closely-related category, best contemporary-pop performance, vocal duo or group for their hit medley of two of the most-covered songs of the late 1960s, “Goin’ Out of My Head” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”

In 2020, Butala and The Lettermen received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The honor came after the death of his bandmates; Engemann passed in 2013, and Pike died in 2019.

Butala had taken a step back from performing as of 2019. “The Lettermen” continues on with a current lineup of vocalists Donovan Tea, Bobby Poynton and Rob Gulack.

While no public viewing is planned, celebrations of life for Butala will be held in Wisconsin and California at a later date.

Steve Ellis, the singer of British pop-rock band Love Affair, has died. He was 76.

The musician died following “complications from a chronic illness,” according to a statement shared on his official Facebook page.

“It’s with a heavy heart that we share the news of Steve’s passing,” the post read. “After complications from a chronic illness, Steve peacefully left the world on the evening of October 30, 2026, in the presence of his loved ones.”

A specific cause of death was not disclosed.

Songwriter and longtime friend David Courtney also confirmed Ellis’ death in a Facebook tribute. “I am sad to announce the passing of my long time friend Steve Ellis sho left us yesterday,” Courtney wrote. “My thoughts are with Val and the family.”

Ellis rose to fame as the frontman of Love Affair in the late 1960s, when the British group scored its biggest hit with a cover of “Everlasting Love.” Originally released in December 1967, the song topped the U.K. singles chart in 1968, spending two weeks at No. 1, according to the Official Charts Company.

Written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, “Everlasting Love” was originally recorded by singer Robert Knight and released in 1967. Knight’s version reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, while Love Affair’s recording did not chart in the United States.

Other Love Affair singles also reached the U.K. top 10, including “Rainbow Valley” (No. 5), “A Day Without Love” (No. 6) and “Bring on Back the Good Times” (No. 9).

Ellis began his professional music career at age 15, joining a North London band called the Soul Survivors in 1966. The group changed its name to Love Affair in 1967, according to his website.

Ellis left Love Affair in 1969 and went on to form his own band, Ellis, in 1972 alongside keyboardist Zoot Money and other musicians. The group released two albums, Riding on the Crest of a Slump (1972) and Why Not? (1973). He later joined rock band Widowmaker, which released its self-titled debut album in the mid-1970s.

After leaving Widowmaker, Ellis stepped away from the music industry and took a job working at the docks in England. His life took a dramatic turn in 1981 after a forklift accident severely injured his feet, beginning a lengthy period of surgeries and recovery that he recalled as being “in and out of hospital to mend [his] mashed feet,” according to his website.

Love Affair reunited under Ellis in 1991, with the singer leading his own touring group, Steve Ellis’ Love Affair, through 1998. He also continued recording solo material, releasing Best of Days in 2008, an album featuring contributions from Roger Daltrey and Paul Weller.

Bruce Springsteen has a message for election officials on Election Day.

On Tuesday (Nov. 3), the 77-year-old music icon and longtime political activist shared a brief video message on social media, urging “election officials and representatives of our government” to ensure votes are securely counted.

Standing in front of a stone wall and dressed in a flannel shirt, Springsteen delivered a direct appeal to those overseeing the electoral process.

“I’m speaking to election officials and representatives of our government on Election Day,” Springsteen said on Instagram. “You have sworn an oath to preserve, protect, and defend our Constitution. That means you have a solemn duty to ensure that our votes are securely counted.”

He continued, “Thomas Jefferson said, ‘Government requires a consent of the governed.’ You who represent us must never consent to any directives that undermine our constitutional right to a free and fair election.”

Election Day marks the 2026 midterm elections, with voters across the country casting ballots in congressional races that will determine control of the House of Representatives and Senate. Voters are also deciding a number of gubernatorial, state legislative and local contests.

“Our vote is our voice,” Springsteen said in conclusion. “And it’s up to you to ensure that our voice is heard. I wish you all a good Election Day, and thank you for your service.”

In the caption accompanying the 45-second clip, Springsteen thanked those voting on Election Day and encouraged his followers to continue supporting democracy by taking the Oath to the Constitution at oathproject.org.

Merck Mercuriadis, founder of the influential music catalog investment group Hipgnosis, took to the comments, writing, “The boss has spoken – for 50 years he has spoken truthfully about the cracks in ‘merica in order to help us become the best version of ourselves that we can be. Born to vote!!!!!!!!!”

This isn’t the first time Springsteen has spoken out about voting rights and election integrity. In 2012, the “Dancing in the Dark” singer-songwriter criticized voter suppression efforts in several states, writing that Americans of all political views should oppose what he described as “anti-voter, anti-citizen efforts.” He also raised concerns about the future of American democracy during the 2024 presidential election, when he endorsed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

A vocal critic of President Donald Trump and longtime Democratic supporter, Springsteen released his protest anthem “Streets of Minneapolis” earlier this year in response to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti amid the administration’s immigration crackdown. He also performed the song during his recent Land of Hope and Dreams Tour.

During a January 2026 benefit concert in New Jersey, Springsteen also spoke out about the Trump administration, saying, “The United States, the ideals and the values for which it stood for the past 250 years, is being tested like it has never been in modern times. Those values and those ideals have never been as endangered as they are right now.”

On Monday (Nov. 2), Springsteen also threw his support behind Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race.

“Dr. El-Sayed is a fighter for our American Constitution, he’s a fighter for our American Democracy, and he’s a fighter against the corrupt, lawless, and anti-American leadership currently in the White House,” he wrote on Instagram. “That’s why I’m in his corner 100%.”

Check out Springsteen’s video message to election officials on Instagram below.

5 Seconds of Summer gave their Melbourne crowd an unexpected dose of nostalgia on Monday night (Nov. 2), bringing out The Wiggles during the final song of their Rod Laver Arena show.

The Australian pop-rock group were closing out the night with “Everyone’s a Star!” when the children’s music icons joined them onstage, turning the finale into a distinctly Australian crossover moment.

The surprise appearance featured members of The Wiggles’ current lineup alongside familiar characters including Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus and the Tree of Wisdom. Original Purple Wiggle Jeff Fatt also joined the performance.

“We love what they do, and it’s always so special to celebrate incredible Aussie talent,” Yellow Wiggle Tsehay Hawkins said of the collaboration. “We couldn’t wait to jump on stage to bring a little Wiggly magic to their final song of the night. It was so much fun.”

Fan-shot footage from the arena quickly began circulating online following the performance, capturing the two Australian acts sharing the stage during the closing number.

The Melbourne show forms part of 5 Seconds of Summer’s Everyone’s a Star! World Tour, supporting the band’s sixth studio album, Everyone’s a Star!, released in 2025 via Republic Records. The album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200.

The tour has already taken the band through Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, with Adelaide and Perth dates still to come on the Australian leg.

The Wiggles are also in the middle of their own Australian run with the Sparkle! BIG SHOW tour. Upcoming stops include Newcastle, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Hobart, Launceston, Brisbane, Wollongong and Sydney through December.

For 5SOS, the cameo capped another home-country arena show in a year that has seen the group continue touring behind Everyone’s a Star! around the world.

Justin Timberlake has some things to get off his chest. Variety reported Monday (Nov. 2) that the pop star has a four-part “tell-all” docuseries in the works at Apple TV, featuring none other than Janet Jackson as a guest.

The project is reportedly expected to arrive on the streamer in December, with no further details available at press time aside from one of the discussion topics that will be included. With Miss Jackson onboard, the doc will almost certainly look back on the pair’s infamous 2004 Super Bowl controversy, which involved Timberlake exposing her breast on live TV — aka the incident from which the term “wardrobe malfunction” was born.

Billboard has reached out to Timberlake’s reps for comment.

The project comes amid a reflective chapter for the former *NSYNC boy bander, who made headlines in 2021 with a public apology to Jackson acknowledging the disparity in how they were respectively treated after the Super Bowl controversy. “I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right,” Timberlake wrote. “I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism.”

Also in his apology, Timberlake expressed remorse for the disrespectful ways in which he’d previously spoken about Britney Spears following their breakup in 2002.

Things got rocky for JT a few years later in 2024, when he was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in the Hamptons. He ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser impaired-driving charge, and the singer was sentenced to 25 hours of community service.

“It’s been a tough week,” Timberlake told fans at one of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour concerts shortly afterward. “I know I’m hard to love sometimes, but you keep loving me right back.”

After the trek ended the following year, the star revealed another challenge he’d been facing behind the scenes: Lyme disease.

“Living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically,” he wrote in a statement at the time. “When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure. But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.”

Timberlake hasn’t dropped an album since 2024, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with Everything I Thought It Was. He did, however, recently team up with Quavo on the new song “House Music,” which dropped in early October.