BTS has secured five nominations at the 2026 MAMA Awards.
The K pop group is in the running for Artist of the Year and Best Male Group, alongside Album of the Year for Arirang, Best Vocal Performance Group for Swim and Best Music Video for 2.0.
Meanwhile, BTS member J-Hope has picked up two nominations for his feature on Le Sserafim's Spaghetti, which is shortlisted for Best Collaboration and Best Dance Performance Female Group.
Fellow K pop act BigBang has earned four nominations, with another four going to solo projects by members Taeyang and G-Dragon.
BigBang is nominated for Artist of the Year and Best Male Group, as well as Best Music Video and Best Dance Performance Male Group for BiiiG.
Taeyang has received three solo nominations, including Artist of the Year, Best Male Artist and Best Dance Performance Male Solo for his track Live Fast Die Slow.
G-Dragon, who took home Artist of the Year at the 2025 ceremony, has also been nominated for Best Collaboration for his appearance on Aespa's WDA (Whole Different Animal).
Tomorrow X Together has also picked up three nominations.
The MAMA Awards nominees were announced on Monday, coinciding with the opening of first round voting for the 2027 Grammy Awards. The upcoming Grammys will introduce a dedicated Asian pop category for the first time.
Previously known as the Mnet Asian Music Awards, the MAMA Awards are among Asia's most prominent annual music ceremonies. This year's event will be held across two nights on 20 and 21 November in Osaka, Japan.
Drake’s spokesperson has denied speculation that the rapper is the father of Keshia Chanté’s baby.
The Canadian singer and songwriter revealed in a Hello! Canada interview on Tuesday that she is pregnant with a boy and expects to welcome him next summer.
Although Keshia kept the father’s identity private, she suggested that he works in music.
Her announcement soon prompted social media users to speculate that Drake could be the father.
The rapper’s representative moved quickly to dismiss the claim.
Speaking to People, the spokesperson said: "It's false."
Drake, 39, and Keshia, 38, previously had a brief relationship and have stayed friends. She is also reportedly the woman who inspired "Kiki, do you love me?", the memorable lyric from his 2018 track In My Feelings.
Keshia’s representative has yet to address the speculation surrounding the Unpredictable singer.
During her conversation with Hello!, Keshia described herself as "unavailable" when the subject of her relationship status came up.
Discussing her pregnancy, she said: "I'm very free-spirited, and whatever the universe wants for me, I'll have. But (the baby's dad) said he was ready. He set up the play and he nailed it! God bless him... He's brilliant and super creative and just constantly doing things that I'm inspired by. So I would love to see my son have his mannerisms and his swag."
Drake, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, is already a father to Adonis, whom he welcomed with former partner Sophie Brussaux in October 2017.
Black Sabbath guitarist and heavy metal pioneer Tony Iommi MBE has helped bring in more than £15,000 to establish a new scholarship for emerging musicians in Birmingham.
The money was raised through An Evening with… Tony Iommi, which filled Bradshaw Hall at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Fans made the journey from North America, South America and Europe for the event, which opened with Conservatoire student ensemble Jezt performing Black Sabbath’s "Paranoid" as a string quartet.
Sports broadcaster Gary Newbon MBE, a longtime friend of Iommi, guided the conversation as the guitarist looked back on his life and musical career. Iommi explained how a factory accident at 17, which took the tips of his fingers, led him to develop his distinctive playing style. Inspired by jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, he made his own replacement fingertips and adjusted his approach to the instrument, helping shape the sound of heavy metal.
Iommi also revisited Back to the Beginning, Black Sabbath’s final concert at Villa Park in July 2025, when he shared the stage with Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. He spoke about what he is working on next, including his upcoming solo record, From the Dark.
Toyah Willcox, Robert Fripp and Bev Bevan were among the familiar faces in attendance. Conservatoire Principal Stephen Maddock OBE welcomed the scholarship, explaining how financial support can help young musicians from different backgrounds make the most of their education.
Through his support for Birmingham’s rising musicians, Iommi is helping the city’s bold musical traditions live on while giving new talent the chance to build a future of its own.
MNEK was also celebrated for his songwriting, producing, and his advocacy for LGBTQIA+ songwriters and artists
The Ivors Academy has honoured Stormzy, James Blake and Glastonbury‘s Emily Eavis and more for their contributions to music.
The recipients were announced at the Ivors Academy Honours ceremony, which was held at the Intercontinental London on Park Lane tonight (Thursday October 1).
The awards recognise the creators and executives setting higher standards across the sector, and celebrates those who are taking steps to help carve out a better future for songwriters and composers.
At the event, singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist James Blake was awarded for his exceptional artistry and advocacy for songwriters and artists.
The Grammy-winning artist released his seventh studio album ‘Trying Times’ – his first since 2023’s ‘Playing Robots Into Heaven’ and the first since he went independent and split from Republic Records – in March. In addition to his solo work, Blake is also a highly regarded producer, having worked on projects including Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’, Frank Ocean’s ‘Blonde’, Jay-Z‘s ‘4:44’ and Rosalía’s ‘Motomami’.
His award was presented by CEO of The Ivors Academy Lord Neri and Chair Tom Gray, and both acknowledged his massive contributions to the music industry, as well as his actions in bringing greater attention to songwriter’s rights.
Also on the night, Glastonbury Festival organiser Emily Eavis was recognised for her both impact on music and culture, and her commitment to championing emerging talent. She was presented with the honour by Elbow frontman Guy Garvey.
Elsewhere, CEO of IMRO (Ireland’s music rights collecting society) Victor Finn, received an Honour for his longstanding support of Irish songwriters and composers – ahead of his retirement at the end of the year, after nearly two decades of leadership – and broadcaster, DJ, curator and writer Annie Macmanus received an Honour from Nick Grimshaw for her talent in shaping music culture and bringing new music to wider audiences.
Others to receive Honours on the night included MNEK, who was recognised for his work as a songwriter, producer and artist, alongside his advocacy for LGBTQIA+ songwriters and artists, and CEO of Sentric Music Chris Meehan, who was celebrated for nearly 20 years work in making music publishing more accessible, transparent and fair for songwriters.
MNEK was presented with his Honour by Becky Hill, and his appearance at the ceremony comes after he spoke to NME earlier this year about his determination to speak out for Trans rights, and also reveal that he is gearing up to release his first album in eight years.
Finally, it was Stormzy who rounded out those honoured at the Ivors event tonight, and the rapper and philanthropist was recognised for his impact on British music and culture and his commitment to creating opportunities for others.
The London rapper is behind a huge community initiative and brand, #Merky, which stems back a decade. It includes the highly-praised #Merky Football Careers partnership, which the artist first established in 2022 as a way to address racial equity in the football industry and provide opportunities for UK Black Heritage Youth to access jobs in the sector.
The initiative also announced a centre in London for music, football and gaming, called #MerkyFC HQ, and launched an award-winning publishing imprint called #Merky Books – which was expanded into a two-day literature festival.
On top of that, in 2021, the London grime icon also announced plans to support 30 more students through studies at Cambridge University through his scholarship scheme. It came as part of a partnership between the #Merky Foundation and the bank HSBC, and sees 10 students per year receive a £20,000 annual scholarship to cover tuition fees and maintenance costs.
“Congratulations to all of our honourees,” said Lord Neri, CEO of The Ivors Academy. “We are proud to honour your achievements and how you’re making a positive difference to music and its creators. From establishing inclusive spaces and opening up the world’s biggest stages, to championing new music, meeting ambition with opportunity and getting creators the money they’re due, each of you shows what can happen when we lift each other up.”
Tom Gray, Chair of The Ivors Academy, shared: “Tonight is a moment to appreciate the people putting in the hard graft to make music a better place – supporting songwriters and composers, tackling inequality and exclusion, championing diverse voices and making sure creators get a fair deal. These are people who show up, see what’s wrong and have the resolve to do something about it. They use their position to make things better for others. And that deserves to be recognised.”
The latest recipients join Sir Elton John in receiving honours from the Ivors Academy, with the legendary singer, songwriter and pianist being celebrated at the 71st Ivor Novello Awards in May 2026 for his contributions to music and for championing emerging talent across the industry.
At that awards ceremony earlier this year, Thom Yorke, Sam Fender and Rosalía were among the winners, and George Michael posthumously received the Academy Fellowship, too. His longtime friend and former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley collected the award on his behalf.
Carly Rae Jepsen says she has never planned her career around a set “strategy”.
The 40-year-old singer is writing the music and lyrics for a stage adaptation of the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You. She believes her role in a 2014 production of Cinderella helped lead her to the new project.
“I don’t think 10 Things would have happened had I not said yes to Cinderella back then,” the Call Me Maybe singer told People.
Carly’s career has taken her in several directions, though she says those choices were never part of a detailed plan.
“It sounds like I was smart and had a strategy. It wasn’t like that. I just got a phone call and I said yes,” she said.
At the time, trying something different felt like a “relief”.
“Sometimes I feel like the best decisions that I’ve made have been ones where I don’t overthink it too much, and I just sort of try it on and feel it and jump,” she explained.
She accepted the Cinderella role without hesitation and remains glad she took the opportunity.
“I feel really happy that I took that left turn. It’s actually brought so much,” Carly said.
The singer has also spoken about enjoying a “fresh new chapter” since becoming a mother for the first time.
Her son, Ilya Blue, was born seven months ago. Carly said she and her husband are still getting used to family life.
“You can see us coming from a mile away. We’re carrying strollers and diaper bags and eight other things,” she told People. Carly married musician Cole M.G.N in 2025.
“We’re figuring it out together, and it’s all so new to us. We’re really enjoying it.”
Carly also enjoyed making music during her pregnancy.
“I’ve had other chapters that have been lonelier, like I was on a journey not knowing where it was leading. It feels like a really fresh new chapter that I’m in now, with a family that I couldn’t be more grateful for,” she said.
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