10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of May 2, 2025
The first New Music Friday of May 2025 brings all kinds of exciting news, including a release date for Ed Sheeran's eagerly anticipated eighth album—though we won't let our enthusiasm overshadow everything else that happened this week.
The last seven days also saw a showstopping collab between Mimi Webb and Meghan Trainor, plus sizzling new comebacks from around the globe as we look forward to even more exciting albums and single drops in the very near future. Just keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of May 2, 2025.
('Old Phone' via Warner Music U.K.)
1. Mitchell Tenpenny Features Wife Meghan Patrick in the Romantic Music Video for 'Same Moon'
"Same Moon" is one of our favorite tracks from Mitchell Tenpenny's 2025 album, The 3rd, and we've fallen even more in love with it after seeing its new music video and learning the story behind its creation. "Same Moon" was inspired by Mitchell's love for his wife, fellow country singer-songwriter Meghan Patrick, and the time they're forced to spend apart because of their careers on the road. Despite being separated by distance, they're able to take solace in the knowledge that they're both looking up at the same moon. Meghan also costars in the romantic new video, showing them reunited under the full moon.
"We look for ways to feel closer than we really are," Mitchell said in a press release. "This song is truly what we're living right now and the song was born from this real-life experience."
Also read about: Mitchell Tenpenny Explores Legacy and the Future With Eclectic Third Album, The 3rd
2. Lights Dives Deeper Into Her Artistry With 6th Album, A6
Electro-pop artist Lights has been on a constantly evolving journey since she first hit the scene, and that's evident with the release of her sixth album, A6. This collection of songs is her most personal and diaristic yet, with all 13 songs written and produced entirely by Lights, and the stories come to life even further with the music videos for every last track, together creating an entire visual album. The reflective synthpop project encapsulates various aspects of her human experience, incorporating the lessons she's learned, the things she's lost and the way she's grown to become the person she is today via songs that are as catchy as danceable as ever.
"In this landscape I realize it's a flex to make it this far doing what you love—not just in this industry, but in life," Lights shared in a press release. "I've given most of my years to the creation of something beautiful and affirming and transportive. It's my humble offering to the world. Over years of self-reflection through this art form, l've found that happiness and peace and actualization comes from the tumult and depth and pain and bliss of every moment that we are given. It's remembering where we came from and never giving up on what we hope for."
3. Travis Japan Offer Up Plenty of Fun in 'Would You Like One?'
J-pop group Travis Japan have become global sensations since their time on America's Got Talent, and they're back this week with the upbeat new single, "Would You Like One?" The buzzy new earworm also serves as the theme song for Tabekko Doubutsu: THE MOVIE (aka Dream Animals: THE MOVIE) an animated film about the adventures of animal crackers, with Travis Japan member Genta voicing the Lion. The high-energy, foodie-themed song is full of tasty puns and references as they urge listeners to dig into everything life has to offer. It's one we can't wait to hear when the group kicks off their Travis Japan World Tour 2025 VIIsual on July 25 in the U.S.
Also read about: J-Pop Superstars Travis Japan Discuss Their Journey So Far and 2nd Album, VIIsual
4. MEOVV Prove They're Ready for Anything in 'HANDS UP'
K-pop girl group MEOVV just dropped their very first release of 2025 in the form of 'HANDS UP," and this fast-paced track seems tailor-made to get hearts pumping. With a funky beat and infectious rap verses, it's a bold survival anthem about perseverance. Despite any obstacles that might get in their way, they're eager to head into any situation with enthusiasm and their hands in the air. The playful music video shows the members training to maser the traditional Korean board game alkkagi, though their final opponent isn't quite who they expect. It'll also appear on MEOVV's debut EP, MY EYES OPEN VVIDE, out on May 12.
5. Kacey Musgraves Celebrates the Return of Lost Highway Records With a Cover of 'Lost Highway'
Grammy-winning country artist Kacey Musgraves was the final artist to sign to Lost Highway Records in 2011 before the label was folded into Mercury Nashville in 2012, and now that Lost Highway is back in full swing, she's with them once again. Lost Highway Records was named after Leon Payne's "Lost Highway," later popularized by Hank Williams, and to celebrate re-signing with them, Kacey has dropped her own cover of the beloved song.
"Lost Highway was always a musical stable for artists who might be considered outliers or outlaws; those who live on the fringe," Kacey explained in a press release. "In 2011, when other record labels questioned my songwriting and my more traditional country sound, Lost Highway believed in me, signing me to my first label deal and helped me take my music around the world. That journey has now come full circle in such a special way with John Janick and Interscope and I'm deeply honored to be able to once again call Lost Highway my musical home."
Also read about: 18 Poignant Kacey Musgraves Lyrics to Use as Instagram Captions
6. SOFI TUKKER Recruits Seu Jorge 'Bread (butter version)'
We're longtime fans of Brazilian pop-samba artist Seu Jorge, particularly for his irresistible Portuguese language David Bowie covers on the soundtrack of The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, and we're loving his new collab EDM duo SOFI TUKKER. "Bread (butter version)" is a new twist on "Bread," incorporating a breezy bossa nova sound and rearranged with lyrics in both Portuguese and English, with Seu singing the English portions in an unexpected twist. As the title suggests, it's smooth as butter, set to appear on SOFI TUKKER's upcoming album, butter, out May 16. The album is a celebration of Brazil's culture and music, serving as a jazzy companion to SOFI TUKKER's 2024 album, BREAD.
"The night we recorded with Seu Jorge will be especially ingrained in my memory forever," SOFI TUKKER's Sophie Hawley-Weld said in a press release. "I had just seen him perform the bossa nova classics at Carnegie Hall and I consider him one of the greatest artists of all time. And yet, he looked at me with such sincerity and thanked me for the opportunity. He explained how much it meant to him that, as an American, I had taken the time to learn Portuguese and sing in his language. I was blown away… he has one of those once-in-a-generation voices and I still can't believe we got to do a song with him."
Also read about: SOFI TUKKER's The Bread Tour Is a High-Energy Dance Spectacular You Have to See to Believe
7. Suki Waterhouse's Love Might Be the Death of Her in 'On This Love'
Suki Waterhouse has never been afraid to make a statement with her music, and her newest release, "On This Love," proves it. It's a lush and atmospheric pop track about being in love with a man who's unfaithful, waiting on him when he's with the other woman and trying to convince herself he truly loves her. "Just like a drug," she sings, "I can O.D. on this love." The song's new video, directed by Suki's sister, Immy Waterhouse, is equally playful and indulgent, set in a huge and expansive manor, courtesy of music video Suki's rich and elderly husband.
"'On This Love' song and video is out now!" Suki wrote in a post on Instagram. "This song has taken two years to finish and it's been by my side through a lot of life. I'm so happy you get to hear it 💗 This character is a dreamer and a yearner who loves hard and found herself a partner who matched her in ways others couldn't."
Also read about: 20 Emotional Suki Waterhouse Lyrics to Use as Instagram Captions
8. Summer Walker Just Wants to Be Pampered With 'Spend It'
R&B sensation Summer Walker is back at it in 2025, with her highly anticipated third album, Finally Over It, set to arrive sometime this year. The album will include her October 2024 hit "Heart of a Woman" in addition to her latest single, "Spend It," a hazy track with a romantic beat, contrasted by the lyrics about materialism and wanting nothing more from a relationship than to be spoiled, setting aside the messiness of developing feelings. She's also been teasing the track's cinematic music video, which shows Summer dolled up in a lavish mansion, draped in feathers and expensive jewelry, as she's roped into a jewel heist.
9. Mimi Webb and Meghan Trainor Command Your Full Attention With 'Mind Reader'
Mimi Webb and Meghan Trainor's new song "Mind Reader" is the definition of a powerhouse collab, with a confident sound to match its bold and straightforward lyricism. The two join forces for an instantly danceable disco-pop anthem about knowing your worth and demanding the full attention of your partner.
"Meghan is an artist I've admired for such a long time, and having her be my first-ever collaboration on a single feels like a dream come true," Mimi revealed in a press release. "The song came together in such a fun, natural way. She's an amazing songwriter, and we actually wrote 'Mind Reader' during the first session we ever did together. When I got home and listened back, I immediately felt like the track needed her voice on it, so I called her straight away and asked if she'd jump on it as a feature. She said yes immediately!"
10. Ed Sheeran Teases 8th Album, Play, With 'Old Phone'
We dropped everything when we heard that Ed Sheeran had announced that his next album, Play, will be releasing on Sep. 12. It's set to mark a brand new musical chapter for the star, who's officially concluded his Mathematics series, and after giving us a first taste with the Persian music-infused "Azizam," he just shared another piece of the puzzle in the form of new single "Old Phone." The folksy and emotional track investigates the ideal of going through and old phone that acts as a time capsule, and the feelings of nostalgia for the past that remind you to embrace where you are today.
"Play was an album that was made as a direct response to the darkest period of my life," Ed shared in a press release. "Coming out of all of that I just wanted to create joy and technicolor, and explore cultures in the countries I was touring. I made this record all over the world, finished it in Goa, India, and had the most fun, explorative creative days of my life. It's a real roller coaster of emotions from start to finish, it encapsulates everything that I love about music, and the fun in it, but also where I am in life as a human, a partner, a father. Going into this album campaign I said to myself 'I just want everything I do to be fun and playful'—so that's why we are building pubs for folk jams, doing gigs on open top buses and singing in pink cowboy hats on bars. The older I get the more I just want to enjoy things, and savoir the moments that are mad and chaotic."
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of April 25, 2025.