UK music sales reached a 20-year high of £2.4bn in 2024, driven by streaming and vinyl records. Taylor Swift’s album The Tortured Poets Department was the year’s best-seller, with 783,000 copies sold, including 112,000 on vinyl. Streaming revenues grew by 7.8%, contributing over £2bn. Vinyl sales rose by 10.5% to nearly £200m, while CD sales stayed flat at £126m. Noah Kahan’s Stick Season was the top single. Experts praised the music industry’s recovery, with sales doubling since 2013. However, concerns remain as artists earn less from streaming. Despite challenges, 2024 marked a milestone for the UK music industry.

BLACKPINK’s Rose has made history with her solo song Apt.. The track reached No. 10 on the Billboard Radio Songs chart, making her the first female K-pop soloist to achieve this. Critics believe her collaboration with Bruno Mars helped boost the song’s popularity. While some fans praise her talent, others credit Mars for the song’s success. Rose’s achievement puts her alongside major K-pop acts like BTS in breaking into the American music scene. Despite mixed reactions, Apt. proves Rose’s growing influence as a solo artist and her ability to connect with listeners worldwide.

Actors Zendaya and Tom Holland, both 28, are reportedly engaged. According to TMZ, Holland proposed to Zendaya during a private family gathering in the United States between Christmas and New Year’s. The couple, who have been dating since 2021, first met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016. Zendaya sparked engagement rumors at the 82nd Golden Globes, where she showcased a striking diamond ring. Fans speculated it symbolized their engagement. However, there’s no official confirmation, and Zendaya’s ambassadorial role for luxury brands, including Bulgari, has left room for doubt. The duo will appear together in Christopher Nolan's Odyssey.

The 2025 Golden Globes dazzled with high fashion as Hollywood stars gathered to kick off the awards season. Zendaya turned heads in an orange silk gown, nominated for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. Angelina Jolie showcased timeless elegance in a metallic gown, accompanied by her daughter. Nicole Kidman, in a custom Balenciaga gown, and Gal Gadot, in a stunning black bodycon dress, added to the glamour. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone brought bold style, with Emma debuting a pixie cut. The red carpet at Beverly Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles, highlighted Hollywood's iconic flair.

The 2025 Golden Globe Awards kicked off the Hollywood award season on January 5 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Emilia Perez dominated with 10 nominations, securing four wins, including Best Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy) and Best Non-English Language Film. Zoe Saldana won Best Supporting Actor for the film. The Brutalist triumphed in Best Director, Best Actor (Brady Corbet), and Best Motion Picture (Drama). Shogun led the TV awards with four wins, including Best Series (Drama) and Best Actor (Drama). Despite two nominations, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light went home empty-handed.

Demi Moore won Best Actress (Musical or Comedy) at the 82nd Golden Globes for her role in The Substance, her first major acting award in over 45 years. Sebastian Stan received Best Actor (Musical or Comedy) for A Different Man, highlighting disability representation. Zoe Saldaña earned Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez, which also won Best Non-English Film. Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, and Colin Farrell took Best Actor in a TV Series for Penguin. Latvia’s Flow claimed Best Animated Feature. The Golden Globes set the stage for the Oscars.

Vijay Sethupathi's Tamil thriller Maharaja, directed by Nithilan Swaminathan, has emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film in China in 5 years, earning ₹91.55 crore since its release in November 2024. This milestone marks a significant cultural exchange, following the October 2024 accord normalizing India-China ties. Maharaja, which follows the story of a barber with mysterious intentions, was praised on Douban with an 8.7/10 rating and collected ₹15.6 crore on its opening day. Previously, films like Dangal and Secret Superstar dominated Chinese box offices. The film stars Vijay Sethupathi, Anurag Kashyap, Mamta Mohandas, and Natty Natraj.

Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun, continues its box office success, collecting ₹1198.1 crore in 31 days since its release on December 5. The film earned ₹3.45 crore on its 31st day and is expected to cross ₹1200 crore soon. Directed by Sukumar, the movie has remained a fan favourite despite new releases during the holiday season. Pushpa 2 also faced controversy after a stampede at its premiere caused a death, leading to Allu Arjun’s arrest and bail. The film’s massive success has set high expectations for its sequel, Pushpa 3: The Rampage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, calling him "truly multifaceted" and commending his contributions to music and culture. The two discussed music, culture, yoga, and travel across India. Diljit, who recently concluded his Dil-Luminati tour, shared glimpses of their meeting on Instagram, calling it a "fantastic start to 2025." PM Modi admired Diljit's rise from humble beginnings, saying, "When a boy from an Indian village shines globally, I feel proud." Diljit also presented a poster of his tour to the Prime Minister. The singer’s tour faced legal controversies but ended on a high note in Ludhiana.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have officially finalized their divorce, ending a lengthy eight-year legal battle. Jolie’s lawyer, James Simon, expressed that the actress is relieved yet exhausted by the process, which began in 2016. While the divorce paperwork is settled, the former couple remains entangled in a legal dispute over the Chateau Miraval vineyard in France. Jolie’s lawyer emphasized her focus on healing and protecting their children. Despite the challenges, Jolie has maintained dignity and avoided speaking ill of Pitt, as her children encouraged her to focus on advocating for change rather than public stories.