Following the inaugural segment, the performances began with a choral presentation by Chhayanaut artistes, conducted by Asit Kumar Dey. Based on the resonance of Raga Malkauns, the piece brought together elements of five different ragas. Badal Chowdhury accompanied on the tabla, while Tinku Shil played the harmonium.

Armeen Musa’s work spans music, theatre and interdisciplinary performance. She is the founder and director of the Ghaashphoring Choir and has led a range of collaborative projects bridging classical, folk and contemporary forms. She is the first Bangladeshi composer and singer to receive a Grammy nomination. She has also expanded her artistic practice into acting, debuting in acclaimed theatre director Syed Jamil Ahmed’s production of “Ami Birongona Bolchi”.

The Recording Academy has introduced a new Grammy Award category for Best Album Cover, recognising the creative minds behind album artwork for the first time in more than 50 years. The award will be presented at the 68th Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles.

After more than two decades of silence, Bangladeshi metal band Stentorian has returned with a new single, “Chaya Britto”, marking a significant moment in the band’s long and complex journey.

Addressing his fans in an emotional message, Tausif said, “I may not have become a big star, but my greatest achievement is that songs I sang a decade and a half ago are still listened to with interest and will continue to be. What greater achievement can there be for an artiste? Please do not spread rumours about me without knowing the truth.”

Hridoy has directed and acted in the short film “Trapped”, marking his debut as a filmmaker. The 28-minute-35-second mystery drama also stars Mozeza Ashraf Monalisa, once a prominent face on television and in commercials, who makes her acting comeback through this project.

Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman is set to step in front of the camera for the first time with the upcoming comedy film “Moonwalk”, directed by Manoj N S. The film stars Prabhu Deva in the lead and is scheduled for a theatrical release in May 2026.

At a time when many established artistes are largely focused on live concerts, veteran singer Fahmida Nabi continues to release new music. The singer has recently recorded three new songs that draw inspiration from the melodic sensibilities of the 1990s.

Currently based in Canada, where his son Nibir is undergoing rehabilitation, the veteran singer spoke to The Daily Star about life abroad, fatherhood, and his enduring bond with music.

Tausif Ahmed has lent his voice to many popular songs, including “Dure Kothao Achhi Bose”, “Brishti Jhore Jay”, “E Moner Anginay” and “Jan Pakhi”.

The finale of “Stranger Things” has triggered a major streaming surge for actor-musician Joe Keery, with his song “End of Beginning” rising to No 2 on Spotify’s Global Top 50 chart.

The album will be BTS’s first group release since the members began a hiatus to complete South Korea’s mandatory military service.

As 2025 draws to a close and year-end round-ups give way to anticipation, attention is turning to what 2026 may hold for the music world—from album releases and festival line-ups to questions about live returns and the growing role of artificial intelligence.

“Then one day, on a full moonlit night, I too will depart—taking along the only certainty—towards the land of eternal harvest. I will come to know that ‘everything arrives too late, reveals itself too late; and then suddenly, it disappears.’”

Singer Salma is the winner of the second season of the competition Closeup One—Tomakei Khujchhe Bangladesh. Since then, she has remained regularly involved with music.

Beyoncé has entered the billionaire ranks, becoming the fifth musician to achieve the milestone, according to Forbes.

Bangladesh is going through one of its most precarious social, economic and political phases to date, with multiple strange layers in between. The cancellation of various shows and even physical attacks at scale nationwide, including arson, mark a new low. However, the tension between particular groups of ideologues; labelling each other, and other forms of practices they dislike, as “oposhingskriti”, or degenerate art/culture (which reminds me of Entartete Kunst, a term popularised by the party of a certain funny-moustached German leader)—is nothing new. In that context, a significant population still considers art practices like rock and metal music as “degenerates within degenerates”, an apogee of “oposhingskriti” on Bengali soil; despite the scene producing some of the finest artistes and musical creations from this region.

The former One Direction member, who has maintained a notably low profile since concluding his massive “Love On Tour” in 2023, uploaded a video titled “Forever, Forever” to his official channel on Saturday without prior announcement or promotion.

Elita Karim harmonizes her multifaceted career as a Bangladeshi singer, journalist, and researcher. Pursuing a PhD in America, she explores resistance through art while balancing musical collaborations with Bappa Mazumder and maintaining deep professional integrity.

Ten Bangladeshi bands have recorded brand-new songs for Bangladesh Television’s special programme “Band Utshob 2025”, bringing together lyricist Shahid Mahmud Jangi and composer Fuad Nasser Babu; two names closely associated with many popular band songs in the country.