Pop Shots – In With The New

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from how Mariah Carey – and 37 other artists – will be ringing in the new year, to a new goal for Phish fans, to a new career path for Iggy Azalea, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* Mariah Carey, Chappell Roan, and HUNTR/X will be among the 38 performers appearing on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026. With 38 performers the show’s going to run so long Mariah will be able to sing “All I Want for Christmas Is You” at the end, and it will be seasonally appropriate again.

* Aerosmith and YUNGBLUD’s collaborative project, One More Time debuted at #9 on the Billboard 2000, giving Aerosmith the unique distinction of being only the second group — and fifth act overall — with a Top 10 album in each of the last six decades. The achievement flies in the face of every D.A.R.E program in history.

* Miley Cyrus and Maxx Morando announced they are engaged after four years of dating. Miley may be disappointed, however, when she finds out this does not give her any additional discounts at TJ Maxx.

* Phish is heading back to the Sphere in Las Vegas for a nine-show residency beginning April 16th. This should finally answer the question – can you hotbox the Sphere?

* During a Q&A with students at Gateshead College in England, Matty Healy revealed The 1975 have two albums fully recorded. So … that’s disappointing.

* Iggy Azalea said on Instagram that she has no plans on ever returning to music. Somehow, the music world will have to find a way to carry on.

* Bad Bunny came in at #1 on Spotify’s Global Top Artist chart for 2025, and also had the streaming service’s top global album with DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. In a related story, the NFL would like to say, “See, we told you!” 

* Speaking of year-end honors, ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’ collaboration “APT.” was the most-streamed song globally on Apple Music, as well as being the most-identified song on Shazam, most-spun song on radio, and the song that was stuck in my head most often in 2025. In fact, due to the mere mention of it, it’s back in my head again (and I still say the catchiest part of the chorus basically Toni Basil’s “Mickey.” I hope she’s receiving royalties.)!

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.