This Week In Entertainment News 12 June 2026
Music and entertainment news from Australia and around the world, plus new releases and tour updates.
Six Australian artists have been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, memorialising their significant contributions to Australian music culture over the past 40 years. Gurrumul, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait, The Living End, and Vika and Linda Bull were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Sydney. An honour usually given to only one artist in any year, six were selected as part of ARIA’s 40th anniversary.
Southern Cross Austereo is set to cut up to 300 jobs, downgrading the company’s FY26 earnings as a new AI tool rolls out and TV advertising conditions deteriorate. Mediaweek reports up to 200 positions are expected to be cut across Seven’s broadcast and print operations. The redundancies follow the development of an in-house AI tool that automates the conversion of TV news content into web-ready copy and imagery.
Armadillo Enterprises, the parent company of Dean Guitars, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy following years of legal disputes. With assets estimated between $1-10 million, Armadillo tallies liabilities at $50 million, putting the company’s future in jeopardy. Armadillo and Dean have been embroiled in multiple costly legal disputes over the years, including with Gibson over infringement of guitar shape designs.
The controversial Paramount-Warner Bros. merger has been cleared by regulators in Australia and New Zealand. The ACCC reported found the acquisition was “unlikely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition in relation to the wholesale supply of films for theatrical release in Australia.” The merger is still being contested in other territories, including the UK.
Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment have urged a federal court to reject Suno’s application to withhold the total number of audio files used to train its AI music model. UMG and Sony have argued it is in the public interest to know the scale of copying for the AI music platform. The case dates back more than two years when UMG and Sony filed a complaint claiming Suno unlawfully used their recordings in its training data.
Live music returns to the Gabba in December when Spanish opera superstar Jose Carreras celebrates his 80th birthday in a spectacular concert also featuring Robbie Williams. It is the first major concert to be held at the Gabba since 2018. In Carreras & Friends, the Spanish tenor leads a line-up featuring Robbie Williams, The Corrs, Ronan Keating, Anne Wilson of Heart, Darren Hayes of Savage Garden, Natalie Imbruglia, Sheppard, as well as fellow opera singers Katherine Jenkins and Mark Vincent.
Electronic music legends Simple Minds have announced a 2027 Australian tour featuring very special guest Gary Numan. One of the defining bands of the ‘80s, Simple Minds bring their vast catalogue of beloved hits to Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane next February.
Melbourne’s Asha Ryder West takes another beautiful stride into 2026 with her latest single, titled ‘Desires’. A song about chasing your own sense of purpose and the yearning towards great things, this new slice of alt-pop from the songwriter and musician reaffirms her position as an artist to watch this year. Expertly playing with light and dark textures, ‘Desires’ navigates themes of personal conflict and emotional release with ease. West’s brand of storytelling through song highlights her emotionally resonant style and makes for a strong addition to her growing body of work.
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One of Australia’s busiest performers and artists, Ziggy Alberts, is back with a new release – his take on a beloved classic known the world over. Breathing fresh life into The Proclaimers’ 1988 anthem ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’, Ziggy presents a joyous and captivating rendition of the original; soaked in rhythms and energy that will undoubtedly bring a smile to listeners’ faces. The decision to take on a song like this feels fitting for Ziggy, who has spent much of his life on the road.
Melbourne indie-pop chameleon Gypsy Lee continues to build upon the momentum generated by the release of her track ‘Snitches’, with strong follow up single, ‘What Doesn’t Kill You Costs A Lot In Therapy’. In another bold move by the young artist, this new song sees Gypsy Lee demonstrate her innately personal brand of storytelling through songwriting that feels both engaging and revealing at the same time.
