FIFA World Cup 2026: The Songs, the Stats, and Why “Goal” Is Music’s Real MVPAs the FIFA World Cup heads into its final stretch, a new data snapshot from LyricFind highlights something fans already know instinctively: the tournament doesn’t just dominate the pitch—it echoes through music across the globe.

Analyzing more than 17 million songs in its database, the company mapped out how football culture shows up in lyrics, from recurring themes to the players and countries artists reference most. The findings reveal a deep and lasting connection between the sport and the songs that surround it.

Among the most striking takeaways is the dominance of a single word: “goal.” Appearing more than 63,000 times, it stands as the most frequently used football-related term in lyrics.

Other commonly used terms include “champion” (17,800 mentions) and “World Cup” (1,100 mentions). The disparity suggests that while artists may not always reference the tournament directly, they consistently tap into its emotional core—victory, ambition, and the pursuit of greatness.

When it comes to players, Pelé remains the most referenced name in lyrics by a significant margin, with more than 33,000 mentions. His influence extends far beyond his playing career, cementing his legacy as both a sports and cultural icon.

He is followed by a roster of modern and historic greats, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Diego Maradona—names that continue to symbolize excellence across generations.

Several official and unofficial World Cup songs continue to hold a strong presence in global music culture.

Tracks like “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” “The Cup of Life,” and “Wavin’ Flag” have outlived their respective tournaments, continuing to chart and re-emerge in playlists during each World Cup cycle. Their longevity underscores how music can extend the life—and memory—of the event itself.

LyricFind’s VP of Marketing, Alex Bellissimo, emphasized the natural overlap between sport and music, noting, "Music and sport have always spoken the same language. The connection between passion, identity, and belonging runs deep through the World Cup and the songs people sing in the stands and listen to at home during and after the games. This infographic is our way of proving that football not only has an impact on lyrics, but it's a significant one. We're delighted to put a spotlight on it”

Ultimately, the data reinforces what fans experience every four years: the World Cup is as much a cultural event as it is a sporting one. Long after the final match concludes, its influence continues—playing out in lyrics, anthems, and the shared soundtrack of the global game.

Pelé photo by AFP/SCANPIX via NationalencyklopedinThe post FIFA World Cup 2026: The Songs, the Stats, and Why “Goal” Is Music’s Real MVP first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

AEG Presents expands Venue Development team, promoting Cameron Marcotte to VPAlongside Marcotte, Jake Hiersteiner and Mike Ryan have been promoted to Director roles, alongside three new hires.
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Grammy Camp Los Angeles Returns This WeekGrammy Camp Los Angeles is taking place this week, starting Sunday, July 12 and running through to Saturday, July 18.

According to a statement, "The Grammy Museum's® Grammy Camp® Los Angeles is a seven-day, non-residential intensive program for high school students with strong proficiency in multiple areas of music and the music industry, including music business, production, songwriting, and instrumental or vocal performance. Students are placed into cohorts where every subject area is represented, creating a collaborative environment that mirrors real-world music industry settings. In cohort-based teams, you'll collaborate across music business, production, songwriting, and performance—learning through the lens of artistry, entrepreneurship, and a DIY mindset. With the freedom to focus on your strengths while exploring new skills, you'll develop the versatility, creativity, and industry insight needed to build a sustainable career in today's music world."

"Grammy Camp gives students the opportunity to explore music in a way that feels connected to the real world," Arin Canbolat, Vice President of Education, Grammy Museum, told MC. "As they build skills in songwriting, production, performance, and music business, they also learn how collaboration and creativity show up in the professional world. What makes the program so powerful is the access students have to Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated artists and industry professionals, who help students see the many ways a passion for music can become a lifelong pursuit."

Faculty, according to the statement, includes: Chase Jackson, multi-instrumentalist and producer; Jason Goldman, Grammy-winning, multi-platinum music producer, songwriter, composer/arranger, and engineer; JJ Kirkpatrick, internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist; Natasha Pasternak songwriter, composer, musician, producer, performer, and professor; Ryan McDiarmid, drummer, recording artist, and educator; Haleigh Bowers, songwriter and faculty member at USC; YULI, Grammy-nominated, platinum selling producer, songwriter, composer, violinist and violist. Guest artists include Grammy-nominated artist WILLOW (pictured) and Latin Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sofia Reyes."

WHEN: Sunday, July 12 - Saturday, July 18, 2026 PDT

WHERE: WESTLAKE RECORDING STUDIOS

7265 Santa Monica Blvd.

West Hollywood, CA 90046

2026 Los Angeles Grammy Camp Selectees (In Alpha Order by First Name)

Andrew Carlson — Solana Beach, CA

Andrew Tran—Round Rock, TX

Anjali Haaf—San Diego, CA

Asha Dreher—Berkeley, CA

Ava Valianti—Newbury, MA

Ayoade Oladimejij—Greenbelt, MD

Basel Hall—Los Angeles, CA

Baxter Zrob—San Francisco, CA

Bellalina Young—Las Vegas, NV

Brandon Pham—Foothill Ranch, CA

Cabell Williams—Fredericksburg, VA

Calibrooke Myers—Burbank, CA

Campbell Carey—South Pasadena, CA

Carolina Chase Butler—Pasadena, CA

Charlotte Milstein—La Jolla, CA

Chase Gardenhire—Carlsbad, CA

Christopher Wilson—West Hills, CA

Devanjana Rajesh—Irvine, CA

Deven Dhanidina—Irvine, CA

Edie Yvonne—Laguna Hills, CA

Ella Wu—Laguna Hills, CA

Emma Berg—Hillsborough, CA

Emma Nevell—Santa Ana, CA

Emmy Gerth—Washington, IL

Erik Holterman—Hillsborough, CA

Genevieve Bracher—Rutherford, CA

Grady Prance—Peachtree City, GA

Haley Le—Los Angeles, CA

Hudson Brandt—Foster City, CA

Hudson Toney—Mission Viejo, CA

Ian Chenne—Bellevue, WA

Izzy Burris—Carlsbad, CA

Jenner Yaep—North Tustin, CA

Jillian Ritter—Swansea, IL

Joseph Bradic—Los Angeles, CA

Julia Castro—Los Angeles, CA

Kamaiya Whitaker—Compton, CA

Knox Yoon—Encino, CA

Leia Perez—Houston, TX

Leon Schiefele—St. Pete, FL

Londyn Knight—Carson, CA

Lucas Noe—Venice, CA

Lucie Johnson—Burbank, CA

Lucy Rowley—Phoenix, AZ

Maira Srivastava—Palo Alto, CA

Mansen Li—Interlochen, MI

Maxwell Stein—Chicago, IL

Mia McEwen—Miami, FL

Noam Ben-Efraim—San Diego, CA

Oscar Ellsworth—Los Angeles, CA

Parker Beck—Studio City, CA

Parker Winzenried—Los Angeles, CA

Petra Betti—San Anselmo, CA

Phoenix Ferrari—Los Angeles, CA

Raquel Reyes—Sherman Oaks, CA

Ray Lally—West Hills, CA

Rayan Karoui—Phoenix, AZ

Rylie Tyson—Houston, TX

Sawyer Mitchell—San Marcos, CA

Seven McIntosh—Los Angeles, CA

Sienna Kay—Fair Haven, NJ

Sol Vega Storace—Woodland Hills, CA

Sophie Seaver—New Canaan, CT

Sparkle Shabazz—Woodland Hills, CA

Takahiro Yoshida—Kirkland, WA

Trisha Jha—Cerritos, CA

Tvisha Garodia—Castro Valley, CA

Veronica Horosz—Kentfield, CA

William Dearborn—La Canada, CA

Yoyoka Soma—South El Monte, CA

For more information, visit  www.grammymuseum.org

WILLOW photo by Five TowersThe post Grammy Camp Los Angeles Returns This Week first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Meta scraps AI Muse Image feature that scraped Instagram accounts, following CAA backlashUnder the opt-out design, the public Instagram account of any adult artist could be referenced by other users to generate AI images unless the artist switched the feature off
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Jason Mraz at the GRAMMY Museum, Los Angeles, CAWeb: jasonmraz.comContact: ashley@ashleywhitepr.com

Sitting down with rising artist Philip Labes for a Q&A session with Dan Povenmire (Phineas and Ferb) following the screening of music documentary The Opener, it is clear that two-time GRAMMY winner and Songwriters Hall of Fame Honoree Jason Mraz is a fan of Labes’ art.

Sharing the inspiring journey of a street performer-turned-opening act, The Opener navigates how the life of a viral TikTok artist changed the day Jason Mraz joined his livestream. “I took a risk [interacting with Mraz] and he stuck around,” shared Labes. “I was already familiar with the music,” says Mraz. “I clicked on it and he says, ‘Hi Jason Mraz.’ I thought maybe A.I. was communicating with me, but it was so sincere. I watched his entire performance that evening.” 

A few days later, Mraz invited Labes to be his opening act.

Labes’ friends, Jeff Toye and Sunya Mara joined the tour to document the adventure, planning to capture social media footage, but the adventure grew into a full-length documentary. Says Mraz, “I still cry when I see it, probably because I can relive my journey through the way Philip conducted himself on this tour. He went above and beyond and absolutely nailed it.” Labes says he feels like it is a “love letter to creatives and the impulse to be creative.” He hopes it inspires more creativity. 

Performing “(This Movie Is) Rated Ours” and fan favorite “I Won’t Give Up,” Mraz interacted with trademark humility, delivering stunning pure vocals and breathtaking guitar stylings, leaving the room in quiet awe before Philip Labes hopped on stage. Sharing new track, “Big Scary Thing,” sing-a-long “CANNONBALL!," and breakout favorite, “A TV Show Called Earth,” Labes’ combination of softness and sharp wit make him an absolute delight. The full-circle evening (Labes busked outside GRAMMY museum doors 13 years ago) was a magical breakout, with Mraz returning to wrap the evening with a gorgeous rendition of biggest hit, “I’m Yours.”

On creating art, Mraz shared to, “take a deep breath, exhale, [and] make a noise. Maybe the first song is all tears, sorrow and chaos, but maybe the next song has a little bit more clarity, and then after that, you have the laughter again.” 

Grandma’s Gospel Favorites—originally recorded almost 20 years ago for Mraz—is out this month, including songs recalled from his earliest church memories, a few standards with mandolin and upright bass, a Johnny Cash cover, and a couple of originals. Features include longtime collaborator Noel ‘Toca’ Rivera, Andy Powers (CEO/Chief guitar designer at Taylor Guitars), and Ray Suen.

Photo courtesy of the Recording Academy, by Rebecca Sapp, Getty ImagesThe post Jason Mraz at the GRAMMY Museum, Los Angeles, CA first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From Primary Wave’s Kobalt acquisition to CVC’s DistroKid deal… it’s MBW’s weekly round-upThe biggest headlines from the past few days...
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12 Madonna Albums That Defin​e Pe​ak Madon​naOn July 3rd, she relea‍sed Confessions II, a full-circle sequel to 2005's Confessions on a Dance Floor that reunites he⁠r with p‍roducer‍ Stuart Pri‍c⁠e for another‍ night⁠ on the dance floor. Acr‍oss more tha⁠n four d‍e‌cades, M‍adonna has never‌ settle⁠d into‍ one ver‌sion of hers‍elf, which is exactly why "peak Madonna" i‍sn't a‍ sing‌le soun‍d —‌ it'‍s a recurring event‍. Here are 12 albums that c⁠ap⁠ture⁠ Madonna at her most Madonna.

Believe restructures global organization to ‘accelerate artist development strategy’Romain Becker named Group COO, Elsa Bahamonde Bourgain to lead combined Artist Services and Label & Artist Solutions
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The Over‍looked "Australian Invasion": The '80s Down Under Expl⁠osi⁠on Tha‍t Ne‌ver G‍ot Its DueFrom AC/DC's Back in Black to Men at Work, INXS, and Midnight Oil, Australian artists left an undeniable mark on the 1980s. In this exclusive excerpt from Down Under: The Men at Work and Colin Hay Story, Greg Prato investigates why this remarkable era has remained one of rock history's most underappreciated musical movements.

How 23dB Productions Is Revolutionizing Audiobook Recording with Focusrite Scarlett 4th GenPictured L-R: Denis Orynbekov, 23dB Productions co-founder and chief engineer; and Fela Davis, 23dB Productions co-founder.

The audiobook boom shows no signs of slowing down—and 23dB Productions is making sure geography doesn’t either. The company has expanded its remote production services into a streamlined audiobook workflow that allows authors to record professional-grade narration from just about anywhere, no studio commute required.

At the center of this operation is the Focusrite Scarlett 4th Generation audio interface, a piece of gear that’s quietly doing a lot of heavy lifting. By pairing intuitive hardware with a highly managed remote workflow, 23dB Productions has effectively turned bedrooms, offices, and hotel rooms into viable recording spaces for authors across the country.

The idea didn’t come out of nowhere. It evolved naturally from the company’s remote podcast services, which gained traction during the pandemic and quickly revealed a broader opportunity. “Our podcast clients started asking if we could help them create audiobook versions of their books,” said co-founder Fela Davis in a press release. “We had already been helping authors on a limited basis, but when we realized how effectively we could manage the entire process remotely, it opened the door to a completely new service offering.”

What 23dB ships out isn’t just a mic and a wish for the best. Authors receive a curated recording kit—complete with a microphone, laptop, and Scarlett interface—along with real-time support from an engineer who remotely monitors each session. The result is a guided experience that feels closer to a studio session than a DIY recording attempt.

According to co-founder and chief engineer Denis Orynbekov, the Scarlett 4th Gen has been a game changer for simplifying what could otherwise be a technically intimidating process. “The ability to control the interface through software allows us to remotely manage critical functions without asking authors to deal with technical settings,” he explained. “Many of our clients have never recorded professionally before, so the simpler we can make the experience, the better.”

The system recently proved its value during the production of former NBA player and coach Bill Cartwright’s audiobook. With a schedule that made traditional studio bookings nearly impossible, Cartwright was able to record on his own time while 23dB handled everything behind the scenes. “The author simply connects to the internet and starts reading,” said Orynbekov. “Meanwhile, we’re managing the session, monitoring performance and making sure we capture the cleanest audio possible.”

For Davis, the appeal of the Scarlett platform goes beyond convenience—it’s about authenticity. “What I love about Focusrite is how accurately it captures the human voice,” she said. “Audiobook listeners want authenticity. Authors want to sound like themselves. Scarlett delivers that natural, transparent sound without adding anything artificial.”

That balance of quality and reliability has been key as 23dB scales its services. Whether working with musicians, podcasters, or first-time authors, the company relies on consistent performance across every session. “We know what we’re going to get every time,” Davis added. “That consistency gives us confidence when we’re recording someone who may be hundreds or thousands of miles away.”

Focusrite, for its part, sees 23dB as a prime example of how adaptable technology can unlock entirely new creative workflows. “We've had the privilege of watching 23dB Productions grow alongside Focusrite for many years, and it's exciting to see how they've continually adapted our technology to meet new creative opportunities,” said Dan Hughley, Director of Marketing, Focusrite Group. “From music and podcast production to today's rapidly growing audiobook market, they've demonstrated that when dependable technology is paired with creative thinking, entirely new business models become possible. We're proud that Scarlett continues to be a trusted part of that journey.”

As for what’s next, 23dB Productions is betting big on the future of audiobooks. With a large percentage of published titles still unavailable in audio form, the runway is long—and their remote-first model is built to meet the moment.

“The audiobook market is still massively underserved,” said Orynbekov. “Focusrite gives us the ability to bring studio-quality production directly to authors wherever they are…without compromising audio quality.”

In other words, the studio hasn’t disappeared—it’s just been shipped directly to your door.The post How 23dB Productions Is Revolutionizing Audiobook Recording with Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

NewJeans face copyright lawsuit from US music publisher over ‘ETA’All Surface Publishing claims "ETA" copied a combination of musical elements from a dance track released nearly two decades earlier, without a license.
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The Hidden Verses That Made Grath Brooks' "Double Live" Album a Country Music BibleGarth Brooks' Double Live wasn't just a record-breaking live album—it became the only way fans could experience his concerts for years. Discover the two hidden verses that turned the album into a legendary piece of country music history.

Done deal: Primary Wave’s acquisition of Kobalt has closedMBW sources close to the deal have confirmed that the acquisition closed on Tuesday (July 7) after passing all relevant regulatory scrutiny.
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Platten’s Diamond Award, SESAC Celebrates Artists Marking over 10 million units sold in the United States, singer-songwriter Rachel Platten receives RIAAA’s Diamond Award for “Fight Song” by Sony Music Publishing, joining Beyoncé, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and others as one of only 25 solo female artists to receive the honor.

[L-R: Jon Platt (Chairman/CEO, Sony Music Publishing), Rachel Platten, Dave Bassett at Sony Music Publishing’s celebration of Rachel Platten]

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Celebrating the SESAC Film & Television Composer Awards, this year’s honorees included Laura Karpman (Captain America: Brave New World), Daniel Lopatin (Marty Supreme) and The Newton Brothers. SESAC’s annual Latina Music Awards honored Kapo, Edén Muñoz, and Sony Music Publishing for global chart successes. Details HERE, Latin HERE.

With growing international efforts, the organization recently established the “John Sweeney Stage” at the Sound City Festival in England, and the John Sweeney Impact Prize for promising new artists, in honor of SESAC’s late Vice President of International and cornerstone of UK’s music community.The post Platten’s Diamond Award, SESAC Celebrates Artists first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

13 Great​ Alter⁠native Rock​ Albums from the L⁠ate 1970s‍The late 1970s‍ is often defined by‌ punk's exp‌losi‌on,‌ but this⁠ list de‍li⁠bera‍te​ly step‌s ou​tsid‌e the strict boundaries of punk rock. What emerged in this era was⁠ something broader and more e⁠xperimen⁠tal: post-‌punk ten‍sion, ele‌ctronic minimalis‌m, art-​rock ab‌s‌tr⁠a​ction, an⁠d new-w‍a‌ve irony​.‌ These albums didn't just re‌flec⁠t the late '70‍s—they​ he​lped define⁠ the sonic blueprint for a⁠lternati‍ve r‌ock in the decad​es that followed.