Fresh off her historic Grammy win in 2024, South African sensation Tyla is back with an ambitious slate of submissions for the 2026 awards, signaling her determination to cement her status as one of Africa’s most formidable global music exports.

The “Water” hitmaker submitted her infectious single Push 2 Start across four major categories: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best African Music Performance, and Best Music Video.

This multi-category approach positions Tyla in some of the Grammys’ most competitive spaces, with Record of the Year alone attracting 894 entries and Song of the Year receiving a staggering 1,015 submissions—the most of any Grammy category.

Beyond Push 2 Start, Tyla entered Is It for Best Pop Solo Performance, a category that drew 381 entries this year, demonstrating her versatility and appeal beyond the African music categorisation.

She also submitted One Call (TMXO Remix) for Best Remixed Recording, showcasing the different facets of her artistry and commercial reach.

Tyla’s aggressive submission strategy reflects the confidence of an artist who has already broken through the Grammy barrier and understands what it takes to compete at that level. Her previous Grammy success made her one of the youngest African artists to win the award and proved that African music could compete and win in mainstream categories.

The Recording Academy’s voting members have until October 15 to cast their first-round ballots, with nominations being announced on November 7. For Tyla, these submissions represent more than just another award season—they’re a statement that her Grammy win was just the beginning of a sustained presence on music’s biggest stage.

As African music continues to reshape global pop culture, Tyla’s return to the Grammy race symbolises the continent’s growing power in the international music industry.

A federal judge has officially denied Sean “Diddy” Combs’ bid to be moved to a New Jersey facility to serve his four-year prison sentence.

The rapper and music mogul, who is currently incarcerated in New York, had requested to be transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey, a low-security facility known for its less restrictive conditions.

Diddy’s legal team had argued that Fort Dix would allow him to be closer to his family and have better access to their drug rehabilitation programs.

However, Judge Arun Subramania, overseeing the case, rejected the motion, insisting that Combs will serve his sentence close to his current facility.

The legal document provided by the court in response to Diddy’s motion read:

“The court will recommend a facility in the geographic location of the defendant’s choosing, but not the specific facility which is determined by the Bureau of Prisons. For that reason, the court will include the following recommendation based on the defendant’s request:”

“The court recommends that the defendant be incarcerated as close as possible to the New York metropolitan area and recommends that the defendant be considered for admission to any available substance abuse program, including the Bureau of Prisons residential drug abuse program for which he qualifies. If there is a different geographical location that the defence is pleased to advise the court.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested by U.S. Homeland Security investigators in a Manhattan hotel on September 16, 2024, after a grand jury indicted him. He was charged with sex trafficking and racketeering. He pleaded not guilty in his first court appearance at a Manhattan federal courthouse on September 17, 2024

After several months of trial and multiple witness testimonies, on July 2, 2025, the jury delivered a mixed verdict: Combs was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and both counts of sex trafficking, but was convicted on the two lesser charges involving transportation to engage in prostitution charges. He then attempted to have the conviction overturned, but the appeal was denied.

On October 3, 2025, he was sentenced to 50 months in prison for the sex- related charges:  transporting ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and ‘Jane Doe’ to places where they would participate in sex acts and prostitution. The felony dates back to the Mann Act, which was enacted in 1910.

In addressing the court before the judge imposed the sentence, Combs spoke out for the first time, admitting his past behaviour was “disgusting, shameful and sick,” and apologised to Cassie and ‘Jane Doe’ for his abuse against them.

Judge Subramanian said a lengthy sentence was necessary to “send a message to abusers and victims alike that exploitation and violence against women is met with real accountability”.

The judge also sentenced Combs to five years supervised release and imposed a $US500,000 ($758,000) fine against him, which is the maximum fine allowable.

Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine have officially left Maverick City Music. Here’s why they exited and what’s next for both artists.

The gospel world is in shock after two of Maverick City Music’s most recognisable voices, Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine, officially announced their exit from the award-winning worship collective. For fans who have followed their journey since 2019, this marks the end of an era and the start of new beginnings for both artists.

Maverick City Music was founded in Atlanta by Tony Brown and Jonathan Jay, bursting onto the Christian music scene with raw, spontaneous worship that resonated globally. From their early projects in 2019 to their Grammy-winning collaborations with Elevation Worship, the group redefined contemporary worship. Their songs, such as ‘Jireh,’ ‘Promises,’ and ‘Wait on You,’ have become anthems for churches and believers worldwide.

Over the past five years, the collective has released multiple albums, toured internationally, and earned critical acclaim, including five Grammys, five GMA Dove Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and a Soul Train Music Award. Within this rise, Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine stood out as two of its most powerful voices.

As the 68th Grammy Awards race officially kicks off, Wizkid is positioning himself as Africa’s most ambitious contender, submitting his critically acclaimed album Morayo and multiple singles across some of the ceremony’s most competitive categories.

Starboy has entered Morayo for both Album of the Year—a category that received 686 entries this year—and Best Global Album.

This dual submission strategy demonstrates Wizkid’s confidence in the project’s crossover appeal and artistic merit. Album of the Year remains one of the most prestigious honours at the Grammys, with media outlets worldwide covering its winner.

Beyond the album categories, Wizkid submitted Piece of My Heart for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, two categories that saw massive competition this year with 894 and 1,015 entries, respectively.

Song of the Year particularly stands out as the most competitive category in the entire Grammy Awards, meaning Wizkid’s entry faces over a thousand other submissions for just eight nomination slots.

The Afrobeats pioneer also showcased his versatility by entering his self-directed visual for Kese (Dance) in the Best Music Video category, which attracted 662 entries this year. Additionally, his collaboration with Olamide and Darkoo, Billionaires Club, alongside Piece of My Heart, was both submitted for Best African Music Performance—a category that continues to elevate African music on the global stage.

With voting already underway and nominations set to be announced on November 7, 2025, Wizkid’s comprehensive submission strategy reflects not just personal ambition but the growing confidence of African artists competing at the highest levels of the international music industry.

The final winners will be revealed on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.