Heroes, hits, and controversies: 13 talking points from the world of music in 2025 

A new crop of home-grown stars emerged, and the issue of Palestine shared the stage with many acts 
Heroes, hits, and controversies: 13 talking points from the world of music in 2025 

It's been quite the year for music, with some interesting breakthroughs, several sad losses, and the issue of Palestine being front and centre.  

1. Boyzone's Sky documentary 

The three-part Sky Documentaries series Boyzone: No Matter What in February 2 turned out to be a surprisingly gripping watch - even for sceptics. With  interviews from Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch, and Mikey Graham, plus rare archive footage, it peeled back the glamour to reveal the toll of fame: tabloid scrutiny forcing Stephen Gately's outing, internal rivalries, and raw grief at his 2009 death. Louis Walsh, the architect of their success, emerges as the pantomime villain, of course.

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