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Charli xcx’s ‘Music, Fashion, Film’ Struts to No. 1 on U.K. Albums Chart
Charli xcx’s Music, Fashion, Film has debuted at No. 1 on the UK Official Albums Chart, giving her a fourth chart-topping album. The achievement is significant because it makes her the first British female artist to score two UK No. 1 albums in one calendar year. The album follows her Wuthering Heights soundtrack, which reached…
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Rumour: LEGO Astro Bot Sweetens the Deal on Leaked PS1 Set
A rumour suggests LEGO and PlayStation may release an official PlayStation 1 set this autumn, with a LEGO Astro Bot figure offered free to purchasers. The report has not been confirmed by either company, but repeated leaks have increased speculation that the product is real; it would extend PlayStation’s merchandising presence and pair its original…
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How 20 minutes work for Phil Collins became a multi-million dollar classic: “Started fooling around”
Phil Collins’ 1981 hit ‘In the Air Tonight’ emerged from an improvised studio session rather than a lengthy, deliberate songwriting process. Collins has said the song began when he started experimenting with a drum machine and keyboard, developing the central atmosphere and lyrics in around 20 minutes; it later became one of his most recognisable…
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How Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s Rein Me In broke the UK’s singles chart record
Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s duet Rein Me In has set a new UK singles chart record after spending 19 non-consecutive weeks at number one, surpassing Frankie Laine’s 1953 record with I Believe. The achievement is significant because it gives Fender his first number one single and establishes the song as the longest-running chart-topper in…
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$2m crime novel deal collapses amid questions over AI use
A proposed $2m (£1.5m) publishing deal for Jerry Falade’s debut crime novel has collapsed after his agents said they could no longer verify how the manuscript was developed. The withdrawal of Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body highlights growing uncertainty in publishing over suspected use of artificial intelligence and how agencies should investigate it. The…
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Mahershala Ali confirms he won’t be part of Marvel’s Blade anymore
Mahershala Ali has confirmed that he will no longer star in Marvel’s long-delayed Blade film, effectively ending his involvement in the troubled MCU project. His comments make clear that the film did not move forward despite his contract, and place responsibility for its failure with Marvel; this matters because Ali’s casting had been a major…
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Lollapalooza 2026 Thursday Photo Gallery: Lorde, Wet Leg, Sombr & Blood Orange
Lollapalooza 2026 opened on Thursday 31 July with performances from Lorde, Wet Leg, Blood Orange and other artists. The opening day was notable for Lorde bringing Charli xcx on stage for a duet of the remix of “Girl, so confusing”, adding a high-profile surprise to the festival’s first day. Other Thursday performers included Viagra Boys,…
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The major labels propose rules to keep AI slop off the charts
Major record labels including Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music Group have proposed excluding most AI-developed songs from official international charts. The initiative seeks to curb low-quality or potentially manipulated AI music while requiring clearer disclosure of AI use to listeners. Under the proposal, AI-assisted recordings would need to be “substantially human made”,…
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Scarlets vow to remain at heart of west Wales
Scarlets have pledged to remain central to rugby in west Wales after Welsh Rugby Union plans to reduce the number of professional Welsh teams from four to three by 2028 put them in direct competition with Ospreys for one western licence. Cardiff and Dragons have already been guaranteed licences, making the decision significant for the…
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Facepunch director Alistair McFarlane, who once offered to buy New World from Amazon and faked us out about Rust 2, has left the company
Alistair McFarlane, Facepunch’s chief operating officer and a director closely associated with Rust, has left the studio. He said he had lived his dream at the company but wanted to focus on other parts of his life; no next role was announced. His departure matters because he was a prominent public figure in the long-running…