Music

Signed: Michelle Branch Moves to BMG; ‘Descendants’ Star Liamini Segura Inks With Music Manager

• Michelle Branch signs to BMG, re-recorded EP out 6 November.
• Liamini Segura joins Lighthouse Management + Media as manager.
• Rhiannon Giddens signs with WME; Chiodos joins SharpTone Records.

Billboard's latest "Signed" roundup reports that singer-songwriter Michelle Branch has joined BMG, which will release her EP of re-recorded songs, Everywhere and Back Again, on 6 November. The article also rounds up several other recent artist signings, including Descendants star Liamani Segura joining Lighthouse Management + Media, Grammy-…

White House responds to John Mellencamp criticizing ‘Gulf of America’ name change

• Mellencamp mocked the Gulf of America name at concerts.
• The White House dismissed his criticism.
• The renaming remains politically contested.

The White House has responded after musician John Mellencamp criticised President Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” during recent concerts. The exchange highlights continuing political and cultural disagreement over the federal name change, which applies to US government usage but is not…

Ozlo’s Sleepbuds 2 build on Bose’s sleep earbud legacy

• Ozlo launches Sleepbuds 2, priced $279, up 12%.
• Battery life rises to 14 hours; Bluetooth reliability improved.
• Adds AI-driven sleep tracking and new Sleep Shield feature.

Ozlo, a sleep earbuds startup founded by former Bose engineers, has launched Sleepbuds 2, an updated version of its debut product with improvements to battery life, Bluetooth connectivity and sound quality. The launch is significant as Ozlo's first major update since its original Sleepbuds, marking the company's shift…

4 Songs Every 80s Kid Heard While Riding in the Family Car to School Each Morning

An American Songwriter list article looks back at four songs that defined the radio experience for children being driven to school during the 1980s. The piece is a nostalgic, light-hearted rundown rather than a hard news story, celebrating how Top 40 radio shaped many people's musical tastes during…

The 1980 AC/DC song written by the devil: “I kept the light on all night”

• Brian Johnson recalled writing ‘Hells Bells’ in a frightening burst of inspiration.
• The song opened AC/DC’s comeback after Bon Scott’s death.
• ‘Hells Bells’ became a defining track from *Back in Black*.

The article examines AC/DC’s ‘Hells Bells’, the opening track of 1980’s *Back in Black*, through Brian Johnson’s account that its lyrics seemed to arrive in a sudden, unsettling burst of inspiration. The “written by the devil” description is presented as Johnson’s own colourful recollection rather than a literal…

En Skog av Nidstang

• TAAKE release ninth album "En Skog av Nidstang" via Dark Essence.
• Blabbermouth review scores it 8/10, praising nuanced black metal songwriting.
• Main criticism: some tracks feel overly long and repetitive.

TAAKE, the long-running Bergen black metal project led by Ørjan "Hoest" Stedjeberg, has released its ninth full-length album, "En Skog av Nidstang". The review frames it as a strong entry in the band's catalogue and in Norwegian black metal generally for 2026, praising its balance of traditional genre…

Maripool – “Favourite”

• Maripool releases new single "Favourite" ahead of debut album
• Song explores a relationship's quiet unravelling and escapism
• Debut album Rotten Luck arrives 28 August 2026

Portuguese-British singer-songwriter Maripool has released a new single called "Favourite", the second track from her forthcoming debut album Rotten Luck. The Lisbon-born, London-based artist follows up last month's single "Crossing" with a darker, more cathartic song, continuing the rollout ahead of the album's release next month. Maripool, the…

Jean-Michel Jarre to Release a Book About the History of Electronic Music: Here’s When It Arrives

• Jarre's debut book, Machines, arrives 24 November.
• It traces a century of electronic music history via instruments.
• Features 130 images and contributions from fellow musicians.

Electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre is to publish his debut book, Machines: A History of Electronic Music, on 24 November, tracing a century of sonic experimentation through his personal collection of electronic and electro-acoustic instruments. The release marks a notable step for the French musician, who has spent…

Listen to King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s New Song “Alien Metal”

• King Gizzard share "Alien Metal", second single from new EDM album
• 28th LP due this summer on P(doom) Records
• Band announce US shows and October Australian tour

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have released "Alien Metal", the title track from their forthcoming EDM album, marking the second preview of the Australian band's move into high-energy electronic music following last month's single "Level 5". The shift is notable for a group best known for psych…

Joan Baez Had the Time of Her Life at Newport Folk

• Joan Baez, 85, danced with Dave Matthews at Newport Folk Festival's close
• Moment came during Nathaniel Rateliff & Friends' finale set on 26 July
• Festival ended with a group performance of "America the Beautiful"

Joan Baez danced with Dave Matthews on stage during the closing set of the 2026 Newport Folk Festival, marking a joyful moment at an event she has been part of since its very first edition in 1959. The 85-year-old folk icon's impromptu dance underscores her enduring connection to…