Music

John Legend joins Universal Music, Udio, Stability AI, Splice and NVIDIA to discuss AI and music at the UN’s AI for Good Summit

• UN summit panel explored AI’s growing role in music
• John Legend backed AI use with stronger artist protections
• UMG highlighted recent AI partnerships amid ongoing legal disputes

John Legend appeared at the United Nations’ AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva alongside executives from Universal Music Group, Udio, Stability AI, Splice and NVIDIA to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping the music industry. The discussion mattered because it brought together a major artist, a leading…

Swervedriver talk ‘Raise at 35’ Tour, shoegaze revival, more (BV Interviews)

• Swervedriver are revisiting *Raise* for its 35th anniversary
• The band reflect on shoegaze’s renewed popularity
• The interview links nostalgia with lasting critical reappraisal

Swervedriver say they are marking the 35th anniversary of their 1991 debut *Raise* with a new tour and reflecting on the renewed attention around shoegaze. In the BrooklynVegan interview, the band discuss how the album has endured, how they feel about being revisited as part of a wider…

Classic Rock’s Tracks Of The Week: July 13, 2026

• The Heat Inc won last week’s reader poll
• Massive Wagons return with a new single
• The article sets up the next vote

This article rounds up Classic Rock’s latest “Tracks Of The Week” selections and opens a new round of voting for readers, while also reporting the result of the previous poll. - London band The Heat Inc won the previous week’s reader vote after a close contest with Macclesfield’s…

Mastodon Announce New Album, Unveil “Snakes for Dinner” Featuring Josh Homme: Stream

• Mastodon announced new album Marrow Deep for 28 August
• New single features Josh Homme on guest vocals
• Album marks first release since Brent Hinds’ death

Mastodon have announced a new album, Marrow Deep, due on 28 August via Loma Vista Recordings, and released a new single, “Snakes for Dinner”, featuring Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. The announcement matters because it marks the band’s first album in five years and their…

Born 67 Years Ago Today in Ohio, the Chet Atkins Protege Guitarist Who Has Played With George Strait and Alan Jackson

• Brent Mason is profiled on his 67th birthday.
• He became a leading Nashville session guitarist.
• His credits include over 2,000 top-10 singles.

The article marks guitarist Brent Mason’s 67th birthday by outlining his rise from a self-taught child musician in Ohio to one of Nashville’s most sought-after session players. It argues that his career matters because, although often less visible than headline stars, he helped shape the sound of modern…

Ariana Grande pulls out of ‘American Horror Story’ role due to tour commitments

• Ariana Grande left American Horror Story over tour scheduling conflicts
• She had not filmed any scenes before withdrawing
• Her first tour since 2019 includes 10 London O2 dates

Ariana Grande has withdrawn from a role in the next season of American Horror Story because the show’s revised production schedule clashes with her ‘Eternal Sunshine’ tour. The change matters because she had been announced as part of a high-profile cast for the anthology’s 13th season, and her…

Live Report: Henley Festival 2026

Alex James’ Britpop Classical brings ‘90s nostalgia to the Thames, Henley Festival’s charitable initiative RISE showcases emerging talents Adjua and Natalie McCool, and comedians Geoff Norcott and Suzi Ruffell add to the festival’s diverse atmosphere with their sharp and entertaining performances.  It’s a summer Saturday night. Grab your…

Has £1 got what it takes? The future of the grassroots music industry explained

• A £1 ticket levy is proposed to help save grassroots venues.
• Small venues are presented as vital to music’s talent pipeline.
• The debate is over scale, funding and whether adoption will be voluntary.

The article examines the growing idea of adding a £1 levy to tickets for large concerts in order to support Britain’s struggling grassroots music venues. It argues that the proposal matters because small venues are widely seen as the foundation of the live music industry, giving emerging artists…

5 Songs From the 60s and 70s That Made You Want To Live in the Great American South

• Five songs are picked as evoking the American South
• The piece balances Southern beauty with historical complexity
• One selection, Tom Petty’s, is from 1985

The article lists five songs that, in its view, capture the atmosphere and appeal of the American South, despite acknowledging the region’s painful history and the difficulty of romanticising it, especially during and after the Civil Rights era. - “Southern Nights” by Allen Toussaint: originally released in 1975,…