Music

Engadget review recap: Steam Machine, Samsung Music Studio 7, Oura Ring 5 and more

• Valve's Steam Machine deemed underpowered and too expensive despite a good idea.
• Samsung Music Studio 7 shines as a $1,000 stereo pair.
• Oura Ring 5, HP OmniBook Ultra 14 and Alienware OLED all praised.

Engadget has published its latest review recap, gathering together recent verdicts on a spread of new consumer technology spanning gaming hardware, audio, wearables, laptops and displays. The roundup matters as a quick guide for buyers, with the headline item being Valve's much-anticipated Steam Machine console, which the site…

Karol G Creates Tropicoqueta-Themed Cocktail for Her TropiTour & More Uplifting Moments in Latin Music

• Karol G launches official TropiTour cocktail with fan contest and social media promotion
• Latin music artists unite for 14-hour fundraising broadcast supporting Venezuelan earthquake relief
• Shakira becomes the sixth-most-streamed artist globally on Spotify, surpassing Taylor Swift

Plus, Shakira surpasses Taylor Swift on Spotify, and a star-studded telethon rallies aid for Venezuela.

Madonna Dances Toward History With 13th U.K. No. 1 Album for ‘Confessions II’

• Madonna achieves her 13th UK No. 1 album with 'Confessions II,' a sequel to her 2005 hit
• Her first chart-topper there since 2012; she now joins an elite group alongside The Beatles, Taylor Swift, and Robbie Williams

Sienna Spiro also lands the biggest British debut of 2026 so far.

Obsidian game director reacts to people “spouting off” about the studio and how it’s not what it “used to be”

• Obsidian Entertainment director dismissed public criticism of the studio's direction, arguing core leadership and talent remain unchanged despite industry perception
• Microsoft's Xbox layoffs cut roughly 25% of Obsidian's workforce and shifted the studio toward Fallout projects, resulting in cancelled games including an Avowed sequel

A director at Obsidian Entertainment has shared their thoughts about the "extremely difficult week" at the studio, stressing how hard it's been to see "a bunch of cold take artists coming out of the woodwork" and "spouting off" about "what Obsidian is or what it isn't". Read more

Jay-Z Brings Out Beyoncé & Nas At Yankee Stadium

• Jay-Z opened a three-night Yankee Stadium residency celebrating 30 years of his debut album with performances from Beyoncé, Nas, and other artists
• Upcoming shows will commemorate other milestone albums; the event features collaborations spanning decades of hip-hop history

Earlier this year, Jay-Z announced three shows at New York's Yankee Stadium. The first, which operates as a celebration for 30 years of the rapper's debut album Reasonable Doubt, transpired last night, and it was full of surprises. The post Jay-Z Brings Out Beyoncé & Nas At Yankee…

STEVE HARRIS Watched BLAZE BAYLEY’s IRON MAIDEN Set At EDDFEST

• Steve Harris watched Blaze Bayley's Iron Maiden set at Eddfest.
• Set marked Maiden's 50th anniversary celebration at Knebworth.
• Bayley joins Maiden's Rock Hall induction on 14 November.

Blaze Bayley, who fronted Iron Maiden from 1994 to 1999, headlined the Friday night (10 July) Maidenville stage at the band's Eddfest weekend in the UK, part of a celebration of Iron Maiden's 50th anniversary held on the historic Knebworth site. Maiden founder and bassist Steve Harris, who…

The 30 Best Moments We Saw at JAY-Z’s Reasonable Doubt 30th Anniversary Concert

• JAY-Z marked Reasonable Doubt's 30th anniversary at Yankee Stadium.
• Surprise guests included Beyoncu00e9, Nas and Alicia Keys.
• 45,000 attended, topping the album's 43,000 first-week sales.

This article is a chronological ranking of standout moments, so a list format is used. - JAY-Z opened the first of three Reasonable Doubt 30th anniversary shows at Yankee Stadium on Friday 10th July 2026, framing the night as part victory lap, part history lesson and part family…

Born 82 Years Ago Today in Wisconsin, the Legendary Country Crooner Whose Signature Song Was Covered by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty

The article, published by American Songwriter, marks the 82nd birthday of country singer-songwriter Bobby G. Rice, born on 11 July in Boscobel, Wisconsin. It highlights that his self-penned signature song, "You Lay So Easy On My Mind", was later covered by the celebrated duo Conway Twitty and Loretta…

3 One-Hit Wonders From the 1990s That Were Secretly Influential to Modern Indie Music

• Three 1990s one-hit wonders—The La's, Primitive Radio Gods, and Toadies—shaped modern indie rock's sound and emotional approach despite limited overall commercial success
• Their influence ranged from jangle-pop textures and lo-fi melancholy to unflinching exploration of dark themes, becoming reference points for subsequent indie musicians

NEW YORK, NY - August 8: ( MANDATORY CREDIT Bill Tompkins/Getty Images ) The Toadies performing as part of the Q104.3 Radio Station music festival. August 8th, 1995 in New York City. (Photo by Bill Tompkins/Getty Images) You never know when influence hits. These are three one-hit wonders…

Robbie Williams joins CMAT on stage during day two of Bilbao BBK Live 2026

• Robbie Williams made a surprise guest appearance during CMAT's set at Bilbao BBK Live 2026
• The two performers sang 'Angels' together to cheering crowd members
• CMAT's album 'Euro-Country' recently won major music industry awards

In partnership with Bilbao BBK Live 2026. Fresh from headlining the main stage earlier that night, Robbie Williams surprised both CMAT and the crowd by running on stage during her set on day two of Bilbao BBK Live 2026. Nearing the end of her late night slot on…