Topic: Music

Music news, from stadium-filling icons to the artists shaping the charts this week, covering new releases, reissues and the interviews and anniversaries that put a record's story in context. It ranges across genres and eras, so a look back at how a soul classic or disco anthem came together sits alongside coverage of what's charting or making headlines right now.

Beyond the music itself, this is where the people and decisions behind it get examined: why a band turned down a big break, how a songwriter settled on a lyric overnight, or what a veteran musician makes of the industry and the world today. There's also room for the wider culture around music, from touring and nightlife to the health and social benefits some readers get from it.

Taken together, it's a mix of nostalgia and the present tense, useful for anyone who wants to understand not just what's playing now but the stories and decisions that shaped the music they already know.

  • Lil Uzi Vert misses Lollapalooza birthday set but joins Major Lazer and shares surprise EP

    Lil Uzi Vert had their planned Lollapalooza set cancelled due to severe weather, missing what would have been a headline-worthy performance on their 31st birthday. Despite the setback, the Philadelphia rapper made an unannounced appearance at the Chicago festival and marked the occasion by surprise-releasing a new EP, continuing their tradition of dropping music on…

  • 5 of the Best Country Songs Turning 50 This Year

    American country and western singer and musician Johnny Cash (1932 – 2003) performs on stage at the Painters Mill Music Far in Owing Mills, Maryland, September 29, 1977. He is strumming a guitar and standing in front of a microphone. Bassist Marshall Grant (1928 – 2011) of Cashs backing band The Tennessee Three plays behind…

  • Pitchfork Festival London Adds More Names for 2026

    Pitchfork Festival London has revealed a second wave of artists for its 2026 edition, running from 2-8 November across various venues in the city. New additions include Panda Bear & Sonic Boom, who will join the Avalanches at their headlining Roundhouse show alongside a DJ set from Arushi Jain, plus Nirosta Steel performing at the…

  • “They just carry you along with the absurdity”: The 1967 psychedelic song Sting crowned the peak of the genre

    Sting has identified Procol Harum’s 1967 single ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ as the song that best captures the psychedelic era. He said its mixture of classical-sounding organ, modern psychedelia and deliberately elusive lyrics draws listeners in, making it an enduring example of the genre. The musician recalled repeatedly playing the record on a jukebox…

  • Multiple people injured following crowd “stampede” at London music event

    Multiple people were injured after a crowd “stampede” broke out at the Ghana Party In The Park festival in Barnet, London, forcing organisers and police to end the event early on Saturday 1 August 2026. The Met Police said a small fire led to the venue’s gates being temporarily closed, causing a crowd to build…

  • Jon Bernthal claims that being afraid of pitbulls is “dog racism”

    Actor Jon Bernthal has said that being afraid of pitbulls amounts to “dog racism”, arguing that the breed is unfairly stigmatised and judged on reputation rather than individual temperament. The comment, reported by Far Out Magazine, taps into a long-running debate about pitbulls, a breed often associated with aggression in popular perception despite many owners…

  • 10 Forgotten Fantasy Books That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

    Collider writer Diego Pineda Pacheco has compiled a list of ten fantasy novels he considers unfairly overlooked, arguing that while many classic fantasy works receive the recognition they deserve, others of equal quality have slipped from public attention despite ageing well. The piece spans both celebrated authors and lesser-known names, making the case that critical…

  • AI and Protecting a Celebrity’s voice through Trademark

    A growing number of celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Lionel Richie and the Backstreet Boys, are filing trademark applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office to protect the sound of their voices and signature catchphrases, following Matthew McConaughey’s pioneering registrations from 2023. The strategy is a response to mounting concern over artificial intelligence being used…

  • 3 Acoustic Songs From the 1970s With Melodies That Still Echo Decades Later

    American Songwriter has put together a short list highlighting three acoustic songs from the 1970s whose melodies, according to the outlet, remain memorable and influential decades on. The feature celebrates the stripped-back, mellower quality of acoustic music compared with more bombastic rock, and singles out tracks the writer considers enduring examples of the style from…

  • Check out David Byrne’s ‘Biking Playlist’

    David Byrne, former Talking Heads frontman, has released a new “Biking Playlist” as part of his ongoing David Byrne Radio series, accompanying it with reflections on how the boundaries of pop music continue to shift. The playlist, featuring artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers and Sofia Isella, was compiled while Byrne has been touring…