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Jacqueline Crooks: ‘Toni Morrison’s voice made me want to find my own’
Novelist Jacqueline Crooks reflects on the books and writers that have shaped her reading life and her own work, from childhood experiences of displacement to a commitment to centring marginalised voices. She says Toni Morrison’s imaginative, Black-centred fiction particularly encouraged her to develop her own voice, while writers including Dickens, Brontë and Shakespeare influenced her…
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Suno loses copyright infringement lawsuit brought by GEMA in Germany
A Munich court has ruled that AI music generator Suno infringed copyright by using music represented by Germany’s GEMA without permission. The decision strengthens pressure on generative-AI companies to secure licences for training material and compensate rightsholders, although Suno says it disagrees with the ruling and is considering an appeal. The court ordered Suno to…
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Watch Smashing Pumpkins reunite with Melissa Auf der Maur and bring out ‘The Brady Bunch’s Barry Williams at Lollapalooza pre-show
The Smashing Pumpkins used a Chicago pre-Lollapalooza concert to stage two guest appearances, reuniting with former bassist Melissa Auf der Maur and performing with actor Barry Williams of The Brady Bunch. The show was notable for its unusual setlist and collaborations ahead of the band’s first Lollapalooza appearance in 32 years. At the Riviera Theatre…
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Sony generated $3.12B from recorded music and publishing in calendar Q2 2026, up 12.7% YoY
Sony’s recorded music and publishing businesses generated an estimated $3.12 billion in the April-to-June 2026 quarter, up 12.7% year on year and marking a third consecutive quarter above $3 billion. The growth was driven by increased streaming income, alongside stronger live events, merchandising and licensing revenues, underlining the value of Sony’s broader music operations beyond…
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The Durutti Column – Renascent
The Durutti Column’s first album for 16 years, Renascent, is warmly reviewed by Clash as a convincing return for the influential Manchester group. The review argues that Vini Reilly avoids simply relying on the band’s legacy, instead reviving its spacious, echoing sound with renewed purpose and his distinctive fluid guitar playing. Released through London Records,…
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Boy George quits West End musical amid backlash to pro-Israel song
Boy George has withdrawn from the forthcoming West End production of Jesus Christ Superstar after criticism of his new pro-Israel song, “We Will Dance Again”. The decision removes him from a scheduled appearance as King Herod at the London Palladium and reflects the wider backlash the song has prompted online. The song refers to the…
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Jae Stephens Announces Debut Album ‘AUDACITY’
Jae Stephens has announced her debut album, ‘AUDACITY’, due for release on 25 September through Def Jam Recordings and RAEDIO. The 11-track record marks a full-length step for the Dallas-born, Pasadena-raised R&B-pop artist, building on her earlier ‘SELLOUT’ projects and centring themes of feminine autonomy, confidence and vulnerability. Produced by Dallas Caton with writing support…
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Watch Lorde bring out Charli XCX for ‘Girl, So Confusing’ at Lollapalooza
Lorde brought Charli XCX on stage during her Lollapalooza headline set in Chicago on 30 July, where they performed ‘Girl, So Confusing’. The appearance continues a series of live collaborations between the pair and highlights the song’s transformation from a track about perceived rivalry into a public creative partnership. Lorde performed the collaboration after playing…
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Pregnant Holly Ramsay-Peaty says she’s ‘proud’ of her husband Adam and hints at the ‘costs’ of his return to racing after he missed out on Commonwealth Games gold
Pregnant Holly Ramsay-Peaty said she was proud of her husband, swimmer Adam Peaty, after he narrowly missed Commonwealth Games gold on his return to competition. Her comments suggest the comeback has involved personal sacrifices and pressure beyond the result itself. The article focuses on Peaty’s near-miss in the race and Holly’s public support for him…
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The best-selling classic rock song of the 1990s: “Sexuality personified”
The article identifies AC/DC’s 1990 single ‘Thunderstruck’ as the decade’s best-selling classic rock song, arguing that its enduring appeal comes from its instantly recognisable guitar introduction, high-energy riff and sexual confidence. It presents the track as a defining example of how established rock bands remained commercially powerful during a decade increasingly associated with grunge, alternative…