Today's Music Pulse
Drake Nears Record-Breaking Run at Billboard 200
Drake’s album *Iceman* has logged 41 weeks atop the Billboard 200, just one week short of Morgan Wallen’s 42‑week male‑artist record. The rapper also set a Hot 100 milestone with 42 simultaneous chart entries.
Taylor Swift’s ‘Toy Story 5’ Song Will Bring Pop Superstar Back to Country & To Movie Music
Taylor Swift announced that her original song “I Knew It, I Knew You” will debut on the Toy Story 5 soundtrack this Friday, June 7. The press release frames the track as a return to her country‑music roots, referencing the series’ cowgirl character Jessie. The release also marks Swift’s first foray back into movie‑song writing since earning four Golden Globe nominations for original songs in recent years. Billboard’s Pop Shop Podcast highlighted the announcement alongside chart news about Drake’s latest hits.
Tennyson King Bridges Tradition and Identity on “Big Mountain High (大山高),” A Powerful Fusion of Chinese Instrumentation and Indie Folk
Toronto‑based, Hong Kong‑born songwriter Tennyson King releases “Big Mountain High (大山高)”, the lead single from his forthcoming album 100 Cities. The track fuses traditional Chinese instruments—including guzheng, erhu, and dizi—with modern indie folk and pop production. Inspired by the ancient guqin piece “High...
Next Week’s Washing Capture Digital-Age Anxiety, Blend Driving Post-Punk with Celestial Shoegaze on “All You Fear Is All You Feel”
Toronto indie band Next Week’s Washing released the single “All You Fear Is All You Feel,” the final track from their debut EP. The song fuses propulsive post‑punk drums with lush shoegaze guitar textures, reflecting the band’s eclectic influences. Lyrically,...
Music’s Most Dangerous Immortal
Lestat de Lioncourt, the iconic vampire from Anne Rice’s novels, has launched a music tour with his band The Vampire Lestat, formerly known as Satan’s Night Out. In a candid backstage interview, he outlined a sound that blends Baroque, bebop, 60s...
Drake's 'Iceman' Stays No.1 on Billboard 200 as Boi‑1da Hails His Inevitable Comeback
Drake’s album Iceman remained atop the Billboard 200 for a second week with 225,000 equivalent album units, driven almost entirely by streaming. Producer Boi‑1da praised the rapper’s resilience, saying the comeback is “inevitable” after the high‑profile Kendrick Lamar feud.
On This Day in 1992, Billy Ray Cyrus Was at No. 1 With a Cover That Became a Cultural Touchstone...
On June 1, 1992 Billy Ray Cyrus topped the Hot Country Songs chart with “Achy Breaky Heart,” holding No. 1 for five weeks and reaching No. 4 on the Hot 100. The single became the first country record to earn Platinum status in nearly a decade...
Scott Hamilton/Nat Steele – “Afternoon In Paris – The Music of John Lewis & The MJQ”
Vibraphonist Nat Steele and tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton have issued a new album, “Afternoon In Paris – The Music of John Lewis & The MJQ,” honoring the Modern Jazz Quartet. The record, available on CD and 180‑gram vinyl, follows a...
ANTHRAX's CHARLIE BENANTE On New Material: "This Is Too Good To Hold Back And Wait"
Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante discussed the band’s long‑awaited album *Cursum Perficio* in a interview with Chris Jericho. The record, their first studio effort in ten years, drops on September 18 via Megaforce in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast in Europe, featuring...
Daniella Binyamin – “Wild Love”
Swedish alt‑pop artist Daniella Binyamin has dropped her first single, “Wild Love,” which opens the forthcoming debut album *Good Things will Come if You Wait*. The song is described as an anti‑romantic blend of folk‑led indie rock and warm pop,...
Common People Share Fuzzy New Single “Blue Eyes”
Los Angeles indie rock group Common People has dropped a new single, “Blue Eyes,” on Parallel Vision and Big Loud Rock. The track, produced by Cage The Elephant guitarist Brad Shultz, blends fuzzy guitars with a melancholy lyric about love’s...
Mondays with Morgan: Helen Sung’s Oracles Big Band with Ron Carter at Dizzy’s NYC
Pianist‑composer Helen Sung celebrated the release of her Oracles big‑band album at Dizzy’s Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, with a special duet and performance alongside mentor Ron Carter, who turned 89. The concert highlighted their decades‑long relationship that began in the...
Phoebe Bridgers to Play One-Dollar Madison Square Garden Show This Week
Phoebe Bridgers announced a Madison Square Garden concert for June 4, with tickets ranging from $1 to $20. The show is presented by Tidal Music and all proceeds will support the Community Justice Exchange’s Immigration Bond Freedom Fund. The low‑price model follows...
Taylor Swift Confirms Surprise Toy Story 5 Role in Major Announcement
Taylor Swift announced she will write and perform an original song, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” for Disney‑Pixar’s upcoming Toy Story 5. The single drops on June 5, with three exclusive CD editions released on her website, while the film premieres on...
Track Premiere: Green Desert Water – “Woodcutter”
Spanish trio Green Desert Water is set to release their third album, Eerie Meadows, on June 19. The band premiered the lead single “Woodcutter,” which melds Pearl Jam‑style grunge with Kyuss‑inspired stoner rock. Produced by Diego Martinez and Sergio Tutu and...
Bryson Tiller Announces Dates For ‘The Neo Trapsoul Tour’
Grammy‑nominated R&B star Bryson Tiller announced a 61‑date "Neo Trapsoul" world tour, kicking off on Aug. 27 in Utah and wrapping in Australia on Jan. 27, 2027. The itinerary covers major markets in North America, Europe, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand, with...
Taylor Swift Debuts Country Song for Toy Story 5
Taylor Swift Reveals Original Song for ‘Toy Story 5’: ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ — a ‘Return to Country’ https://t.co/n5xWisegNj via @variety
Marcus King Welcomes Special Guests in Nashville
Marcus King headlined a sold‑out show at Nashville Municipal Auditorium, bringing a star‑studded roster of guests—including Jennifer Hartswick, Mickey Raphael, Paul Franklin, Lamont Landers, Billy Contreras, and The Honky Tonk Horns—onto the stage across two sets. Unannounced appearances by his...
10 Minutes Backstage with Rostam at the Ford
Rostam Batmanglij debuted his new album "American Stories" at the Ford Theatre in Los Angeles, delivering a set that included a surprise duet with Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold on Bob Dylan’s "Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right." In the interview...
The String Cheese Incident Introduce New Material During Texas Weekend of Just Keep Spinning Tour
The String Cheese Incident kicked off its Just Keep Spinning Tour in Texas, debuting new songs each night from May 28‑31. The band premiered “The Lightning Sky” in San Antonio, followed by “Star” in Austin, the instrumental “Fête Tama” in...
Kelela Shares “Point Blank,” Announces Fall Tour
R&B‑electronic artist Kelela will release her third album, New Avatar, on Warp Records next month, preceded by the single “point blank.” The track tackles men’s emotional regulation and gender expectations. Kelela also unveiled a 30‑date fall tour, hitting North America...
SONNY SANDOVAL On P.O.D.'s Upcoming LP: 'It Could Be The Best Album That We've Ever Written'
P.O.D. has wrapped recording on a new 13‑song LP with Grammy‑winning producer Will Yip, completing the sessions in just 12 days at his Memory Music Studios in South Philadelphia. The band, venturing outside California for the first time, incorporated seven‑string guitars...
The Best Punk on Bandcamp, May 2026
Bandcamp’s May 2026 punk roundup showcases a wave of independent releases from Australia to Japan, highlighting Eddy Current Suppression Ring’s politically charged album, Marbled Eye’s synth‑infused EP, and Detroit’s noise‑rock outfit H8 Mile. The collection spans gritty lo‑fi demos, crust‑metal hybrids,...
IShowSpeed Drops 2026 World Cup Anthem and Fans Are Calling It Better than FIFA’s
Streaming star IShowSpeed has dropped a new World Cup anthem titled “Champions,” celebrating all 48 nations slated for the 2026 FIFA tournament. Though not an official FIFA track, the video amassed over half a million views within two hours of...
Jeff Parker on Music's Mood‑Shifting Power and New Track
An interview w/ Jeff Parker about his storied residency at ETA, his experience collaborating with Flea, music’s unknowable ability to change the mood of a room, the influence of Wayne Shorter, and his latest, "Happy Today." By the great Chris...
The Avalanches and Jamie Xx Reunite for “Every Single Weekend”
The Avalanches have issued their second single of a new stealth campaign, "Every Single Weekend," reuniting with British producer Jamie xx. The track, accompanied by a Jonathan Zawada‑directed video featuring a fictional El Dorado ad audition, follows their first post‑hiatus release,...
Dame Dash and Bobby Shmurda Clown ‘Goofy’ Jay-Z After His Diss Freestyle at the Roots Picnic
Jay-Z delivered a diss‑heavy freestyle at the Roots Picnic, taking shots at Drake, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West and Tory Lanez. The performance ignited a flurry of reactions, with former Roc‑A‑Fella co‑founder Dame Dash posting a Goofy‑themed meme and rapper Bobby Shmurda mocking the verses on...
A Place To Bury Strangers – “Do It All Again”
A Place To Bury Strangers (APTBS) issued "Do It All Again," a previously physical‑only single, to promote its upcoming Rare And Deadly compilation of rare tracks. The song channels the fuzzy shoegaze sound of the late‑2000s New York indie scene...
Our Violet Room – “Can’t Sleep at Night”
Denver-based indie singer‑songwriter Matthew Birch, performing as Our Violet Room, released the single “Can’t Sleep at Night,” the title track from an upcoming album. The song blends early‑2000s indie rock influences like Spoon with a bouncy, anthemic groove. Critics note...
Azniv Korkejian on Bedouine’s ‘Neon Summer Skin’
Bedouine (Azniv Korkejian) channels her Saudi‑Arabian childhood and Armenian roots into the forthcoming folk album “Neon Summer Skin,” debuting Friday. The lead single “On My Own” emerged from a recent visit to Saudi Arabia that left her emotionally raw, prompting...
Stella Lovell – “Get Away”
Seattle singer‑songwriter Stella Lovell has released a self‑titled EP featuring the single “Get Away.” The track blends seductive rock, pop power, and intricate folk songwriting, delivering a 90s‑style production that balances bite with vulnerability. “Get Away” follows her earlier viral...
Ariana Grande Haunts Justin Long in ‘Hate That I Made You Love Me’ Video
Ariana Grande’s new video for “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” directed by Christian Breslauer, pairs the pop star with actor Justin Long in a horror‑inflected chase that ends in a fiery car crash. The track, produced by longtime...
Kanye West Draws 118,000 Fans, Sets Stadium Attendance Record in Istanbul
Kanye West performed at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium on May 30, pulling a crowd of 118,000 – the biggest ticketed stadium audience on record. The show, staged on a massive spherical platform, signaled a high‑profile return for the rapper after...
BV Interviews: Vince Clarke, Neil Arthur & Benge Talk Doublespeak, Synthpop, Covers, More
Vince Clarke, Neil Arthur and producer Benge have formed the synth‑pop supergroup Doublespeak, releasing a debut album of 11 cover songs ranging from ABBA to The Magnetic Fields. The project, conceived in 2019 and delayed by COVID, finally materialized with...
Goose Unveils Fall 2026 Tour Dates
Connecticut‑based indie‑rock quartet Goose announced a 14‑date fall tour running November 3‑21, 2026, hitting Midwest and Northeast cities including Kansas City, Milwaukee, Nashville, and Rochester. The schedule follows a successful European spring leg that featured a Cologne debut and extensive streaming via...
SAGA To Embark On 50th-Anniversary '1977-2027: The Generations Tour'
Saga, the Canadian progressive‑rock stalwart, will mark its 50th anniversary in 2027 with the "Saga 50 – 1977‑2027: The Generations Tour," set to be announced on sagagen.com. Frontman Michael Sadler, who disclosed a rare aggressive muscle‑invasive cancer in 2024, is...
Charli Xcx Unveils New Album, ‘Music, Fashion, Film’
Charli xcx will release her 11‑track album *Music, Fashion, Film* on July 24, 2026 through Atlantic. The 30‑minute record follows her 2024 album *BRAT* and a soundtrack for Emerald Fennell’s *Wuthering Heights* adaptation, opening with the singles “Rock Music” and “SS26.” Its cover features cultural icons...
Julia Jacklin Signs to 4AD, Announces Tour
Australian singer‑songwriter Julia Jacklin, fresh from three releases on Polyvinyl/Transgressive, has signed with iconic indie label 4AD. While no new record has been announced, she unveiled an extensive North American and European tour that runs from October 20, 2026 through...
Pyncher Announce New EP ‘I Really Mean It This Time’ and Share Heavy-Hitting Single ‘Oh Boy’
British indie outfit pyncher announced their upcoming EP I Really Mean It This Time, slated for release on June 19 through the independent label Heist or Hit. To promote the record, the band dropped the single “Oh Boy,” a gritty, groove‑laden track...
Employed To Serve Share Punishing New Track ‘Dead Reckoning’
British metal outfit Employed To Serve has dropped its first new material since the 2025 album ‘Fallen Star’ with the single ‘Dead Reckoning.’ The track combines brutal death‑core‑style riffs and gritty breakdowns with a surprisingly melodic undercurrent, delivering a relentless,...
‘After K-Pop, Chinese Pop Music Will Come to the World Next.’
Universal Music Greater China, led by Chairman Timothy Xu, is executing a "Glocal" strategy as China becomes the world’s fourth‑largest recorded‑music market, generating $1.9 billion in 2025 with 20.1% YoY growth. The market now boasts 171 million paying streaming subscribers, led by...
Fakemink - Terrified .
British rapper‑songwriter fakemink, formerly 9090gate, released his sophomore album Terrified, a 19‑track self‑produced effort that has become a make‑or‑break moment for the UK rap scene. The record follows a controversial pre‑release period marked by polarizing interviews, a lukewarm EP, and...
Julia Jacklin Signs To 4AD, Confirms UK Tour Dates
Australian singer‑songwriter Julia Jacklin has signed her first international record deal with independent label 4AD, marking a decade‑long evolution since her debut album Don’t Let The Kids Win. The partnership follows three critically praised releases—Crushing (2019) and PRE PLEASURE (2022)...
Album Review – Don Williams “Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes”
Don Williams’ estate has issued a posthumous album, *Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes*, featuring never‑heard songs recorded between 1979 and 1984 and uncovered in the family’s Tennessee cellar. Long‑time producer Garth Fundis restored deteriorated instrumental tracks while preserving Williams’ original vocals. Critics note...
SML :: The Aquarium Drunkard Interview
SML released "Spontaneous Music Live," a double‑track album that captures two sprawling, unedited performances recorded at Zebulon for International Anthem. The record showcases the band’s real‑time shape‑shifting and improvisational chemistry. To mark Aquarium Drunkard’s 21st anniversary, SML will perform June 26‑27...
Next Wave #1188: Bucket
Irish trio Bucket has dropped their second EP, Mosaic, building on the raw energy of 2025’s debut Muck. The five‑track record showcases a more complex sound, blending hardcore, punk, industrial and noise rock while exploring interior monologues of paranoia, mania...
Review: Turnover – ‘Down on Earth’
Turnover released their new album *Down on Earth*, which critics hail as the band’s strongest work since the 2014 breakthrough *Peripheral Vision*. The record blends dream‑pop, shoegaze, and indie‑rock textures while retaining the emotive lyricism that defined their early sound....
Monday Morning Video – Maggie Rose
Maggie Rose announced her upcoming album Half Moon, set for release on August 14, 2024. The promotion includes a video of the title track "No One Gets Out Alive," recorded at Tennessee’s Caverns with a full string section. The performance...
Phoebe Bridgers Playing Madison Square Garden This Week
Phoebe Bridgers announced a surprise solo concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden for June 4, 2026, presented by streaming service Tidal. Tickets are priced at $1, with proceeds benefiting the Community Justice Exchange’s Immigration Bond Freedom Fund, and are...
Charli Xcx Announces New Album ‘Music, Fashion, Film’
Charli XCX announced her next album “Music, Fashion, Film,” slated for release on July 24, following the breakout success of her 2024 record BRAT. The new project’s cover art features cultural icons John Cale, Marc Jacobs and Martin Scorsese, underscoring a deliberate blend of music, fashion...
Charli XCX and George Daniel Host Surprise ‘In Conversation’ Fan Event and DJ Afterparty in London
Pop star Charli XCX and The 1975 drummer George Daniel staged a surprise ‘In Conversation’ talk and DJ afterparty at London’s Coin Laundry on May 30. The event, announced minutes before it began, gave fans a live glimpse of her...