Today's Music Pulse
Drake Nears Record‑Breaking Billboard 200 Streak
Drake is closing in on Morgan Wallen’s record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, according to The Source. Forbes adds that this also matches Adele’s historic tally of debut‑at‑number‑one singles.
ILL NIÑO Parts With Brand New Guitarist Hired Earlier This Year
Ill Niño announced a 25th‑anniversary tour for their debut album *Revolution Revolución*, but just three weeks before the first show the band dismissed guitarist Xander Raymond Charles, who had been hired earlier this year. Charles posted on Instagram that the decision was a business move and that he is now available for work. Ill Niño has not released an official comment on the termination. The tour will hit major South American cities with support from Hed PE, Primer 55 and Drift Mothership.
Model/Actriz Surprise Release New EP Ahead of Spring Tour (Listen)
Model/Actriz has surprise‑released a three‑track EP titled *Swan Songs* to kick off their spring North American tour, which launches in Durham, NC on March 25. The EP blends a new banger, “Glassman,” with more subdued cuts, including a Dido‑inspired track. The...
Data‑Driven Forecast Beats Industry Skepticism
Remember when music infustry commentators were mocking my suggestion that the Johnny Blue Skies album could sell 100,000 physical copies? First week it sold 59k. It went to #3. I based my estimate on his recent ticket sales,...
Album Review – Colton Bowlin’s “Grandpa’s Mill”
Colton Bowlin’s debut album "Grandpa’s Mill" delivers homespun Appalachian storytelling backed by producer David “Fergie” Ferguson, echoing the raw authenticity of Sturgill Simpson and Tyler Childers. The record leans heavily on personal and regional narratives, from murder ballads like “Dirty...
Springsteen Backs ACLU as Supreme Court Threatens Birthright Citizenship
Just in: Bruce Springsteen authorizes ACLU to use 'Born in the USA' in a new ad campaign that debuts as the organization figures in a Supreme Court case that could deny birthright citizenship to children born in the United States...
Pianist Yunchan Turns to Schubert Songs
South Korean virtuoso pianist Yunchan Lim has announced a May tour across his home country, marking his biennial return to domestic stages. Unlike previous programs, the tour will focus exclusively on works by Franz Schubert and Alexander Scriabin, featuring piano...
FOUNDERS KEEPERS: The Triumphant Return of Crooked Fingers, Plus New Music From the Delines, Steve Poltz, and More
Eric Bachmann revives his Crooked Fingers project with "Swet Deth," his first album under the moniker in 15 years. The record draws on personal experiences, including a near‑fatal heart attack and his son’s artwork that inspired the title. High‑profile guests...
Preserving the French Underground: A Guide to Souffle Continu
Souffle Continu Records, founded in 2014, is systematically restoring and releasing obscure 1970s French underground music that blends free jazz, prog rock, and musique concrète. Recent issues feature Jac Berrocal’s live sessions, Birgé & Gorgé’s avant‑garde synth‑guitar experiments, Camizole’s 1977 concert recordings, and...
Billy Woods and Mickey Diamond Take a Bite Out of “Peter and the Wolf”
Underground hip‑hop duo billy woods and Mickey Diamond have released “Peter and the Wolf,” a hip‑hop reinterpretation of Sergei Prokofiev’s classic tale. The single, produced by Sam Seed, pairs woods as Peter with Diamond as the Wolf over a cinematic blend...
Ben Wendel’s ‘BaRcoDe’ Is Unique and Uniquely Excellent
Ben Wendel’s new album *BaRcoDe* pairs his tenor saxophone with four vibraphonists/percussionists, creating a hybrid of jazz, chamber, and electronic music. Recorded after residencies at New York’s Jazz Gallery, the record features six tracks—five originals and a Jobim cover—built on...
Downtown Boys Announce First Album in 9 Years, Share “No Me Jodas”
Downtown Boys announced their first album in nine years, *Public Luxury*, set for release on June 26 through Sub Pop. The record, co‑produced by guitarist Joey La Neve DeFrancesco and engineer Seth Manchester, seeks to translate the band’s high‑energy live...
Full Album Stream: Zerre – “Rotting on a Golden Throne”
German thrash outfit Zerre has dropped its sophomore full‑length, *Rotting on a Golden Throne*, via Dying Victims Productions. The record amplifies the band’s speed, aggression and dark atmosphere, moving further from their punk‑infused debut toward straight‑ahead thrash. Drawing heavily on...
Last Night in Sioux Falls (by Bob Keyes)
Bob Dylan’s Rough and Rowdy Ways World Tour made a stop in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, performing at the Washington Pavilion. The concert suffered from severely inaudible vocals, prompting the audience to shout for the singer to be heard. Reporter...
Your Morning Coffee Podcast: Do People Really Care About 'Pre-Save?'
The Your Morning Coffee podcast episode 294 (March 23, 2026) breaks down three hot music‑industry topics: the IFPI Global Music Report 2026, U.S. wholesale recorded‑music revenue hitting $11.5 billion in 2025, and the waning relevance of pre‑save campaigns. The IFPI data...
Ben Glas – “Music* *?”
Ben Glas’s new album “music* *?” challenges conventional composition by presenting seven pieces built entirely from raw acoustic phenomena such as phasing and acoustic beating. The tracks contain no written melodies, yet listeners report hearing emergent tunes and textures, a...
Is Céline Dion About To Announce Paris Concert Dates? Speculation Rife As Posters Bearing Hit Song Titles Appear On Streets...
Céline Dion may soon announce a series of Paris shows after a mysterious poster campaign featuring her hit song titles appeared throughout the city. Canadian outlet La Presse reported that the singer could stage two concerts per week at the 40,000‑seat Paris La Défense...
Slayr - Half Blood (BloodLuxe)
Philadelphia rapper slayr has released a deluxe edition of his mixtape Half Blood, adding ten new tracks and effectively doubling its runtime. The expanded project is sequenced seamlessly, giving the feel of a fresh album rather than a collection of...
John McLaughlin – ‘Music For Abandoned Heights’
John McLaughlin completed a twelve‑track soundtrack for the unreleased film “Abandoned Heights,” recorded in 2020‑21 and now issued on vinyl (ten tracks) and SACD (including two bonus cuts). The music, written with full artistic freedom, showcases collaborations with jazz veterans...
The Salzburg Crisis: An Idiot’s Guide
The Salzburg Festival faces leadership turmoil as artistic director Markus Hinterhäuser missed a deadline to extend his contract, prompting the board to claim his term has expired. Hinterhäuser, who has led the festival for a decade and is praised for...
AFI Announce UK Headline Tour
AFI announced a UK headline tour that runs alongside their appearances at Outbreak Fest and All Points East in London. The dates mark the band’s first UK shows since supporting Deftones in 2017 and their first proper headline run since 2010. The itinerary...
‘Thala Meets Thala’: AR Rahman’s Video with MS Dhoni at CSK’s ROAR 2026 Takes over the Internet
AR Rahman performed at CSK’s ROAR 2026 fan event in Chennai and posted an Instagram video showing a brief, friendly encounter with captain MS Dhoni. The clip, captioned “Thala meets Thala,” quickly went viral, highlighting the shared nickname that links the city’s music...
Emma-Jean Thackray at Ronnie Scott’s
Emma‑Jean Thackray headlined two back‑to‑back Friday nights at London’s iconic Ronnie Scott’s, marking the 100th anniversary of Miles Davis’s birth. Her quartet opened with a reinterpretation of "Will o’ the Wisp" from Davis‑Gil Evans’s *Sketches of Spain* and progressed through...
Lauren Auder – Whole World as Vigil | Album Review
Lauren Auder’s sophomore album *Whole World As Vigil* drops on March 27, 2026, building on the introspective foundation of her debut *The Infinite Spine*. The record weaves brooding lyricism with bright choruses, merging electronic, classical, and underground hip‑hop influences across...
Matt Berninger Brings His Solo Show to Kilkenny This July for the Live at Castle Mills Series
Matt Berninger, lead vocalist of The National, will headline the inaugural Live at Castle Mills concert in Kilkenny on Saturday, July 18, 2026, with Irish folk singer Lisa O’Neill and local rock act Engine Alley as special guests. General admission tickets are €64.50 (≈ $70) and a VIP...
Kodaline Announce Split, Detail Final Album and Farewell Tour
Irish indie‑pop band Kodaline announced they will disband after releasing their fifth and final studio album later this year. The group outlined a 2026 Farewell Tour that will visit the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia, with early‑access presales beginning March 25...
The “Baritenor” Michael Spyres Soars in the Met’s New “Tristan Und Isolde”
The Metropolitan Opera’s latest "Tristan und Isolde" under Yuval Sharon blends philosophical ambition with a visually crowded stage. Michael Spyres, a self‑styled "baritenor," delivers a securely sung Tristan that eclipses many recent interpretations. Lise Davidsen’s Isolde, while dazzling in the...
Meet the Africans Remaking Classical Musical on the World Stage
African musicians are reshaping the classical canon by spotlighting a rich, often overlooked repertoire from across the continent. Nigerian pianist Rebeca Omordia launched Wigmore Hall's eight‑year African Concert Series, featuring traditional instruments like the ọjà, kora and nyatiti alongside works...
Ruvim Echiusciu on the Evolving Scholar-Performer Model
Ruvim Echiusciu illustrates the rising scholar‑performer model in classical music, where emerging artists blend rigorous academic study with active stage careers. He balances a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at Belhaven University with international solo engagements, emphasizing steady daily...
BTS on Track for the Biggest Album Debut of 2026 With 'ARIRANG'
South Korean boy band BTS is set to achieve the biggest album debut of 2026 with their new record ARIRANG. Early industry projections estimate first‑week activity between 550,000 and 600,000 units, driven by strong physical sales and streaming. Target leads...
Otracami – “Perfect Reach”
Camila Ortiz, the New York‑based singer‑songwriter behind Otracami, has dropped the single “Perfect Reach.” The track emerged from a winter‑time songwriting workshop led by Adrianne Lenker and was shaped by Ortiz’s reading of the Argentine horror novel Our Share of Night. Musically,...
"Open Your Mind. Wear What You Want, Sing What You Want to Sing, Be What You Want to Be. Be...
Ana Popovic, the Serbian blues guitarist, is set to play London’s Jazz Café on March 30 with a flexible seven‑piece ensemble. She recently received high‑profile praise from Bruce Springsteen, who called her “one hell of a guitarist.” Her latest album, *Dance To The...
Every Song on the ‘Bring Me The Horizon L.I.V.E. In São Paulo’ Soundtrack
Bring Me The Horizon’s São Paulo concert will be screened in select cinemas worldwide on March 25 and March 28, 2026, offering fans a two‑day immersive experience. The film, titled *L.I.V.E. in São Paulo (Live Immersive Virtual Experiment)*, is co‑directed by CiRCUS HEaD and frontman Oliver Sykes...
Barry Manilow Announces First New Studio Album of Mostly New Material in Nearly 15 Years
Barry Manilow will release his 33rd studio album, *What a Time*, on June 5, marking his first collection of mostly new material in nearly 15 years. Produced primarily by Manilow and longtime collaborator Michael Lloyd, the record features guest appearances...
Ireke – ‘Ayô Dele’
French duo Ireke released their second album, Ayô Dele, on March 20, 2026. The record fuses funk, soul, jazz, Afrobeat and dub with electronic percussion, delivering dance‑ready grooves. Vocalists Agnès Hélène, Nayel Hóxò and Olivya sing in French, Spanish, Yoruba,...
K-Pop Band BTS Misrepresents Howard University as Predominantly White in Video
BTS released an animated teaser for their album *Arirang* that portrays Howard University – a historically Black institution – as overwhelmingly white, featuring almost no Black students. The video references a 1896 Washington Post story about seven Korean students at...
Arliston Reflect On The Passage Of Time: ‘The Older I Get’
London duo Arliston released a live rendition of "The Older I Get" to celebrate the first anniversary of their debut album Disappointment Machine. The new version, recorded at 123 Studios in Peckham with producer Brett Shaw, features cellist Maddie Ashman...
"On Paper, It's Hard to Imagine Ronstadt as a Road-Weary Trucker, but She Completely Owns Lowell George's Willin'." Linda Ronstadt...
Released in November 1974, Linda Ronstadt’s *Heart Like a Wheel* marked her breakthrough from a strong live act to a commercial powerhouse. The album’s eclectic mix of country, rock, folk and R&B, anchored by Ronstadt’s powerful interpretations, produced hit singles...
Victoria George Shares Gratitude On ‘Every Little Bit’
Veteran singer‑songwriter Victoria George returns with “Every Little Bit,” a personal acoustic track inspired by her recent battle with a brain tumour. The song, part of her forthcoming album Wilderness, celebrates the support of family and friends while showcasing her...
Eve Maret – “Hit U With a Banger”
Nashville‑based experimental composer Eve Maret has dropped “Hit U With a Banger,” the second single from her forthcoming album Diamond Cutter, slated for an April 17 release. The track opens with punchy acid‑bass hits and a seductive vocal that feels both...
Upupayāma – “Mystic Chords of Memory”
Italian multi‑instrumentalist Alessio Ferarr, performing as Upupayāma, has dropped the new single “Mystic Chords of Memory.” The track, a groovy psych‑rock piece with funk‑infused guitar fuzz, serves as the lead single from the forthcoming double album Honesty Flowers. The album...
Die Twice – “Jakobo”
Brighton‑via‑Exeter quartet Die Twice has dropped their debut independent single “Jakobo” through the FAE label. The track delves into themes of uncertainty, resistance and identity, framing personal messages within fragmented street‑level imagery. Musically, it fuses bombastic rock anthems with prog‑flavored...
Alpha Pet – “Wow”
Swedish post‑punk outfit Alpha Pet has issued “Wow,” the lead single from their self‑titled debut EP, which arrives this Friday on indie label Rama Lama Records. The track delivers a hard‑hitting, uneasy vibe that fuses the aggression of The Hives with the...
Stephen Becker – “Bad Idea”
Brooklyn musician Stephen Becker is set to release his new album Gravity Blanket, with the opening track “Bad Idea” now streaming as the lead single. The song blends folk‑rock textures reminiscent of Wilco’s A Ghost Is Born and Big Thief’s...
BTS, the World’s Biggest Boy Band, Return From Military Service with Arirang
South Korean boy band BTS, the world’s biggest music act, has completed its mandatory military service and re‑emerged with the documentary series "Arirang" on Disney+. The eight‑member group, which paused all activities for nearly two years, uses the series to...
Robyn — Sexistential
Swedish pop icon Robyn released her ninth studio album, *Sexistential*, on March 27, 2026 via Young Records. The record intertwines her experiences of motherhood with overt sexuality, revisiting early‑2000s material like “Blow My Mind” while adding fresh demos. Musically, it...
CatDraggon – “Devious Serpent”
CatDraggon has dropped the single “Devious Serpent,” a high‑energy blend of alt‑rock, indie, and glam‑rock that lampoons corporate backstabbers and ladder‑climbers. The track pairs tongue‑in‑cheek lyrics with soulful vocals, delivering a playful yet pointed commentary on modern workplace politics. It...
Jefferson Pitcher – “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” (The Smiths Cover)
Singer‑songwriter Jefferson Pitcher released his new EP *Six Black Fishes Please* earlier this month, concluding it with a cover of The Smiths’ iconic track “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.” Pitcher, a lifelong fan of the band,...
MEMORIALS – “Dropped Down The Well”
UK‑based duo MEMORIALS, featuring Verity Susman and Wire guitarist Matthew Simms, will release their debut album All Clouds Bring Not Rain on Fire Records this Friday. The lead track “Dropped Down The Well” has been dubbed a bleak banger and...
If Opera Festival Unveils 2026 Lineup
The If Opera Festival marks its 30th anniversary with a 2026 season that runs from August 6 to 14, featuring Bizet’s Carmen, a baroque drinking‑song concert, a family‑friendly Carmen fiesta, Oscar Straus’s The Chocolate Soldier, and a baroque masterclass. Productions...
Hit Songwriter, Bluegrass Great Ronnie Bowman Dies in Motorcycle Crash
Renowned bluegrass vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Ronnie Bowman died at age 64 following a motorcycle crash in Ashland City, Tennessee, on March 22, 2026. Bowman’s career spanned more than three decades, highlighted by a 11‑year tenure with the Lonesome River...