Know What's Happening in Music
Know What's Happening in Music
50 Cent flaunts streaming dominance over rivals
50 Cent shared alleged March YouTube Music figures, claiming his catalog amassed 164 million streams. He contrasted this with Jay‑Z’s reported 58.9 million and T.I.’s 63.7 million, using the data to mock his competitors amid ongoing feuds.
In this episode Ian Temple dives into the paradoxical legacy of Phish, the jam‑band that has become one of the highest‑grossing live acts despite rarely charting hits and often being dismissed as a hippie punchline. He breaks down their musical DNA—through‑composed pieces that morph into improvisational jams, genre‑bending influences from prog rock to atonal classical, and a live‑first philosophy that makes every concert a unique spectacle. Temple also explores the band’s DIY origins, their fiercely loyal fan community, and the cultural criticism they face for their perceived lack of diversity and mainstream appeal.
Andy La Rocque, King Diamond’s lead guitarist, revealed that the band’s long‑awaited horror‑trilogy album, Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920, is still on track for a potential 2026 release. He has already delivered eight demo songs to vocalist King Diamond, three of which were chosen and one...
Lindsey Buckingham revealed he is one song away from finishing a new solo album and that a Fleetwood Mac documentary, produced by Frank Marshall for Apple, is in the pipeline for 2026. He highlighted the recent re‑issue of the 1970s "Buckingham Nicks" album...
Vice’s latest New Music Friday spotlights five fresh releases spanning black metal, hip‑hop, metalcore, lyrical rap and retro‑punk. Norwegian symphonic black metal veterans Dimmu Borgir break an eight‑year silence with the single “Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel” from their upcoming album Grand...
Portuguese psychedelic rock outfit The Black Wizards returns after a six‑year hiatus with a new trio and a fresh deal at Hassle Records. Their debut single “Killing the Buzz” blends garage‑rock riffs with contemporary psychedelia and delivers a sarcastic protest...
Los Angeles‑based punk collective Militarie Gun made its first appearance on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series, delivering a high‑energy set that highlighted tracks from their newly released album *God Save The Gun*. The seven‑piece band opened with the title‑track “B A D I D E A” and also...
Miami International Airport turned its terminals into a Miami Music Week venue on March 26, featuring a three‑hour live set by rising DJ Amal Nemer. The event entertained hundreds of travelers while showcasing the airport’s $12 billion capital improvement program. Nemer,...
At Musexpo’s 26th edition in Burbank, California, the International Music Industry Awards recognized top leaders shaping the global music landscape. Kirk M. Sommer of WME was named International Music Person of the Year, while Tommas Arnby, founder of Locomotion Music...
Hawke’s Bay‑born country singer Glen Moffett has authored the Central and Southern Music Map for AudioCulture, a digital “Noisy Library” of New Zealand music. Drawing on the Hawke’s Bay Knowledge Bank and interviews with locals, the map chronicles everything from 19th‑century...
George Clinton, the 84‑year‑old Godfather of Funk, will close the Essence Festival of Culture on July 5 in New Orleans, reviving his iconic Mothership stage show. A technologically advanced replica of the original 1976 Mothership, built at Nashville’s Rock Lititz campus, will debut...
Dark Divine has released “Half Past Dead (Unbury Me)”, a new single that fuses ballad melodies with metalcore aggression, previewing their upcoming album *Undead Melody*. Vocalist Anthony Martinez describes the track as a meditation on fleeting time and the will to live despite decay....
Dark Star Orchestra announced a summer tour featuring 15 dates, primarily on the East Coast, beginning June 11 at BankNH Pavilion in New Hampshire. The itinerary includes two‑night engagements at Tree House Brewing in Massachusetts and The Rooftop at Pier...
Breland’s new single “In My Truck,” his first release in two years, interpolates 50 Cent’s 2003 hit “In Da Club” and is being touted as a potential song of the summer. The track blends country imagery with a hip‑hop hook, following...
Jessie Reyez surprised fans on March 27, 2026 with the EP “$till Paid,” marking the one‑year anniversary of her third studio album “Paid in Memories.” The five‑track project continues the black‑and‑yellow visual motif and features a childhood portrait on its...
British indie artist GERD, real name Elin, released the single “Truth Be Told,” highlighting her signature shift from intimate, introspective verses to expansive, cinematic production. The track reflects her ongoing balance between solitary cabin retreats and the release of live...
American jam supergroup Taper’s Choice closed the first phase of its career with a farewell performance at Knoxville’s Big Ears Festival, marking guitarist and producer Dave Harrington’s final show. The set opened and closed with the band’s signature “Dave Test,”...
John Zorn’s Masada songbooks were reimagined for a big‑band setting by Sam Eastmond and performed by the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) in Cardiff. The concert featured ten selections distilled from over 600 Masada pieces, showcasing a blend of Jewish...
Rapper Russ has demonstrated that a relentless release schedule and full ownership can rival major‑label powerhouses. After posting 200 songs in 2015, he scaled to $100,000 a month and peaked at $280,000 in monthly earnings without any label backing. His...
Choreographer Molly Long turned Frankie Smith’s 1981 track “Double Dutch Bus” into TikTok’s biggest dance of the year, sparking a wave of user‑generated videos. Her routine, first taught at Project 21’s February showcase, amassed over 3.5 million likes and more than 13,000...
Tommy Douglas Keenan has unveiled his latest folk‑rock single, “Rockinghorse,” in 2026. The track is described as a warm, levitating experience that taps into listeners’ psyche while experimenting at the genre’s edges. Critics note its tempered propulsion and unique character,...
ENSLAVED has released two sea‑shanty recordings, “Fire Marengo” and “Anna Lovinda,” in partnership with the Storm Weather Shanty Choir. “Fire Marengo” is a traditional shanty, while “Anna Lovinda” was written by late Norwegian sailor Erik Bye. The tracks were recorded in early 2026...
Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball, the theatrical tour supporting her 2025 album Mayhem, will wrap up in April after a worldwide run. The production immerses audiences in a gothic universe, featuring skeletons, vampires, plague‑doctor costumes and on‑stage resurrections. By foregrounding themes...
Liam Gallagher, the former Oasis frontman, revealed that a violent encounter at age 14 – being struck on the head with a small hammer – fundamentally altered his relationship with music. Before the incident he favored football and dismissed music...
Kanye West announced on X that his long‑teased album Bully will be produced without any artificial‑intelligence tools, contradicting a 2025 interview where he said he used AI like Auto‑Tune. The 13‑song tracklist includes previously previewed cuts “Beauty and the Beast”...
Iglu & Hartly have released a new single titled “Supreme” as they wrap up a five‑date UK tour that sold out in London and Glasgow. The LA‑originated band first broke through in 2009 with “In This City” at the Isle...
MOMO Festival, also known as Motel Mozaïque, returns to Rotterdam from April 16‑18, 2026, featuring a diverse lineup of emerging European talent. Highlights include London experimental act Man/Woman/Chainsaw, West Midlands singer‑songwriter Wesley Joseph, and the French‑English duo Mandy, Indiana. Dutch‑Indonesian group Nusantara Bea...
British indie rock trio LEAP will perform at London’s All Points East festival on August 30, sharing the bill with headliners Twenty One Pilots. The band recently inked a deal with legendary punk label Epitaph Records and rode a viral...
English indie‑folk artist leo. has dropped the single “never enough, never fair,” a wistful track born in spring 2024 that explores youthful emotional turbulence. The song signals a shift toward a more mature, textured sound, produced with Ed Allen and...
The blog highlights several Gen Z‑focused trends shaping the U.S. economy and culture. Bank of America data shows Gen Z and millennial spending outpacing older cohorts, but a $4‑a‑gallon gas price threatens retail and leisure consumption. Meanwhile, the Midwest emerges as an...
Dazed Digital is giving away a VIP five‑day pass for Sziget Festival in Budapest, including flights, transfers and a pre‑pitched tent for the winner and a guest. The August event, one of Europe’s largest, will showcase artists such as Zara Larsson,...
Nylon’s Soundcheck roundup highlights 13 new tracks released this week, ranging from Slayyyter’s abrasive "YES GODDD" to Robyn’s synth‑driven "Really Real" and Snail Mail’s uplifting "Tractor Beam." The list mixes established pop stars with emerging indie acts such as Eli, Tkay Maidza,...
CMU Selects highlighted five standout releases: Raye’s ambitious 73‑minute concept album "THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE," Fcukers’ genre‑bending debut Ö, Venbee’s narrative single "Not My Day," Ray Laurél’s eclectic album Music For Lovers, and Model/Actriz’s surprise EP Swan Songs. Raye...
Royal & The Serpent announced their debut album “Emptiness Is Godly,” slated for release on May 8 through Atlantic Records. The band previewed a new track, “Steering (So Fast),” described as an intimate, stripped‑back song that blends modern production with raw...
ZAINAB, a Lahore‑born, New York‑raised producer and former NYC DJ, has released her debut single “Jadoo” on Ninja Tune’s Technicolor imprint. The track features Urdu‑sung lyrics over kinetic, arpeggiated house production, offering a fresh cultural hybrid for club audiences. She...
Chris Robinson, frontman of the Black Crowes, reflects on the grueling 1990s that defined the band’s rise and eventual burnout. Their debut, *Shake Your Money Maker*, sold five million copies in the U.S., while the follow‑up topped the Billboard chart. Robinson...
Glad to be able to announce and talk about @tiftmerritt's first new album since 2017, "Sugar." ... Tift Merritt Is Set to Bring the ‘Sugar’ With Her First New Album in Nine Years: ‘I Got Back in Front of That...
An unreleased gem from the Kendrick vault over a sample of Radiohead's "Everything In It's Right Place - taken from the "good kid" sessions. https://t.co/lqdtZWBdpE
Nova Twins won the inaugural Best Alternative Award at the 2026 MOBO Awards, a category they helped create to recognise alternative and rock music within Black British culture. They beat nominees including Blood Orange, Hak Baker and Rachel Chinouriri, and...
I wrote about the quite good "comeback" album by Courtney Barnett out today, and how she always seemed a little out of place when she blew up in the mid-2010s. https://t.co/2rmTx3G0ZW https://t.co/3psSaAyMRT
If you’re coming to any of the live shows in Europe over the next month or so, the song ‘Voyager’ that starts act 2 was written for the show by @PJHarveyUK and recorded at Miraval Studios last month. And yes,...
Guns N’ Roses announced that keyboardist Melissa Reese will miss the start of their 2026 world tour, citing unforeseen personal reasons. Reese, who joined the band in 2016 and handles keyboards, backing vocals, sub‑bass and electronic programming, will be absent from the...
Fetty Wap’s new album *Zavier* drops this week, opening with “Fool For You,” an R&B‑leaning interpolation of The Cranberries’ 1994 hit “Linger.” The record marks his first full‑length release since a six‑year drug‑trafficking sentence, with several tracks written while he...
Ally Bakst, the New York‑based singer‑songwriter, has released her new single “Pretty Little Ghost,” a dark‑pop track that leans into a club‑ready vibe. The song combines cinematic synth textures with driving basslines and hints of experimental production. Bakst continues to...
Virginia‑based indie singer Frankie 5Ø3 has released his new single “R0LL3RC0AST3R,” a breezy, acoustic coming‑of‑age track. The song draws on his Salvadoran roots and a recent creative retreat on Saint George Island. It serves as the lead‑in to his forthcoming...
Robyn Hitchcock has announced his forthcoming album “The Confuser,” slated for release on July 24 2026 on the independent Tiny Ghost Records label. The record, which may be his 23rd LP, features a new backing band—Jeremy Fetzer (guitar), Todd Bolden (bass), Eric Slick...
West Coast power‑pop outfit Uni Boys has released their self‑titled album, a polished collection that pushes the band into the same conversation as The Lemon Twigs, Foxygen and other revivalists. Drawing heavily on Brian Wilson’s sunshine‑pop legacy and the 1970s...
Scatterbrain has dropped its second single, “Fast Lane,” marking a step into arena‑ready modern rock. The track opens with atmospheric build‑ups before launching into a freight‑train‑like chorus, showcasing frontman Brian Burkheiser’s knack for anthemic songwriting. Lyrically, the song reflects Burkheiser’s...
Elder has released the streaming title track “Through Zero,” the lead single from their forthcoming album of the same name, slated for release on May 29, 2024. The record will be distributed by Blues Funeral Recordings in North America, Stickman...
Billy Strings made a surprise appearance at Sam Bush’s concert in Grand Rapids, Michigan, performing at the St. Cecilia Music Center. He joined Bush’s band for acoustic renditions of the Stanley Brothers’ “Think Of What You’ve Done” and Charlie Monroe’s...
Tortoise Books announced an eight‑show North American summer tour running from June 25 to July 3, 2026, covering major cities from New York to Toronto. The dates follow the band’s 2025 release of *Touch*, their first studio album in a...
