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.
Crobot announced their ninth studio album, *Supermoon*, slated for a May 1 release on Megaforce Records. The band debuted the lead single “Foot Off,” recorded at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales Recording Studio and The Machine Shop in Texas. Frontman Brandon Yeagley framed the track as a return to the group’s “Dirty Groove Rock” roots after 15 years, while guitarist Chris Bishop likened its sound to ZZ Top, Aerosmith, and Clutch. Crobot will support Corrosion Of Conformity on a U.S. tour in May, promoting the new record.
A new wave of modern country artists is championing traditional sounds, proving that classic twang remains commercially viable in the 21st‑century music landscape. The list spans established names like Sturgill Simpson and emerging talents such as Triston Marez, many of...
Jeremy DePoyster, guitarist and vocalist for The Devil Wears Prada, said the band despises relying on pre‑recorded backing tracks and only used a laptop for bass after their bassist quit in August. The group returned to the stage on March 13...
In September 2008, Young Jeezy released his third album, The Recession, directly addressing the U.S. financial crisis, ongoing wars, and political climate. The record features overtly political tracks such as “My President,” which anticipated Barack Obama’s election. Jeezy explained that...
In a recent interview, Testament frontman Chuck Billy said he will let his mind, body and soul decide when to retire, noting he feels at the top of his vocal game and is healthy enough for touring. Guitarist Eric Peterson...
American sludge metal veterans Crowbar have unveiled an extensive 2026 tour schedule, kicking off a U.S. leg on March 19 alongside Eyehategod. The itinerary expands into Europe with nine festival dates spanning June and July, including stops at Graspop, Copenhell,...
Industrial pioneers HEALTH have issued the R‑TYPE II Remix EP, a six‑track collection reworking songs from their recent CONFLICT DLC album and earlier material. The EP follows the R‑TYPE I release and continues the band’s tradition of video‑game inspired titles. Featuring remixers such...
Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian disclosed a serious back injury sustained during the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise in late January, when an unexpected cold snap forced the band to perform outdoors in freezing, windy conditions. The injury left him barely able to walk...
Swedish extreme metal outfit Cradle of Filth is poised to enter the studio within three weeks to record their fifteenth studio album, with frontman Dani Filth confirming that songwriting is nearly finished. The new record will again be produced, mixed...
The National Concert Hall in Dublin opened its season with Alexander Shelley, the principal conductor designate, leading the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland. The program opened with John Adams' 1986 "Short Ride in a Fast Machine," followed by a striking performance...
Marvin Gaye stepped away from the spotlight for three years in the early 1970s, grappling with depression and disillusionment. During this hiatus he reflected on America’s social turmoil, which fueled the creation of the seminal album "What’s Going On." The...
Jamie Oliver appears in Irish pop star CMAT’s video for her song “The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station,” a tongue‑in‑cheek track that references his line of Shell sandwiches. The video was shot at the newly refurbished Jamie’s Italian outlet in Leicester...
A group called Altadena Musicians launched the Instrumental Giving app after the January 2025 L.A. wildfires destroyed homes, studios and instruments. The platform connects donors with fire‑affected musicians, and has already delivered roughly 3,500 instruments to 1,200 families. Corporate partners such...
Bollywood’s entertainment circle gathered in Mumbai to unveil the devotional album “Allah Hoo Allah Hoo.” The launch featured a live performance by composer‑singer Tanishk Bagchi and a star‑studded photo‑op with actors, singers and producers. Ramadan‑themed backdrops and branding from Bollywood Hungama...
Queens legends Kool G Rap and DJ Polo celebrate the 37th anniversary of their debut album *Road To The Riches*, originally dropped in 1989 on Cold Chillin Records. The record arrived amid the Juice Crew’s golden‑era surge, with Marley Marl...
On March 13, 1995 Tupac Shakur released his third studio album, *Me Against the World*, while serving a prison sentence. The record diverged from his earlier “thug life” persona, offering introspective lyrics and a subdued production style. It debuted at...
Spotify and SeatGeek teammed up to let users discover live events tied to the artists they listen to. Personalized recommendations and notifications surface events across Spotify, directing users to SeatGeek’s platform to compare options and purchase official tickets. Participating venues include SeatGeek’s...
Sinner's vampires are not "a metaphor for the commodification of black culture." They play beautiful Irish folk songs and advocate for collectivism, then at the end they're a swag '90s interracial couple rocking Coogi while the old bluesman is playing...
Charlotte Cardin has released the sensual single “The Way We Touch,” the first in a rollout leading to her third album later this year. The track, co‑written with longtime collaborators Jason Brando and Sam Avant, follows her recent Victoires de...
Great double-bill at the Roxy this week with headliner Carter Faith and opener Meels. The state of the union of women in country is strong. https://t.co/eB8UxaY9lC
Phil Campbell, the longtime guitarist of Motörhead, died at age 64 following complications after a major operation. Campbell joined the band in 1984 and contributed to 16 studio albums, including iconic releases like Orgasmatron, 1916, and Inferno, up to the...
South African singer‑songwriter Nakhane has broken a three‑year silence since their 2023 album Bastard Jargon with a stripped‑down cover of George Michael’s “A Different Corner.” The track, built on two guitars and vocals, arrives alongside the emotionally raw “Black Boys...
Swedish electronic artist ionnalee announced the release of the first installment of her long‑awaited three‑part album series, MOUTH OF A RIVER, dropping on April 1, 2026. The project, originally conceived in 2011 during a personal breakup, was written, performed, produced, mixed and...
Annie Dressner, a New York transplant now based in the UK, has released the single “Dumb Boy,” a track steeped in 1990s indie folk‑pop aesthetics. The song serves as a preview for her as‑yet‑untitled fifth studio album and is framed...
Prominent rappers Boosie Badazz, Kodak Black and Young Thug have entered a heated online dispute over the use of protective custody in prison. Boosie accused Kodak of seeking protective custody, calling his music invalid, while Kodak countered by pointing to Young Thug...
British avant‑garde pianist Carolyn Hume releases her third solo piano album, *Uncoiled*, on Leo Records on 1 April 2026. Recorded on a Kawai BL‑71 and mixed by James Welch, the album blends composed material with free‑form improvisation, creating dreamy, cinematic soundscapes. Guest contributions...
The Utopiates have dropped their sophomore album, Let’s Make This Happen, a ten‑track collection that builds on the buzz generated by a strong 2025. The record mixes upbeat indie‑rock anthems, synth‑driven new‑wave moments, and quieter, reflective songs, showcasing the band’s...
Japanese singer‑songwriter Pome, a former space engineer turned indie musician, has released the single “Hanabie,” a minimalist acoustic‑rock track that captures springtime melancholy. The song’s title refers to the brief cold spell that follows cherry‑blossom bloom, framing a spring heartbreak...
Tokyo‑based quartet Rainbow Beltz, known for alt‑rock singles, has dropped "Call You Back" as a Bandcamp‑only release. The track, a subdued acoustic ballad, reflects guitarist Kazao’s childhood memory of a lost friend and diverges from their earlier high‑energy sound. The...
Muthoni Ndonga, known as Muthoni The Drummer Queen, turned a modest Ksh 36,000 college gig at age 21 into a lifelong pursuit of music entrepreneurship. After an internationally praised but locally misunderstood debut album, she leveraged European tour insights to launch...
Gibraltar‑based alt‑rock outfit cedar has dropped its 12th single, “If I Knew,” a track that pairs electric guitar textures with candid, self‑reflective lyrics. The song opens with a subtle tick before building into punchy choruses that capture the discomfort of...
Indian guitarist‑composer Rhythm Shaw releases his sophomore album, Nothing to Lose, an 11‑track instrumental journey that weaves orchestral grandeur, jazz improvisation, and prog‑metal aggression. The record features a 42‑piece Budapest Symphony Orchestra and up to 14 layered guitar tracks, some...
Cellist Paula Sanchez has unveiled “Pressure Sensitive,” a six‑part improvised suite released on Relative Pitch Records in 2025. The album blends traditional cello timbres with electronics and a cellophane‑wrapped bow, creating textures that oscillate between sculptural stillness and kinetic fluidity....
Ensemble Modern launches its first U.S. tour since 2011 with a program titled “Weimar,” spotlighting Kurt Weill’s music and the broader Weimar Republic era. The centerpiece is a new chamber arrangement of Weill’s “The Seven Deadly Sins” for 15 players,...
Pop icon Boy George publicly advised rising singer Chappell Roan to "own your fame" after she confronted a group of paparazzi in Paris. The incident, captured on a viral video, shows Roan demanding photographers stop harassing her. Boy George, drawing on his decades‑long...
Alexis Taylor’s seventh solo album, "Paris in the Spring," drops a ten‑track mix that roams from synth‑pop ballads to nu‑disco and a Rolling Stones cover. Recorded in Paris with collaborators like Air’s Nicolas Godin and Étienne de Crécy, the record emphasizes freedom from...
Jack Johnson just covered part of Steve Miller’s “The Joker” at SXSW and I got the unnerving sense that most of the crowd had no idea what that song was
Portugal’s NEOPOP Festival has unveiled its first‑wave lineup for the 2026 edition, scheduled for August 6‑8 at the historic Forte da Barra in Viana do Castelo. The three‑day event celebrates two decades of electronic‑music programming and promises its most ambitious production...
Mixmag has launched its inaugural guide to the best DJ mixes of 2026, offering a curated selection that spans house, techno, UK garage, amapiano, jungle, drum‑and‑bass, ambient, rap, grime, R&B and more. The feature includes club recordings, radio residencies and...
Gregory Ackerman’s new single “Call Me Crazy” channels a Bill Withers‑meets‑Funkadelic vibe, opening with understated acoustic strums that quickly swell into a brass‑laden, improvisational jam. The track showcases tender electric guitars, mellow bass, head‑nodding percussion, airy woodwinds, and soulful vocal...
Eddie Wrevlonne’s new single “Speed Bump” drops on March 13, 2026, showcasing a blend of dark synth‑pop intrigue and emotive baritone vocals. The track builds on the momentum of earlier releases like “I Have Learned” and “Say Hello to the...
Los Angeles‑based indie pop artist Love, Sophie released “Call You,” the lead single from her forthcoming EP. The track blends wistful vocals with twangy guitars, creating a late‑night, woozy atmosphere that builds into a luminous chorus. It follows earlier singles “Blush”...
Micah Jameson, a globe‑trotting singer‑songwriter now based in South Carolina, dropped his new single “Spiderwalk” on March 13, 2026. The track fuses dreamy hip‑hop vocals with spacey synths, steady rhythms, and a burst of twanging guitar after the three‑minute mark....
Domani Harris entered the spotlight when he released two diss tracks aimed at 50 Cent during the T.I.‑50 Cent feud, defending his stepmother Tiny. The tracks, “Ms. Jackson” and “PU$Y,” showcased a more aggressive side but retained his signature lyrical control. Beyond the...
The All‑American Rejects announced their first album since 2012, "Sandbox," set for release on May 15, 2026. In a Billboard House interview at SXSW, Tyson Ritter and Nick Wheeler explained their shift from Interscope to an independent model after the...
Amsterdam‑based producer Van Sur Les released “Tapio,” the lead single from his Ingrian Tape project, featuring Finnish folk vocalist Emmi Kuittinen. The track blends near‑extinct Ingrian runo‑song motifs with contemporary electronic production, employing glistening piano, synths, and layered vocals. Its...
Shaky, a one‑man garage‑rock act from York, PA, has self‑produced and released the single “Take It Away.” The track channels early‑2000s Strokes‑style riffs and lyrics about 9‑to‑5 fatigue, delivering a cathartic, head‑nodding anthem. It debuted on Obscure Sound’s curated “Emerging...
Los Angeles‑based artist vja releases her debut album Compartments, a transportive mix of dream‑pop haze and fervent neo‑psychedelic rock. The record, mixed and mastered by seasoned engineer William Carroll, opens with the shimmering track “Stars” and continues through post‑punk‑tinged “Lightning Blue,”...
Brooklyn songwriter Maria Lane has dropped her new single “6 feet deep,” co‑produced with Justin Meyer. The folk‑driven track pairs Radiohead‑inspired bowed guitar with layered, dreamy vocals to portray a sudden breakup’s emotional wreckage. Lyrically, the song weaves vivid eulogy...
I talked with the SXSW Music heads about what's new this year... What’s Different at SXSW Music 2026: Festival Chiefs on Having a New Base Beyond the Convention Center, Earlier Set Times, Global Genre Shifts and Celebrating a 40th Anniversary...
