Shakira, Gracie Abrams: 9 Songs We’re Talking About This Week
Shakira teams with Burna Boy for the FIFA World Cup anthem “Dai Dai,” reviving her tournament‑song legacy with an Afrobeats‑infused, multilingual track. Gracie Abrams releases the anxious lead single “Hit the Wall” from her upcoming album *Daughter From Hell*, highlighting mental‑health themes. Drake floods the market with three 40‑plus‑track playlists—*Iceman*, *Maid of Honour* and *Habibti*—to dominate streaming charts. Additional highlights include Genesis Owusu’s politically charged “Stampede” and Malcolm Todd’s TikTok‑boosted climb of “Earrings” into Billboard’s Top 40.
Drake Drops 3 Albums: ‘Iceman,’ ‘Habibti’ and ‘Maid of Honour’
Canadian rapper Drake unleashed a surprise triple‑album drop on May 15, 2026, delivering 43 tracks totaling 149 minutes. The primary release, “Iceman,” is his first solo album since 2025, accompanied by the companion projects “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour.” The...
Julieta Venegas, a Mexican Pop Hitmaker, Is Looking Homeward
Julieta Venegas, the Mexican‑American pop veteran, releases her ninth studio album “Norteña,” a deep dive into regional norteña sounds and personal migration narratives. The record blends rancheras, polkas, corridos and cumbias, echoing the border that has shaped her life. After eight...
Shakira, Madonna and BTS Are First World Cup Final Halftime Show
FIFA announced that Shakira, Madonna and BTS will headline the inaugural halftime show at the 2026 World Cup final. The performance is set for July 19 at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, coinciding with a tournament spanning 16 cities across the...
Luna Lab Is Building a Future for Female Composers
Luna Composition Lab, founded by composers Missy Mazzoli and Ellen Reid in 2016, celebrates its 10th anniversary as a nonprofit that mentors female, nonbinary and gender‑nonconforming composers aged 13‑18. The organization runs a year‑long fellowship for six fellows and a...
Kurt Vile Finds Inspiration in Philadelphia
Indie rocker Kurt Vile is channeling Philadelphia’s streets into his new album, “Philadelphia’s Been Good to Me,” slated for release on May 29 via Verve Records. The record was largely self‑produced in his basement studio, OKV Central, where he works late‑night...
Lost Movie Music? On CD? La-La Land Is an Anomaly. (And a Success.)
La‑La Land Records, a California label founded in 2002, specializes in locating and restoring forgotten film and TV music from studio archives and composers' personal collections. Its exhaustive six‑disc "Friday the 13th" compilation, sourced from the first six movies, sold out within...
London Rooftop Where Beatles Played Last Gig to Become Museum
Apple Corps announced that 3 Savile Row – the former Beatles headquarters where the band recorded “Let It Be” and delivered its final rooftop performance in 1969 – will be transformed into a public museum opening next year. The venue will showcase seven...
A Beloved Indie Worrier Is Back, Chiller Than Ever
Australian indie rocker Courtney Barnett has returned with her ninth studio album, “Creature of Habit,” after relocating to Los Angeles in 2024. The record deepens her trademark lo‑fi, self‑reflective songwriting, tackling anxiety and the paradox of creating art versus living it....
Taj Mahal’s New Album, ‘Time,’ Keeps the Blues Looking Ahead
Legendary blues artist Taj Mahal, turning 84 on May 17, has released his latest album “Time.” The record continues his decades‑long practice of fusing traditional blues with sounds from India, Mali, Jamaica, and other world musics. Recorded with a roster of diaspora...
Charli XCX, Rolling Stones: 8 Songs We’re Talking About This Week
This week’s music roundup highlights Charli XCX’s genre‑bending single “Rock Music,” Paul McCartney’s new album *The Boys of Dungeon Lane* featuring Ringo Starr on “Home to Us,” and the Rolling Stones’ fresh track “In the Stars” from their upcoming July 10 album *Foreign...
5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Ron Carter
Renowned jazz bassist Ron Carter celebrated his 89th birthday with a five‑night run at New York’s Blue Note, reinforcing his status as the most‑recorded bassist in history with over 2,200 official credits. His new book, “Chartography,” offers detailed transcriptions of...
Ed Gardner, ‘Force to Be Reckoned With,’ Comes Into His Own
British conductor Ed Gardner, a product of Eton, Cambridge and the Royal Academy, is cementing his role as an ambassador for UK music. He serves as principal conductor of the London Philharmonic and music director of the Norwegian Opera and...
5 Classical Music Albums You Can Listen to Right Now
The New York Times roundup spotlights five new classical albums, from Hans Otte’s 1982 piano work “The Book of Sounds” performed by Conor Hanick to Douglas J. Cuomo’s genre‑bending concerto featuring saxophonist Joe Lovano. The list also includes Jan Lisiecki’s fresh Mozart...
Mixtape Has Teenagers Bond With the Help of an Eclectic Soundtrack
Mixtape is a three‑hour narrative video game that lets players skateboard through a nostalgic 1990s Northern California setting while a curated soundtrack of deep‑cut and classic tracks drives the story. Protagonist Stacey Rockford, an aspiring music supervisor, introduces each song...
Towa Bird Can Shred With the Pop Stars and the Riot Grrrls
Towa Bird, the 27‑year‑old TikTok‑originated singer‑songwriter, is set to release her sophomore LP “Gentleman” on May 15, 2026. The album follows her 2024 debut “American Hero,” which earned her a reputation for high‑octane rock anthems. Produced entirely by Patrick Wimberly—known for work...
He Left the Berlin Philharmonic to Find His Voice. He Found a World Stage.
After 14 years as a viola principal in the Berlin Philharmonic, Australian composer‑performer Brett Dean left the orchestra to pursue full‑time composition. His decision, spurred by his wife Heather Betts, led to a flourishing career that now includes commissions from...
6 Stellar All-Female Country Duets
Kacey Musgraves’ new album *Middle of Nowhere* features the standout duet “Horses and Divorces” with longtime rival Miranda Lambert. Co‑written with Nashville veteran Shane McAnally, the track blends biting humor with a shared love of horses, divorce, and drinks. The...
For Michael Tilson Thomas’s Legacy, Look at Young Musicians
Michael Tilson Thomas, the late conductor of the San Francisco Symphony, left a multifaceted legacy that blends performance, education, and media. His 25‑year tenure featured groundbreaking "American Mavericks" festivals that revived early modernist composers, while his PBS series "Keeping Score" made...
Gabriela Lena Frank’s ‘Picaflor’ Wins Pulitzer for Music
Gabriela Lena Frank was awarded the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Music for her symphonic work “Picaflor: A Future Myth.” The 10‑movement piece, premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra in March 2025, weaves Incan mythology with a narrative about a hummingbird battling...
Chasing Stardom in Korea Nearly Destroyed Ejae. Then Came ‘KPop Demon Hunters.’
South Korean singer‑songwriter Kim Eun‑jae, known as Ejae, co‑wrote and performed the hit song “Golden” from the animated film “K‑Pop Demon Hunters.” The track swept the Golden Globe, Grammy and Oscar, catapulting her from a decade‑long trainee grind to global...
The Zen of Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton will release “Carry the Light” on May 15, his first album of new material since his 2021 diagnosis with Inclusion Body Myositis. The record, co‑written with his son Julian, marks the first collaboration between the rock legend and...
Ashley McBryde Saved Her Own Life. Now She’s Rocking Out Her Way.
Country singer Ashley McBryde has opened Redemption Bar on the fifth floor of Eric Church’s Chief’s complex on Nashville’s Lower Broadway. The intimate venue, featuring a small stage and a stained‑glass portrait of McBryde, adds her name to a growing...
Seymour Bernstein Dies at 99; Stage Fright Cut Short His Piano Career
Acclaimed pianist Seymour Bernstein died at 99 in Damariscotta, Maine. Despite early acclaim—including a 1969 Lincoln Center recital hailed as a triumph—he battled debilitating stage fright that forced him to end his concert career in 1977 at age 50. He...
At the Kennedy Center, the National Symphony’s Show Goes On
The National Symphony Orchestra, under Gianandrea Noseda, staged Puccini’s three‑act opera Il Trittico at Washington’s Kennedy Center. While the conductor praised the work as Puccini’s pinnacle, the performance suffered from limited rehearsals, prompting vocal cues and uneven orchestral balance. The concert...
The Taylor Swift Interview: Behind the Scenes
New York Times Magazine’s ‘30 Greatest Living American Songwriters’ project featured an exclusive interview with Taylor Swift on the Popcast podcast. Hosted by Joe Coscarelli and analyzed with co‑host Jon Caramanica, the episode delves into Swift’s meticulous approach to song form, her use...
Asmik Grigorian on Performing the Opera ‘Eugene Onegin’
Armenian‑Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian, 44, returns to the Metropolitan Opera to headline Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin as Tatiana. The Deborah Warner‑directed production showcases Grigorian’s rare Falcon soprano timbre and her immersive acting style. Her performance follows a string of acclaimed Tatiana...
Sofiane Pamart Emerged From France’s Rap Scene. Now, He’s Setting the Piano World on Fire.
French pianist Sofiane Pamart, a former rap collaborator, has turned his classical performances into theatrical spectacles, famously igniting a piano with a flamethrower in 2022 and playing a floating piano during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Since launching his...
Fortnite Issues Refunds for D4vd Gameplay Items
Epic Games announced it will refund Fortnite players who purchased in‑game items linked to singer‑rapper D4vd after the artist was charged with first‑degree murder. The refunds and exchanges are available immediately via the company’s X statements. D4vd, whose legal name...
Rush Lost Its Beloved Drummer. The Band Is Ready to Get Back on the Road.
Iconic prog‑rock trio Rush has entered the studio for the first rehearsals in more than a decade, preparing for a worldwide comeback tour. The band will be joined by drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Loren Gold, marking the first live...
‘Evita,’ Starring Rachel Zegler, Is Heading to Broadway
Rachel Zegler, fresh off an Olivier Award for her London performance, will reprise the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s reimagined ‘Evita’ on Broadway next spring. The production, directed by Jamie Lloyd, will open at an unnamed Shubert theatre, bringing the pop‑star‑styled musical...
The New York Philharmonic Gives Gustavo Dudamel a Warm Welcome
Gustavo Dudamel conducted the New York Philharmonic’s spring gala at David Geffen Hall, delivering a 90‑minute performance that blended classic and contemporary works. His kinetic style—arms soaring, baton flashing—energized the orchestra and captivated the audience. After the concert, Dudamel expressed...
Takeaways From The Times’s Taylor Swift Interview on ‘Our Song,’ ‘All Too Well’ and More
Taylor Swift sat down with The New York Times to discuss her evolution from a teenage phenom to a 36‑year‑old pop powerhouse, emphasizing the craft of confessional songwriting. She highlighted how the music industry “love‑bombs” women—elevating them briefly before discarding them—and how...
She’s Blazing a Trail for a Traditional Korean Zither in Jazz
DoYeon Kim, a Seoul‑born virtuoso, has introduced the 12‑string gayageum to New York’s jazz scene, emphasizing its lingering after‑sound through a technique she calls “cooking.” Since moving to Brooklyn in 2022, she’s toured Europe with pianist Kris Davis and recorded...
Geirr Tveitt’s Music Captured Norway’s Colors. His Life Reflected Its Shadows.
Geirr Tveitt, once Norway’s leading composer, lost roughly 80% of his works in a 1970 farm fire that consumed his unpublished manuscripts. His reputation suffered further after World War II due to nationalist politics and service in the Nazi‑occupied puppet government....
The Obamas, Kim Kardashian and Other A-Listers Are Now Broadway Co-Producers
A wave of high‑profile names—including former President Barack Obama, reality star Kim Kardashian and SNL alum Bowen Yang—has signed on as Broadway co‑producers this spring. The practice, already seen with Mariah Carey, Jake Gyllenhaal and Angelina Jolie, is accelerating as...
How Taylor Swift Writes a Song, In Her Own Words
Taylor Swift sat down with New York Times Magazine reporter Joe Coscarelli for a 30‑minute interview about her songwriting craft. She detailed how she builds songs from lyrics first, uses a distinctive “rant bridge” to heighten emotion, and lets public...
Lucinda Williams Explains What It Takes to Write a Great Song
The New York Times Magazine surveyed over 250 music insiders and six critics to compile a list of the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters, naming Lucinda Williams among the elite. The exclusive interview, conducted by Carina del Valle Schorske in Nashville, delves into...
Nile Rodgers Explains How He Wrote ‘We Are Family,’ ‘Le Freak’ and More
The New York Times Magazine named Nile Rodgers one of the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters, recognizing his pivotal role as co‑founder of Chic and architect of disco classics like “We Are Family” and “I’m Coming Out.” In an exclusive interview, Rodgers...
Review: Yunchan Lim Warms Up for Graduation at Carnegie Hall
Yunchan Lim, the 22‑year‑old Van Cliburn champion, returned to Carnegie Hall for a surprise recital featuring Schubert and Scriabin sonatas. The performance served as a dress rehearsal for his upcoming graduation concert at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall. Lim, who is...
How Will BTS Endure a Grueling World Tour? We Asked Their Ex-Trainer.
BTS launches the U.S. leg of an 11‑month world tour that will hit 34 cities and 80 concerts. The schedule demands high‑energy performances, endless rehearsals, media duties and as little as four hours of sleep each night. Former conditioning coach...
Fact-Checking ‘Michael’: What the Biopic Gets Right and Wrong About Michael Jackson
The new biopic "Michael" attempts to dramatize Michael Jackson’s rise, family conflict, and cultural impact while navigating legal constraints imposed by the Jackson estate. Fact‑checking shows the film gets several key details right—Joseph Jackson’s belt abuse and the real‑life truce...
Michael Harrison, 67, Dies; Inventive Composer Who Played With Tuning
Michael Harrison, the avant‑garde composer and pianist who reinvented piano tuning through just intonation and Indian raga, died at 67 from pancreatic cancer. His career spanned collaborations with La Monte Young on the legendary "The Well‑Tuned Piano" and the creation of...
‘The Great Divide’ Review: Noah Kahan Is Caught in the In-Between
Noah Kahan’s third studio album, The Great Divide, arrived on April 24, 2026, marking a stylistic leap for the 29‑year‑old folk‑pop singer. Co‑produced with longtime collaborator Gabe Simon and indie‑rock veteran Aaron Dessner, the record blends atmospheric arrangements with sharper lyrical self‑examination. Kahan expands...
Alan Osmond, Who Led His Brothers in Song, Dies at 76
Alan Osmond, the eldest Osmond brother and original leader of the 1970s pop group, died at 76 in Salt Lake City. His brother Merrill announced the death on Facebook; cause was complications of multiple sclerosis, according to collaborator Debbie Ihler...
Is 1990s Alternative Rock the New Country?
Stagecoach Festival, originally billed as the "country Coachella," is expanding its roster to feature 1990s alternative‑rock icons like Counting Crows, Bush, the Wallflowers and Third Eye Blind alongside its country headliners. The move reflects a strategic blend of legacy rock acts...
Vilma Jää’s Voice Is Unlike Anything in Opera
Vilma Jää, a Finnish folk‑pop singer, is redefining operatic vocalism in the Metropolitan Opera’s revival of Kaija Saariaho’s “Innocence.” The composer crafted the role of Markéta around Jää’s native techniques—Karjankutsu herding calls and Viena Karelian yoik—allowing her to improvise cadenzas that...
7 New Songs You Should Hear Now
Nine Inch Noize, a new collaborative project between Nine Inch Nails and German producer Boys Noize, released a debut album featuring club‑ready remixes of classic Nine Inch Nails tracks, many of which debuted live at Coachella and a Brooklyn arena show....
Nate Smith Is Bringing a Big-Tent Approach to the Newport Jazz Festival
Grammy‑winning drummer Nate Smith has been named the third artistic director in the 72‑year history of the Newport Jazz Festival. Known for genre‑blurring collaborations and a strong social‑media presence, Smith plans to use a “big‑tent” approach that pairs jazz legends...
How John Dowland Built a Music Career on Tearful Melancholy
John Dowland, the Elizabethan lutenist and composer, built his enduring reputation on the melancholic “tear” motif, epitomized by his 1604 *Lachrimae* collection and the famed “Lachrimae Pavan.” The piece began as a wordless lute dance and gained lyrics in his...