I didn’t put in my headphones or listen to any music for a week. This is what happened. If you are of my generation (Gen Z), then you have probably been a chronic music listener for as long as you can remember. Since I got my first pair of headphones in my early teens, I… Continue reading Take off your headphones, get out of your head
Just For One Day, the Old Vic’s new musical about Live Aid, recreates the story behind the history-making concert in a spectacle full of iconic 1980s rock anthems. The script may feel a bit clunky, but as it’s performed in front of enthusiastic audiences largely made up of people old enough to remember that warm… Continue reading Live Aid the musical — what really happens when celebrities get behind humanitarian causes
“Basically I have a song that I love that I wanna release ASAP but my record label won’t let me. I’ve been in this industry for eight years and I’ve sold over 165 million records. And my record company is saying that I can’t release it unless they can fake a viral moment on TikTok.… Continue reading Halsey’s record label wouldn’t release a new song until it went viral on TikTok. Is this the future of the music industry?
Shares in Universal Music Group surged after its US$40 billion (£29.5 billion) flotation on 21 September, suggesting many people think the music business has a strong future. One of them, Lucian Grainge, the company’s chief executive, believes expansion will be driven partly by changing consumer habits and the exploitation of undeveloped markets in some of… Continue reading The music industry is booming and can afford to give artists a fairer business model
There is a current surge of interest in punk. The Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” topped the UK singles charts during the Platinum Jubilee. This was 45 years to the day after it controversially didn’t when originally released at the time of the Silver Jubilee. Famed director Danny Boyle has also turned his hand… Continue reading What it really meant to be punk in Britain
You probably don’t realise it when you’re listening to your favourite song, but music has an incredibly powerful effect on the human brain. Singing, playing an instrument or listening to music have all been shown to activate numerous areas of the brain that control speech, movement and cognition, memory and emotion — often all at… Continue reading Why researchers are turning to music as a possible treatment for stroke, brain injuries and even Parkinson’s
‘A walk-in attraction’ – Circus Maximus Experimental and genre-bending, Utopia offers a masterfully produced soundtrack combining Scott’s tactile, iconic sound with meticulous beats and instrumentals to create innovative music illustrating his versatility and willingness to take risks. While there may be a lack of a coherent artistic vision within the album, Scott stays true to… Continue reading Travis Scott continues to define his sound in Utopia
