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Miranda Lambert Releases Crisco, a 12-Track Country-Disco Album Co-Produced With Jesse Frasure

Miranda Lambert Releases “Crisco,” a 12-Track Country-Disco Album Co-Produced With Jesse Frasure

Miranda Lambert releases Crisco on October 2, 2026, through MCA. The 12-track album, co-produced with Jesse Frasure, pairs country storytelling with disco rhythms. It includes “A Song to Sing,” a Grammy-nominated duet with Chris Stapleton that became the biggest streaming debut of Lambert’s career. Key Takeaways Crisco is Lambert’s first full-length album released through MCA. Lambert debuted the title track live at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards before releasing it as a single on May 15. Lambert’s previous album, 2024’s Postcards From Texas, extended her streak to 10 consecutive Top 10 entries on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. “Sunset Marquis,” the album’s closing track, also appears in the documentary If These Walls Could Rock. Lambert co-wrote Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2026. CD and vinyl editions, including signed copies, are available through MCA and Lambert’s official website. Country and Disco Meet on “Crisco” Miranda Lambert has spent two decades refusing to stay in one lane, and Crisco is her clearest expression of that so far. The title track, named after the shortening, is a wink at the old connection between country music and the dance floor. It recalls the

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CELEBRITY

Harry Styles Announces 25-Date 2027 Stadium Tour Across North America and Europe

Harry Styles Announces 25-Date 2027 Stadium Tour Across North America and Europe

Harry Styles announced on September 10 that the Together, Together Tour will extend into 2027 with 25 stadium dates across 12 cities in North America and Europe, marking the first time the singer will perform in stadiums he has never played before, including State Farm Stadium in Phoenix and AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Key Takeaways The 2027 leg of the Together, Together Tour spans 12 cities with 25 dates, opening April 2 at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix and closing August 28 at Wembley Stadium in London. North American cities include Phoenix, Dallas, Los Angeles (Rose Bowl), Toronto, Atlanta, and Chicago, with two shows per city. European dates cover Berlin, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Dublin, and London, with Wembley Stadium hosting three nights to close the tour. Each city features a different opening act: Tinashe, CA7RIEL and Paco Amoroso, Kylie Minogue, Lainey Wilson, Q Marsden, The Womack Sisters, Getdown Services, Caroline Polachek, Feist, LCD Soundsystem, Baby Rose, and Tears for Fears. Styles is introducing “Unpredictable Fun Tickets” at $20 (USD), £20 (GBP), and €20 (EUR) for a limited number of seats at each show. Styles described the 2027 dates as the final cities of the Together, Together era. From Residencies to

How Solo Artists Thrive After Leaving Iconic Music Groups

How Solo Artists Thrive After Leaving Iconic Music Groups

Solo artists thrive after leaving iconic music groups by building a clear personal identity, gaining creative control, and connecting directly with audiences. While group success provides a strong foundation, long-term solo growth depends on branding, smart business choices, and the ability to adapt to changing music trends. Leaving a well-known group is a high-risk move. Fans often associate artists with their original group image. However, this challenge can also become an advantage. Artists who succeed usually redefine themselves early. They shift their sound, image, or message to show independence. This creates curiosity and attracts both old and new listeners. Recent industry data supports this pattern. An independent 2024 music market review found that 58% of artists who left major groups released a solo project within the first year. Of those, about 37% saw higher streaming growth compared to their final group releases. This suggests that timing and momentum play a key role in solo success. Creative freedom is one of the biggest drivers. In a group, decisions are shared. As solo artists, individuals control their music style, lyrics, and collaborations. This allows them to explore new genres or express personal stories. Music producer Mark Ronson explained, “Artists often discover their

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Life After the Runway: Exploring New Careers for Former Models

Models have long been icons of style, movement, and visual storytelling. But the runway isn’t forever, and for many, it’s just the beginning. As the fashion industry evolves and the spotlight shifts, former models are carving out bold new paths across creative, entrepreneurial, and cultural sectors. Their transition isn’t just about reinvention, it’s about reclaiming agency and expanding influence. Whether stepping into business, media, or advocacy, models are proving that their skills extend far beyond posing and presentation. With deep industry insight, global networks, and a sharp sense of aesthetics, they’re uniquely positioned to thrive in roles that demand vision and versatility. From Runway to Boardroom: The Rise of Model Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship has become a natural next step for many former models. Years spent navigating fashion campaigns, brand partnerships, and global tours often translate into sharp instincts for branding and business. Some launch skincare lines, others build creative agencies, and many establish platforms that support emerging talent. Tyra Banks, once a household name on the catwalk, now runs a media empire that includes production, education, and investment. Her pivot wasn’t accidental, it was strategic, rooted in years of observing how models are positioned and perceived. This kind of transition reflects

EVENTS

MOVIES

Forgotten Island Soundtrack Assembles H.E.R., Lea Salonga, BINI, and SB19 in a Landmark Showcase for Filipino Music on a Global Stage

“Forgotten Island” Soundtrack Assembles H.E.R., Lea Salonga, BINI, and SB19 in a Landmark Showcase for Filipino Music on a Global Stage

The soundtrack for DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island,” which debuted at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of its September 25 theatrical release, carries one of the largest concentrations of Filipino and Filipino-American musical talent ever assembled for a major Hollywood production, spanning Grammy and Academy Award winner H.E.R., Tony winner Lea Salonga, Filipino pop groups BINI and SB19, and composer Nathan Matthew David in a project that bridges Philippine folklore with contemporary pop culture. Key Takeaways The “Forgotten Island” soundtrack features H.E.R., Lea Salonga, BINI, SB19, Sophia Laforteza, and Amielynn Abellera, representing the largest concentration of Filipino and Filipino-American musical talent on a major Hollywood animated film soundtrack. H.E.R., who voices the lead character Jo, contributes to the soundtrack including the single “BRB” recorded with co-star Liza Soberano; the track bridges the film’s 1990s Philippine setting with contemporary pop production. Tony winner Lea Salonga, who voices the film’s central antagonist, the Dreaded Manananggal, also appears on the soundtrack, adding Broadway and Disney vocal pedigree to the project. Filipino composer Nathan Matthew David scored the film, making “Forgotten Island” one of the rare major animated features with a Filipino composer, Filipino lead voice cast, and a Filipino-sourced mythology at its foundation. “Forgotten

MUSIC

Erykah Badu and The Alchemist Drop Before the World Blows on August 28, Ending a 16-Year Studio Album Silence

Erykah Badu and The Alchemist Drop “Before the World Blows” on August 28, Ending a 16-Year Studio Album Silence

Erykah Badu and The Alchemist will release “Before the World Blows: The Abi and Alan Experiment” digitally on August 28, 2026, via Control FREAQ Records and Young Recordings, ending the longest gap between studio albums in Badu’s career and delivering one of the most anticipated collaborative projects in recent memory. The album, co-produced by both artists over 18 months of sessions in Dallas and Los Angeles, features Westside Gunn, Steve Lacy, Thundercat, and DRAM, and arrives alongside a 13-date U.S. tour that opens September 10 at Ravinia Festival in Illinois. Key Takeaways “Before the World Blows: The Abi and Alan Experiment” drops digitally August 28, 2026, via Control FREAQ Records / Young Recordings, marking Erykah Badu’s first official studio album in 16 years. The project was co-produced by Badu and The Alchemist over 18 months in Dallas and Los Angeles; it features Westside Gunn, Steve Lacy, Thundercat, and DRAM. Three singles preceded the album: “Witch Doctor” (with accompanying music video directed by and starring Badu), “Next To You,” and Amazon Music exclusive “Echos 19 (mix 122).” The collaboration began after Badu expressed interest in rapping over Mobb Deep’s “The Realest,” an Alchemist production; their first session in Los Angeles produced

Weezer Release Their 20th Album, the Gold Album, and It Sounds Like Four Guys in a Room Again

Weezer Release Their 20th Album, the Gold Album, and It Sounds Like Four Guys in a Room Again

Weezer released their twentieth studio album on August 21 via Reprise Records and Warner Records, continuing a color-coded discography tradition that has produced the Blue, Green, Red, White, Teal, and Black albums across three decades. The Gold Album, produced by Klas Åhlund and Kenneth Blume, marks the band’s first full-length release since Van Weezer in 2021 and their first studio project of any kind since the SZNZ EP series in 2022. The record has drawn generally favorable reviews, with critics pointing to a return to the distorted, hook-driven chemistry that defined the band’s earliest work, driven in part by a writing process that reunited frontman Rivers Cuomo and drummer Pat Wilson as co-writers for the first time since the 1994 debut. Key Takeaways The Gold Album is Weezer’s 20th studio album, released August 21, 2026 via Reprise/Crush Music (physical) and Warner Records (digital), produced by Klas Åhlund and Kenneth Blume. The 10-track record marks the first time Rivers Cuomo and Pat Wilson co-wrote songs together since the Blue Album in 1994, with three of the band’s four members contributing to the writing. Four singles preceded the album: “Shine Again,” “We Might As Well Be Strangers” featuring Wednesday’s Karly Hartzman, “C.E.O.,”

Brandon Flowers

Brandon Flowers Releases “Thrasher,” a Full Country Album Recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A

The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers releases Thrasher on August 21 through Island Records, a 10-track country album recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A with session contributions from David Rawlings, pedal steel player Bruce Bouton, and 85-year-old harmonica legend Charlie McCoy, whose credits include Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde and Nashville Skyline. The album is Flowers’ third solo project and his first in more than a decade, following 2015’s The Desired Effect, and represents a full genre departure from the synth-rock and arena anthems that built his career with The Killers. Key Takeaways Thrasher is a 10-track country album produced by Shawn Everett and Jonathan Rado, recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville, and released August 21 via Island Records. Session musicians include David Rawlings (longtime Gillian Welch collaborator), pedal steel pioneer Bruce Bouton, and Charlie McCoy, the 85-year-old harmonica player whose Nashville session work spans Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley. Three singles preceded the album: “Plans” (June 26), “Paradise,” and “Tiger’s Blood,” each accompanied by studio and live versions filmed at RCA Studio A. The album explores family relationships, loss, memory, and small-town life, drawing directly from Flowers’ childhood in Nephi, Utah, and the country music his father

KATSEYE WILD EP Release 2026 Spotify Pre-Save Record

KATSEYE Releases “WILD” EP After Setting Spotify’s All-Time Girl Group Pre-Save Record

KATSEYE released “WILD” on August 14 through HYBE x Geffen Records, arriving after the six-track EP surpassed 1.27 million Spotify pre-saves to become the most pre-saved girl group project in the platform’s history, a commercial milestone that lands as the group navigates its most ambitious and most complicated release window yet. Key Takeaways KATSEYE’s third EP “WILD” was released August 14 through HYBE x Geffen Records, featuring six tracks including Billboard Hot 100 entries “Pinky Up” (No. 28) and the Ed Sheeran co-written “Animal” (No. 24). The EP surpassed 1.27 million Spotify pre-saves before release, setting a new all-time record for the most pre-saved girl group project on the platform. The release is flanked by the limited theatrical premiere of “KATSEYE: WILD HEARTS,” an Emmy-nominated Nadia Hallgren-directed documentary that debuted August 12, and the 31-date WILDWORLD Tour opening September 1 in Dublin. KATSEYE is currently operating as a four-member group following temporary hiatuses by Manon Bannerman (February 2026) and Sophia Laforteza (August 2026), both citing health and wellbeing. The group won New Artist of the Year at the 52nd American Music Awards in May 2026 and previously earned a Grammy nomination for “Gabriela.” Six Tracks Built Around Two Hot 100

Spotify AI Persona Badge AI Artists Blocked From Recommendations

Spotify Introduces “AI Persona” Labels and Blocks AI-Generated Artists From Recommendations

Spotify announced on August 11 that it will begin labeling artist profiles built around artificial intelligence-generated identities with a new “AI Persona” badge, making it the first major streaming platform to target the identity layer of AI music rather than the audio content alone. The badges will appear on artist profiles starting in mid-September, and music from labeled accounts will be excluded from all editorial, algorithmic, and personalized recommendations by default. Self-disclosure opened immediately through Spotify for Artists, but the company said it will not depend on voluntary participation alone and will proactively review profiles it suspects of using photorealistic AI-generated identities. Key Takeaways Two badge types will be applied: “AI Persona” for artists who self-disclose and “Likely AI Persona” for profiles Spotify identifies through its own review process, which combines human reviewers and AI-powered detection. Music from badged profiles will be excluded from Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and all editorial and algorithmic recommendations unless a listener explicitly follows the artist. Badges will appear on artist profile banners, About sections, Search results, and track rows across playlists starting mid-September on mobile. The policy distinguishes between artist identity and music creation; separate tools, including AI Credits and SongDNA, handle disclosure about

Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean Confirm New Fugees Music at Inaugural Diaspora Calling! Festival in Milton Keynes

Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean Confirm New Fugees Music at Inaugural Diaspora Calling! Festival in Milton Keynes

Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean confirmed they are working on new music together, ending nearly three decades of silence from The Fugees’ recording catalog during a BBC interview ahead of their headlining performance at the inaugural UK edition of Diaspora Calling! festival at Milton Keynes National Bowl on August 7. The one-day festival drew more than 35,000 fans and doubled as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of The Score, the trio’s 1996 album that won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1997. Key Takeaways Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean told BBC News on August 5 that new music together is coming, with Hill confirming the plan in a single word during the interview. The Diaspora Calling! festival at Milton Keynes National Bowl on August 7 drew over 35,000 attendees for its first UK edition. Hill and Jean performed material from The Score, the Fugees’ Grammy-winning 1996 album now marking its 30th anniversary. The festival lineup included Erykah Badu, Giggs, Fireboy DML, YG Marley, and Zion Marley, with Dave Chappelle hosting. Third Fugees member Pras Michel is currently serving a prison sentence on 10 criminal counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.

Phoebe Bridgers Debuts ‘Lost Weekend’ In Planetariums Across 34 Cities

Phoebe Bridgers Debuts ‘Lost Weekend’ in Planetariums Across 34 Cities

Phoebe Bridgers announced Thursday, Aug. 6 that she will preview her new album “Lost Weekend” through a series of planetarium listening sessions beginning Aug. 10, four days before the record’s official Aug. 14 release. The sessions will run in planetariums across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, giving ticketholders a rare early listen before the album reaches streaming services. Key Takeaways Phoebe Bridgers announced on Thursday, Aug. 6 that planetarium listening sessions for “Lost Weekend” will run Aug. 10-15 across 25 North American cities and nine overseas locations, totaling 34 venues. Each planetarium will show one of two visual programs, either a dome show designed by photographer Babak Tafreshi or a laser presentation from Laser Fantasy, with venues grouped by which show they host. Attendees must lock phones and smart watches in Yondr pouches to prevent recordings, a measure also used during Bridgers’ acoustic shows earlier in 2024. More than 300 midnight listening parties will take place globally on Aug. 13, the night before the album’s official Aug. 14 release. “Lost Weekend” is Bridgers’ first solo album since 2020’s “Punisher,” which reached No. 43 on the Billboard 200, following her Grammy-winning work with boygenius on “The Record.”

Country Music Sweeps Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 First Time

Country Music Claims All Five Top Spots on the Billboard Hot 100 for the First Time in Chart History

Country songs occupy the entire top five of the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in the chart’s nearly 68-year history, according to chart results published on August 4 for the week dated August 8, 2026. Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” holds at No. 1 for a 16th consecutive week, tying for the fourth-longest reign in Hot 100 history, while Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift, and newcomer Stella Lefty fill the remaining four positions in a genre sweep that would have been unthinkable even five years ago. Key Takeaways Country songs claim all five top spots on the Hot 100 for the first time since the chart’s founding in August 1958: Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” (No. 1), Morgan Wallen’s “Been by Now” (No. 2), Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” (No. 3), Langley and Wallen’s “I Can’t Love You Anymore” (No. 4), and Stella Lefty’s “Boston” (No. 5). “Choosin’ Texas” ties for the fourth-longest No. 1 reign in Hot 100 history at 16 weeks, trailing only Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (22 weeks), Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (19 weeks), and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus (19 weeks). Langley also