Editors' Picks

This week saw the launch of TIDAL, Jay-Z’s answer to other streaming services such as Spotify. With the market becoming hugely saturated with different services, each claiming that they offer users the best experience for users, can it really compete with the best of them?

Sia has premiered the video for her new single Big Girls Cry, completing a trilogy of videos featuring young dancer Maddie Ziegler.

It was announced today that sales of albums that are considered “pop” overtook sales of those classified as rock last year for the first time since 1999. This is an interesting claim and shows a shift in the types of music the British public began listening to in 2014.

The saga following Zayn Malik’s departure from One Direction continued with a new twist today that had both fans and former band mates up in arms.

Jay-Z is about to enter the fray with other music streaming services with his newly acquired TIDAL.

It has been announced that Dermot O’Leary is leaving the X Factor after presenting the show for eight years.

Festival goers in the US will be sad to hear that selfie sticks have now been placed on the banned list for many festivals this year.

Following concerns over music videos being overtly sexual and inappropriate for younger audience, the Government has decided to back a pilot scheme where online videos will receive a classification from the BBFC.

After much speculation, Zayn Malik has broken many teenage hearts and officially left One Direction.

Yet another Spice Girls reunion has been hinted at; this time in order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of breakthrough single Wannabe.

Emma Bunton hinted in an interview that the only thing that was holding back another possible reunion was scheduling. She said: "I was with Geri and Mel B just recently, we love each other and we love performing together.

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini has spoken out to criticise the music industry for the way it forces women to sexualise themselves in order to sell music.

The decision by the organisers of Glastonbury to book Kanye West as headliner of this year’s festival has caused some trepidation amongst music fans.

The study, conducted in Belgium and published in Springer's journal Sex Roles, aimed to find out if such a bombardment of sexualised images actually skews the way that children view sex later in life and if it gives them unrealistic ideas of how sexually active their peers are.

Scores of pre-teenage girls are facing the prospect of having to go through a very difficult time in their lives, after which they will never be the same. Zayn Malik has left One Direction’s tour having been signed off with stress.

One man has set himself the task of avoiding all sources of music for Lent in order to make a documentary on the subject for BBC Radio 4.

YouTube have announced that they are launching new tools that will help new and emerging artists to gain exposure.

The British public have believed for years that Simon Cowell, self-styled “Mr Nasty” is the worst of the TV judges but New Zealand have proved that they can go one better.

It has been announced by organizers at this year’s South by Southwest Festival in Texas that a fleet of St Bernards will be patrolling the site with emergency batteries for festival goers to re-charge their smartphones.

Jay Z's next battle might be with the likes of Spotify and Apple. On Friday, the rapper made a 56 million dollar bid to buy the Swedish streaming company that competes with Spotify and Apple.

In a landmark case, it has been ruled that Robin Thicke and Pharrell must pay the estate of Marvin Gaye $7.3 million in damages over copyright infringement.

It seems as though a war is currently being waged against free music. I recently wrote about Taylor Swift and her recent one woman stand against streaming service Spotify after she removed all of her music from the site.

A new YouTube trend seems to have us well and truly in its grip and the person heading this exciting new craze? It’s none other than Britney Spears.

Do you leave music on for your pets when you leave the house in the hopes that they won’t get lonely while you’re gone and start shredding your furniture? Apparently you’re not alone! Now there has been an actual scientific study to measure what music appeals the most to cats.

Madonna has revealed her dismay over the fact that her latest album Rebel Heart was leaked ahead of its official release. She has described the leak as “artistic rape” and though that may sound a bit dramatic, it probably accurately encapsulates the feelings that artists that have been through similar things go through.

Yesterday was International women’s day and to celebrate, Spotify have released the figures for the most streamed female artists. Rihanna was revealed to be the most streamed female, meaning that she is currently the most popular female artist in the world.

Four major ticket resale sites have announced that they will be changing the ways they operate in order to avoid misleading customers. Stubhub, Seatwave, Viagogo and Get Me In have all agreed to changes that will mean that consumers get clearer information about the tickets they are purchasing.

The court case brought against Robin Thicke by Marvin Gaye’s family over claims that his song Blurred Lines copied Gaye’s Got to Give it Up is due to end on Friday and could well set a dangerous precedence for artists in the future.

Not many things are certain in the world of music but one thing that is certain is that if media outlets ban a song from being played; that song is going to be a hit. The latest casualty of censorship is band Muse and their latest single which is currently being referred to as “Psycho”.

Since the emergence of downloading as an alternative to fans consuming music through traditional methods, certain people within the music industry have become twitchy. One of the most notable examples from this time is the legal debate between Metallica and Napster. The root of the dispute was that Metallica (particularly the delightful Lars Ulrich) were losing out on revenue when their music was being illegally downloaded.

The time of year where we throw caution to the wind and leave even the tiniest shred of actual musical taste at the door is once again upon us. That’s right; it’s Eurovision time!

We’re constantly being told that listening to loud music is bad for our hearing and let’s be honest, very few of us ever actually listen and turn the music down. New findings by the World Health Organization say that 1.1 billion young people are permanently damaging their hearing by listening to “too much, too loudly” and suggest that we should only be listening to music for one hour a day in order to minimise damage.

No matter how much of a hardened connoisseur of music you are, it’s difficult to ignore that trends come along and have an impact on the industry, whether it be a small ripple in the pool something more enduring.
At the moment, the whole concept of twerking is extremely prominent in pop culture with Miley Cyrus bringing it to the forefront of our minds so that it has become more than just a dance move that one artist attempts to pull off. Brave any nightclub on a Saturday night and you will see plenty of people who think that they can also manage it. The move has become ingrained in our minds.

Plans have been announced to create a global release day for albums and singles to try and combat piracy. This would mean that instead of albums being released on a Monday as is currently the norm in the UK, they would instead be released on a Friday to fall into line with countries such Ireland and Germany.

The biggest event in the British music industry calendar is upon us once again. The Brit Awards bring together the very best and brightest names on the British pop music scene and over the years have showcased soon of weirdest and most wonderful collaborations.

Noel Gallagher has never been well known for mincing his words and he does not seem to have mellowed at all with age. In a recent interview, the former Oasis star pulled no punches when talking about Kanye West’s recent stage invasion at the Grammy Awards where West exclaimed that Beck, who won the award for Best Album, should make way for a “real artist”. He was referring to Beyoncé.

With Ellie Goulding’s latest single “Love me Like you Do” spending its third week at number one, could the days where songs cling on to that highly sought after top spot for weeks on end be making a comeback?

This weekend saw the last of the blind auditions on the BBC’s talent show “The Voice”. The novelty of the spinning chairs has always been an immensely popular element of the format; creating the drama that audiences crave from their Saturday night TV. Sadly for the BBC, this is where it all seems to go wrong for their answer to Simon Cowell’s “X Factor”.

In this age where promotion through social media has become highly prolific and important in getting both new and existing artists recognised, is funding new material through Kickstarter and similar sites the way forward?

Lining up outside the O2 Apollo Manchester, it was immediately clear that Jordan Davis has grown significantly in popularity with UK audiences since his last visit to the city. When he played Manchester Academy in February 2024, the scale felt modest. This time around, it was a different story.

Singer and content creator Talia Mar has returned with her new single ‘Suit & Tie’. The track, which premieres later today, blends polished pop and R&B with atmospheric production that highlights her vocal strengths and lyrical vulnerability.

Lana Del Rey has released her new single, White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter, now available via Interscope Records. The song arrives as a quietly striking introduction to her forthcoming tenth studio album, Stove, expected in approximately three months.

On their sixth full-length album, Balancing Act, Copenhagen duo Vinyl Floor sound comfortable living in uncertainty. The record, due February 27, 2026 via the band’s own Karmanian Records, explores the fragile space between optimism and doubt, clarity and confusion, both musically and thematically.

Charles Kelley has returned with a fresh take on “Can’t Be Alone Tonight,” now featuring Maren Morris. Originally appearing on Kelley’s 80s-inspired solo album Songs for a New Moon, this 2026 reinterpretation transforms the track into a romantic, ‘90s-style power ballad with subtle indie-pop elements.

Fans are already rallying behind Meghan Trainor’s latest release, “Get In Girl,” a high energy pop anthem built to make listeners feel unstoppable. Released today via Epic Records, the song arrives just in time for Galentine’s Day and is featured on Trainor’s upcoming seventh studio album, Toy With Me, due out April 24.

Ella Langley has released her latest single, “Be Her,” a smooth, radio friendly track that leans into traditional country elements while maintaining modern appeal. Out now via Columbia Records, the song highlights Langley’s growing confidence as both a songwriter and storyteller.

Princess Superstar charges into 2026 with “YUM-ME,” a new single that leans fully into the bold, club-ready excess that has long defined her sound. Built on pounding electronic beats, flashes of old-school hi-NRG, and the sharp intensity of modern hyperpop, the track delivers a high-energy rush that feels both nostalgic and forward-looking. Produced by the duo Two Planets, the song is loud and unapologetic, designed for maximum impact on the dancefloor.

“End of the Season” finds Issac Ryan Brown leaning into a feel-good pop-R&B sound that balances classic influences with a modern, radio-ready finish. Built around a prominent guitar riff, the track moves with buoyant momentum and funk-tinged pleasantries, its smooth groove recalling the rhythmic ease often associated with artists like Bruno Mars. The polished production gives the song a sunlit feel, while Brown’s relaxed and assured vocal delivery brings an easy charisma to the centre of the mix.

Norah Jones and Joshua Homme have teamed up for a live cover of Somethin’ Stupid, released as part of Jones’ upcoming podcast episode of Norah Jones is Playing Along. The performance preserves the song’s romantic core while merging the distinctive musical styles of both artists.

From the warm, guitar-led intimacy of “Little Things” to the assertive, Destiny’s Child-inspired “Tell Her,” and culminating in the gospel-tinged finale featuring Kirk Franklin, the album moves seamlessly between reflective ballads and confident, rhythmically driven tracks, highlighting both her artistry and her ability to capture the complexities of love in song.

“Die For Me” sees Zayn stepping away from the understated acoustic style of 2024’s Room Under the Stairs, embracing a richer, more adventurous R&B-driven pop sound. The song blends elements of Western R&B with South Asian-inspired textures, built around a deep, syncopated bassline that incorporates the artist’s breath as a rhythmic layer. Over the intricate production, Zayn’s falsetto glides with a delicate intensity, capturing both fragility and control.

Kesha has teamed up with legendary DJ and producer Armin van Buuren for a new club-ready remix of “DELUSIONAL.,” bringing a hard-hitting trance edge to one of the standout tracks from her sixth studio album, .(PERIOD). “DELUSIONAL. (Armin van Buuren Remix)” is out now via Kesha Records and has already made waves across social media and festival crowds ahead of its official release.

Fresh off a string of chart-topping releases, Ella Langley returns with “Dandelion,” the title track from her upcoming sophomore album, Dandelion, set to arrive on April 10, 2026. The single introduces a more reflective and mature sound, marking a thematic shift from the party-heavy energy of her debut album, Hungover, to what Langley describes as her “detox” era.

We managed to get an advance listen to “Ah Ya,” the new collaboration from Christine and the Queens and Thee Diane, and it opens with an unexpected sense of restraint. A cinematic swell follows, with a textured and atmospheric introduction led by strings, creating immediate tension and scale. The listener is left unsure where the song is heading until the beat finally arrives.

After an advanced listen, Sébastien Tellier’s Kiss The Beast feels like a carefully curated return to his most seductive instincts, while still pushing into stranger, more modern territory. Set for release this Friday, January 30, 2026 via Because Music, the album moves fluidly between intimate synth pop, disco flash, and moments of unsettling beauty, all held together by Tellier’s unmistakable sense of atmosphere. It plays like a waking dream, sometimes comforting, sometimes disorienting, but always deliberate.

It was exciting to see Arctic Monkeys return with a new single. The band played a defining role for many listeners in the early 2010s, especially during the AM era, when songs like “Do I Wanna Know?”, “R U Mine?” and “Arabella” became lasting fan favorites.

Madison Beer has released a new album titled Locket. This piece zeroes in on one of its standout tracks, “Bad Enough,” though I definitely recommend giving the entire album a listen—you’re almost guaranteed to find something that catches your attention.

Carpenter Brut has released his new single “The Misfits The Rebels,” the latest track taken from his forthcoming album Leather Temple, due out February 27 via No Quarter Prod and Virgin Records.

Three tracks from Charli XCX have been released so far in anticipation of her upcoming album Wuthering Heights. This piece will focus on Wall of Sound, her latest release. Taken together, the three tracks feel like a kind of loading screen for the album. The first two tracks, House featuring John Cale and Wall of Sound, have a distinctly cinematic quality, as if they exist mainly to build atmosphere and tension. That said, they still sound great. Chains of Love feels like the most fully realized song of the three.

Jordan Ward has returned with his latest single, “CHAMPION SOUND,” released on January 9, 2026. The track previews his highly anticipated second studio album, BACKWARD, due January 30, 2026. One YouTube user summed up the vibe perfectly: “This is the music I would blast while riding downtown while the sun starts to set for the weekend.”

Multi-platinum artist and BRIT Award nominee Matt Cardle kicks off 2026 with the release of his new single ‘Fading Lights’. Marking his return after a seven-year gap between albums, the track is a confident and feelgood statement that sets the tone for his forthcoming record, The Great Escape, due April 10th.

Zach Bryan’s long-awaited sixth studio album, With Heaven On Top, arrives today as a sprawling, deeply personal statement from one of modern country’s most singular voices.

David Byrne has never been an obvious choice to revisit a modern pop heartbreak anthem, which is exactly why his new take on Olivia Rodrigo’s “drivers license” feels so alive. Released today, the cover arrives on the fifth anniversary of the original song and serves as the first instalment in a planned series of reimagined versions tied to Rodrigo’s debut album, SOUR.