Music Analysis: Has Olivia Rodrigo found a new voice?
Olivia Rodrigo has released her third studio album, ‘you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love’, and it has everyone talking. We know heartbreak isn't new territory for Olivia, however, this album seems to carry a different tone.
Music News Blitz’s Charlotte Cave has more on the story.
Music analysis: Social media influence on the discovery of music
The way people discover new music has changed with the rise of social media, writes Music News Blitz’s Tabitha Kongo.
Olivia Rodrigo wants to come to Leeds? Star-spotting around the city
Olivia Rodrigo was recently heard saying “I really want to go to Leeds this year, I think that would be fun” during her appearance on Hits Radio last Friday.
The ‘GUTS’ singer has previously made her love for the UK known, often seen hanging out in London and eating sausage rolls in Wales, writes Music News Blitz’s Megan Hamilton.
Music analysis: Virtual concerts – a growing trend in the music industry
Since the breakthrough of ABBA Voyage, the virtual concert that began in May 2022, the rise in the digital concert experience has only increased amongst fans.
While there has been speculation that the ABBA Voyage might close its doors, the production has repeatedly extended its run due to high demand, transforming the possibilities of live entertainment, writes Music News Blitz’s Emma Corrigan.
Music analysis: Why Olivia Rodrigo’s songwriting feels so painfully real for Gen Z
Olivia Rodrigo has always had a gift for making feelings sound embarrassingly specific, writes Music News Blitz’s Fatima Aziz.
Music analysis: Why are listeners rediscovering longer songs?
From Taylor Swift’s 10-minute version of ‘All Too Well’ to classic epics like Telegraph Road by Dire Straits, lengthy songs continue to captivate audiences despite the rise of short-form content.
As streaming and social media reshape listening habits, Music News Blitz’s Jessica Spilsbury explores why listeners may be rediscovering long-form music.
Music news: 20 years on, Taylor Swift continues to write history
Taylor Swift has broken records once again, becoming the youngest woman ever to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
On June 11, exactly 20 years after the release of her first single, Swift has made history once again.
Music News Blitz’s Charlotte Cave has more on the story.
Remembering Abdullah Ibrahim: South African jazz legend passes away at age 91
The iconic South African jazz artist, Abdullah Ibrahim (previously known as Dollar Brand) has passed away at age 91, writes Music News Blitz’s Tyler Lai Sai.
He is widely considered a cultural icon amongst South Africans.
Ibrahim’s work pioneered the sub-genre of Cape Jazz and his work was used for anti-apartheid movements.
Music analysis: The dawn of the band tee and modern-day merch culture
Since its early days, the music merch scene has come a long way from a simple t-shirt.
Modern artists offer a variety of merchandise that sprawling queues of fans can’t wait to get their hands on.
Music News Blitz’s Megan Hamilton writes on the phenomenon and explores a select range of examples of the spectacle of modern-day merch culture.
Music analysis: Have phones ruined concerts – or are fans just experiencing music differently?
There is a moment at almost every concert now where the lights dim, the opening notes start, the crowd screams and then hundreds of phones immediately go up.
For some people, it ruins everything, writes Music News Blitz’s Fatima Aziz.
From music icons to beauty influencers: How Rihanna, Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez built global brand success
In today’s entertainment industry, success is no longer measured only by album sales, chart positions or sold ticket tours.
Superstars like Rihanna, Arianna Grande and Selena Gomez lead the industry by turning music fame into global personal brands.
Their journey shows how celebrities use their influence by applying entrepreneurial skills to advance far beyond the world of music, writes Music News Blitz’s Tabitha Kongo.
Together, Together: Everything you need to know about Harry Styles’ residency tour
In support of his fourth solo album ‘Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally’, Harry Styles is back on tour with ‘Together, Together’, three years on from the end of the massively successful ‘Love On Tour’.
Featuring songs like ‘American Girls’ and ‘Aperture’, this most recent album takes on a more synth-y sound than his previous work, and has received a lot of love from fans, writes Music News Blitz’s Megan Hamilton.
Music analysis: Can AI ever create a genuine hit song?
From AI-generated songs mimicking Drake, to platforms capable of producing new music in seconds, artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly involved within the music industry, writes Music News Blitz’s Jessica Spilsbury.
What was once viewed as science fiction is now a reality, with AI tools able to generate lyrics, melodies and even imitate the voices of famous artists.
As the technology continues to develop, one question remains: can AI create a genuine hit song, or is there still something uniquely human behind chart success?
From West Side Story to Wicked: How musicals continue to thrive in the modern age
Popular music has shifted drastically over the years, with each decade having its own unique style and symbolic reflection of the era, but musicals have stood the test of time.
As they originally focused on dance and comedy with standalone performances, the genre has gradually evolved to incorporate more complex plots and characters, which are evident in productions today.
The thrill of a live performance, which includes shared audience reactions, a blend of genres like comedy, drama, and romance, and striking costumes, is still something contemporary audiences are drawn to, writes Music News Blitz’s Emma Corrigan.
Music opinion: Five upcoming artists you should listen to before everyone knows them
Everyone is always talking about the biggest names in music. However, there are so many underrated, upcoming acts on the scene who deserve recognition.
Music News Blitz writer Grace Moore shares some of the talent that is on the rise across music at the moment.
‘Music, Fashion, Film’ - What we know about Charli xcx’s upcoming album
Charli xcx recently announced her new album, Music, Fashion, Film, her follow-up album to her iconic BRAT album, which was released in 2024.
The rollout of her new album has polarised her fanbase with many mixed reactions.
Some fans have stated how her newly released songs feel as though she is tapping back into her old style of musical experimentation before the release of BRAT, while others are more displeased with her new music.
Music News Blitz writer Tyler Lai Sai gives her thoughts.
UK festival tickets are costing more: Which ones are worth it this summer?
Festival season has officially arrived, and there are plenty to attend - but with rising prices, music fans are more hesitant to splurge.
So if you want to attend one this year, which festivals look like they are lined up to be the best?
Festival season is a major attraction for everyone. Despite claims that they are getting more expensive each year, that doesn't seem to stop thousands of us from paying to attend.
With such a variety of festivals happening each summer, there seems to be something for everyone.
However, if you are going to splash out your cash, which ones are looking to be the best?
Music News Blitz’s Charlotte Cave gives the rundown.
Music opinion: The feminist question of Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter has quickly become a name few would fail to recognise.
Known for her playful innuendos and witty humour, her songs have gripped the Western world since the 2024 release of “Espresso”.
However, provocative language and chosen aesthetics have resulted in strong public opinion on the feminist position of the star.
With our celebrities continuing to shape wider society, the debate is an undeniably important one.
Yet while much of that debate centres on whether Carpenter's brand of femininity is empowering or regressive, her tendency to provoke political discussion without substantially contributing to it leaves the conversation frustratingly unresolved, writes Music News Blitz’s Katie Slater.
Music news: Summer Walker's ‘Still Finally Over It’ - R&B star enters her arena era
From topping music charts to winning R&B royalty, Summer Walker is reaching new milestones in 2026 with her arena tour, writes Music News Blitz’s Tabitha Kongo.
Driven by her talent for raw emotional lyrics, Walker has made a massive impact and is now celebrating the biggest moment of her career: the ‘Still Finally Over It’ tour.
Walker is currently headlining her first major arena tour, which began on May 26, and it has marked an incredible milestone that has defined her transition from a streaming sensation to a full arena performer.
The tour follows the release of ‘Finally Over It’, which is the final release of her ‘Over It’ and ‘Still Over It’ album trilogy.
Taylor Swift’s surprise Toy Story duet and other memorable covers
Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance at the Toy Story 5 world premiere on Tuesday, held in Los Angeles, writes Music News Blitz’s Megan Hamilton.
The singer put on a pared-back, acoustic performance of her new song ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’, which will feature on the new film’s soundtrack.