Music analysis: Why are listening parties becoming music's hottest trend again?
When hundreds of fans gathered to hear new music from artists such as Charli XCX before its official release, it highlighted a growing trend within the music industry.
In an age where almost every song is available instantly at the touch of a button, artists are increasingly asking fans to slow down and listen together.
From sold-out album launch events to cinema screenings and exclusive first listens, listening parties have become a growing part of modern music culture.
As streaming continues to dominate the industry, Music News Blitz's Jessica Spilsbury explores why artists are turning album releases into events once again.
Music news: The surge in concert ticket prices sparks debate
Going to live concerts has become a luxury many music fans can no longer afford, raising questions about whether live music is becoming out of reach.
In the past few years, the industry has seen rising ticket prices and additional service fees, leaving many fans frustrated and asking for more transparent pricing, writes Music News Blitz’s Tabitha Kongo.
Mood-boosting music: Six songs to lift your spirits
Summer is in full swing, the World Cup is on, and the only thing missing is a really good playlist.
If you’re in need of a musical pick-me-up, Music News Blitz writer Megan Hamilton has compiled six songs to lift your spirits: some oldies-but-goodies, some new hits, and some songs waiting for you to discover them.
Music analysis: Are alternative music bands having to evolve to survive?
From Royal Blood embracing dance influences to Nothing But Thieves experimenting with synth-pop and electronic production, many of modern rock's biggest names sound very different to the bands that first made them famous.
As genre boundaries continue to blur and listening habits evolve, Music News Blitz's Jessica Spilsbury explores whether rock bands are changing simply because they want to - or because they have to.
Music analysis: Why are small rave venues failing, and what can be done?
With constantly rising costs and increasingly expensive ticket prices, smaller rave venues seem to be dying out.
Various factors are contributing to the struggles faced by these venues, writes Music News Blitz’s rave fan Tom Down.
Music opinion: Five 2020s electronic duos that are breaking out of the underground
At the forefront of any advancement within the electronic soundscape is an electronic duo, writes Music News Blitz’s Arwen Lehmann.
In the 2020s, the ‘electronic duo’ has evolved in the seductive shadows of the underground, reinventing the genre one project at a time.
Here are five electronic duos that are changing the face of electronic music and could be the defining electronic artists of the 2020s in the coming years.
Music opinion: Five movie soundtracks that have stood the test of time
I can’t be the only person who, without fail, always leaves the cinema with a new favourite song.
As exciting as the new music is, however, some soundtracks just stick, no matter how long it’s been since watching the film.
Music News Blitz’s Megan Hamilton explores her top five timeless movie soundtracks.
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?