Music news: What is BBC Introducing and which artists has it supported?
Music News Blitz’s Grace Moore explains all there is to know about BBC Introducing and the impact it has on artists.
Radio 1's Big Weekend 2026 comes to Sunderland this weekend with Olivia Dean and Zara Larsson making appearances
As revealed by Greg James on Radio 1's breakfast show, the festival season is officially upon us, with Big Weekend serving up some big artists for 2026.
Music News Blitz writer Bella Ford reports…
A look at Olivia Dean’s ‘The Art Of Loving’ UK/EU tour featuring Sam Fender
Olivia Dean played her opening night in Glasgow on April 22 – and she has played all her UK dates, apart from two more scheduled for June due to increased demand.
Music News Blitz writer Bella Ford reports…
Music opinion: Women are making jazz cool again
Jazz originated within African-american communities in New Orleans in the late 19th and early 20th century.
It became popular globally during the prohibition era in the 1920s and was the main genre until the 1940s and 1950s when Bebop rose in prominence.
Popular jazz artists include Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and John Coltrane – an era that was defined mostly by the male artists of the time.
The 1950s and 1960s solidified that jazz was no longer a main genre, instead being replaced by Rock & roll.
In recent years, jazz has had a resurgence, with female artists at the forefront, writes Music News Blitz’s Darshan Kaur Gill.
Music news: Grammy award winner Olivia Dean hits the road, Sam Fender collab in the spotlight
Olivia Dean’s new album, ‘The Art of Loving’, which was released in September 2025, is ready to take centre stage.
Wednesday, April 22 marks the opening date of her album tour beginning in Glasgow, taking on arenas across the UK and EU.
Music News Blitz’s Olivia Carolan discusses the highs of Dean's career.
BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge Month announce star-studded line-up
It’s that time of year again - where BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge hosts the stars of the current music industry for live performances and never-heard-before covers. What’s not to like?
The Live Lounge has become a staple of Radio 1 since its beginnings in 2006, and every September, a new batch of artists is announced for a month-long slate of performances.
Since 2021, the segment has been presented by Rickie Haywood-Williams, Charlie Hedges and Melvin Odoom, and the 2025 artists were revealed on their highly popular show on Monday.
But who exactly can we look forward to?
Music News Blitz writer Rhys Rogers has selected some of his personal standouts.
Music news: Sam Fender and Olivia Dean join forces and announce collaboration rendition of ‘Rein Me In’
Sam Fender confirmed on June 17 that he has collaborated with pop-soul artist Olivia Dean on his song “Rein Me In”, which will be released Friday, June 20.
The original song was featured on his album People Watching, which was released in February of this year and has since gained hundreds of millions of streams, writes Music News Blitz’s Amelie Da Costa.