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Lukas Nelson Illuminates With “Disappearing Light” Featuring Stephen Wilson Jr.

Eric Alper
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Lukas Nelson Illuminates With “Disappearing Light” Featuring Stephen Wilson Jr.

Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Lukas Nelson has released a new video for his song “Disappearing Light” featuring Stephen Wilson Jr.

“Disappearing Light” is from Nelson’s acclaimed new album, American Romance, released earlier this summer via Sony Music Nashville (stream/purchase here). In support of the project, Nelson was recently featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Howard Stern Show, The Joe Rogan Experience and Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now Podcast.

In celebration of the new music, Nelson will continue his extensive American Romance Tour this fall, with stops at Cleveland’s Globe Iron, Washington D.C.’s Lincoln Theater, Denver’s Paramount, Los Angeles’ The Fonda Theatre, Philadelphia’s Brooklyn Bowl and Chicago’s The Vic, among others (full routing below).

Produced by Grammy Award-winner Shooter Jennings (Brandi Carlile, Tanya Tucker), American Romance cements Nelson as a singular artist, showcasing his songwriting dexterity and country-blended sound in a way that feels both familiar and new. Across the twelve tracks — including collaborations with Sierra Ferrell and Stephen Wilson Jr. — Nelson tells stories of his life on the road, reflecting on the joys, complexities, beauty and heartbreak he’s encountered along the way.

The record also features special contributions from Anderson East (“Disappearing Light,” producer), SistaStrings (“Montana,” cello and viola), Matt Chamberlain (drums), Corey McCormick (bass), Marty Muse (dobro), Russ Pahl (pedal steel), Chris Powell (drums), Brian Whelan (acoustic guitar) and Eleanor Whitmore (fiddle).

Since his debut over a decade ago, Nelson has become one of the most respected voices in music and released eight studio albums, including 2023’s Sticks and Stones, which spent 18 weeks in the top 10 of the Americana Albums chart and reached #1 on the Alt Country chart. A highly sought-after collaborator, Nelson has worked with artists such as Lainey Wilson, Ernest, Miranda Lambert, The Pistol Annies and more. Most recently, he performed at the MusiCares 2025 Person of the Year Gala, where he honored the Grateful Dead by performing “It Must Have Been the Roses” with Sierra Ferrell.

Nelson has also sold out countless headline shows, performed at renowned festivals such as Stagecoach, Ohana Festival, Bourbon & Beyond and Farm Aid, and made multiple late night appearances including Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Additionally, Nelson co-produced and co-wrote much of the music for the acclaimed 2018 film A Star is Born, in which he also appeared. The soundtrack won a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and a BAFTA Award for Best Original Music.

American Romance Track List

  1. Ain’t Done
  2. Pretty Much
  3. Make You Happy
  4. Outsmarted
  5. Disappearing Light (with Stephen Wilson Jr.)
  6. Born Runnin’ Outta Time
  7. All God Did
  8. Montana
  9. Friend in the End (feat. Sierra Ferrell)
  10. The Lie
  11. American Romance
  12. You Were It

Lukas Nelson Confirmed Tour Dates

October 10 — North Charleston, SC — Riverfront Revival Music Festival
October 12 — Wilmington, NC — Live Oak Bank Pavilion§
October 14 — Washington, D.C. — Lincoln Theater‡
October 15 — Philadelphia, PA — Brooklyn Bowl‡
October 21 — Cleveland, OH — Globe Iron‡
October 22 — Detroit, MI — Majestic Theatre‡
October 24 — Milwaukee, WI — The Rave‡
October 25 — Madison, WI — The Sylvee‡
October 26 — Chicago, IL — The Vic‡
October 28 — Saint Paul, MN — Palace Theater‡
October 29 — Omaha, NE — The Admiral‡
October 31 — Denver, CO — Paramount Theatre‡
November 3 — Seattle, WA — Moore Theatre||
November 4 — Eugene, OR — McDonald Theatre||
November 6 — Santa Rosa, CA — Luther Burbank Center for the Arts||
November 8 — Oroville, CA — Gold Country Casino and Hotel
November 9 — Napa, CA — Uptown Theatre Napa||
November 12 — Los Angeles, CA — The Fonda Theatre||

‡ with special guest The Band Loula
§ with special guests Stephen Wilson Jr. and The Band Loula
|| with special guest Brooke Lee

Circa Waves Find Life, Love, and Rebirth on Upcoming Double Album ‘Death & Love’

Eric Alper
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Circa Waves Find Life, Love, and Rebirth on Upcoming Double Album ‘Death & Love’

Circa Waves have unveiled the second chapter of their brand new album Death & Love – out October 24 via Lower Third / [PIAS] – with both parts making the whole 18-track album available to pre-order on CD and double gatefold vinyl.

The band return with the bubbling, laid-back Strokes slacker indie of lead singer “Cherry Bomb”, complete with freeform verses before a sweet chorus “all about that person who would do anything for you,” Jump into a fight for you, take you for a beer when you’re down, the person who keeps you level and someone who is generally a bit of a badass. We all need a cherry bomb in our life.”

Released in January 2025, Death & Love Pt.1 was all about starting from scratch and starting over after his lowest point with his brush with mortality. In early 2023, Kieran received a call from doctors to say that the main artery in his heart was severely blocked. Two days later, he was lying on an operating table watching a wire being inserted into his heart to fix it. What followed was the cancelling of a lot of shows, working out a lot of medication, and most crucially, now having to navigate a new way of life.

However, one record wasn’t enough to house all that would come flooding from such a profound experience. “I’d written so much stuff after all the heart incident stuff – there was a release of creativity,” Shuddall admits. “There were more songs than I’d ever written before, in one furious writing period.”

The two albums were produced by Shuddall and recorded between a friend’s studio in Finsbury Park and the iconic RAK studios in London, where Green Day and Muse happened to be working at the time (“I saw Billie Joe Armstrong in the toilet!” Kieran excitedly proclaims). The sister records come together to boast the sound of bouncing back from potential tragedy.

Now, after ‘part one’ tried to make sense of what he’d been through, “this album feels like the more optimistic part of the two records,” says Shuddall. “It almost feels like if the first record was before the operation and death and fear of dying, then one is coming through the other side. It’s about love, life, survival and euphoria”.

The album kicks off with “Lost In The Fire” – a banger that picks up where ‘part one’ left off and gets straight to the point: that life is for living. From the sweet ‘Stick Around’ to the kaleidoscopic pop of “Love Me For The Weekend’, the subtle dreamy subtleties of ‘Sunbeams’ and the Beatles-meets-Empire Of The Sun psych waltz of closer “Wave Goodbye”, Death & Love Pt.2 completes that arc of dancing away from the bad times and into the good. The purpose of Circa Waves after all is to be a tonic, an escape and a distraction, and the frontman is ready to move on.

Circa Waves was formed in Liverpool in May 2013. The band first gained a buzz and earned favorable comparisons to the Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, and the Vaccines before they hit the Top Ten with their debut, 2015’s Young Chasers. Buoyed by singles like “T-Shirt Weather” and “Stuck in My Teeth”, the album reached the Top Ten of the U.K. albums chart and paved the way for a series of well-attended live shows, including a sold-out date at London’s O2. In 2020, they reached number four on the U.K. albums chart with Sad Happy and returned in 2023 with Never Going Under.

Life is for living – and living well – and Circa Waves are here to soundtrack that. There’s no time for pretense; but enough long nights to get lost in, another dance to be danced, and parties to be had with the people that matter the most. There’s always more love to be made.

Dasha Turns Up the Heat With Fiery New ‘Anna’ EP and Empowering Single “Work on Me”

Eric Alper
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Dasha Turns Up the Heat With Fiery New ‘Anna’ EP and Empowering Single “Work on Me”

Today, multi-platinum country star Dasha rolls out her hotly anticipated Anna EP via Warner Records. Listen HERE. The eclectic 8-song set, raw and introspective at times, rowdy and rollicking at others, includes the stripped-back ballad “Train” and the fiery new single “Work on Me,” which captures Dasha’s trademark confidence and sass, as well as her willingness to experiment with bold pop hooks.

Bar songs have a special place in country music, and Dasha leans into that legacy with “Work on Me.” After setting the scene over a punchy guitar and harmonica, she goes in for the kill at her local watering hole when a rugged stranger with a drawl captures her attention. “Workin’ with your hands ’til they’re covered in grease, fixin’ up your Bronco in the Tennessee heat,” she purrs over John Ryan’s breezy production. “I’m a little broken, baby, could you work on me?”

Dasha continues with the car imagery in the feel-good video, which finds her running an auto shop with a team of bad-ass women mechanics. When a customer gives the glamorous boss an attitude, she promptly dismantles his truck — that is, when she’s not indulging in a little workshop choreography with the girls. It’s irreverent, sexy, and quintessentially Dasha. Watch it HERE. 

A nod to her birth name, the Anna EP is a deeply personal body of work that revisits formative memories while carving a bold path forward. On the wistful “Train,” Dasha ruminates on planting new roots: “You learn the turns and time the lights, the town you didn’t recognize / Becomes a little more like home.” The song, penned by songwriter Kyle Sturrock, resonated with Dasha as a reflection of her own journey, leaving home at 18 to find her footing in Nashville. 

Other tracks include the fiery ear candy of “Like It Like That” — whose official video stars Love Island’s Rob Rausch and entrepreneur/influencer Briley King — not to mention the deeply vulnerable “Oh, Anna!” and Dasha’s inescapable smash “Not at This Party,” a relatable toe-tapper that has generated over 133 million streams to date and spawned a remix by GRAMMY® Award-winning superstar David Guetta — and which Dasha brought to NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for a boot-stomping performance. Watch HERE.  

Dasha recently spoke about the making of Anna and the challenges of instant viral fame on Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, reflecting on the online criticism and name-calling that followed her runaway hit “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’).” “It digs in on things I have said about myself in my moments of weakness, and I think that’s why it cuts so deep,” she says. “I know that’s not true, but everyone talks about themselves like that sometimes.”Watch HERE. 

Other 2025 milestones include: the MTV VMAs, where she was nominated for Push Performance of the Year; picking up a Best New Female Artist nod at the 2025 ACM Awards; and conquering the Mane Stage at Stagecoach Festival. In a review of the latter, GLAMOUR raved, “Her childlike excitement was contagious, the ecstasy of a performer finding her audience, and the crowd roared.” She brought that excitement to a headline run throughout Canada and is currently supporting Kane Brown on his UK arena tour. Tickets and info HERE.

Dasha broke out with the 2023 release of her global smash single “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’)” from her debut country album, What Happens Now. With the help of a self-choreographed line dance, the song became a worldwide sensation, taking over TikTok, honky tonks, and radio waves worldwide while amassing more than 1.5 billion streams, and is certified 8x Platinum in Canada.  

And that was only the beginning. Dasha landed coveted spots at country music meccas across 2024, including Stagecoach, Austin City Limits, CMA Fest, and the CMT Awards. She then sold out her first headlining world tour, Dashville USA, and performed on two of TV’s biggest broadcasts: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. “Austin (Boots Stopped Workin’)” went on to become one of the most-streamed country songs of the year and won the Female Song of 2024 at the People’s Choice Country Awards.

From viral line dances to sold-out shows, Dasha has already made her mark on the country-pop landscape. With Anna and “Work on Me,” she begins the next chapter — one built on fearless honesty, unstoppable energy, and music that makes you want to scoot your boot.

Dasha Live Dates

Oct 10 – London, England, United Kingdom @ Wembley Arena Pavilion *

Oct 17 – London, ON, Canada @ London Music Hall

Oct 18 – ON, Canada @ Elements, Kitchener

Oct 19 – Ottawa, ON, Canada @ The Bronson Centre

Oct 25 – Atlanta, GA @ Helluva Block Party 

Nov 8 – Tuscaloosa, AL @ Champions Lane Concert Series 

*with Kane Brown

Dance Gavin Dance Break Down Barriers With Explosive New Single “Trap Door”

Eric Alper
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Dance Gavin Dance Break Down Barriers With Explosive New Single “Trap Door”

Dance Gavin Dance is excited to share their new single and music video “Trap Door”, out now. The third track to be released from their forthcoming album Pantheon, “Trap Door” is a collision of anxious energy and unhurried melodies.

On “Trap Door”, vocalist/guitarist Andrew Wells shares: “‘Trap Door’ is an unrelenting banger about sticking to your principles, persevering through hate, and achieving triumph over your enemies. Very much like climbing to the summit of the mountain when everyone told you that it couldn’t be done.”

Pantheon, the band’s 11th studio album, is out now via Rise Records. Their first full length release since 2022’s Jackpot Juicer – which debuted at #8 in the Billboard Top 200 – Pantheon sees the band building on their signature genre defying sound with soul shredding breakdowns, pop infused melodies, frenzied screams, and guest vocals from the legendary master of Pfunk, George Clinton on the song “Space Cow Initiation Ritual”.

Dance Gavin Dance recently wrapped up the headlining Return Of The Robot Tour with special guests The Home Team, Belmont, and Dwellings. The North American run included sold out performances in Philadelphia, New York, Worcester, Toronto, Charlotte, and more.

31 Music Producers Who Shaped the Sound

Eric Alper
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31 Music Producers Who Shaped the Sound

They’re the invisible legends behind every beat drop, guitar crunch, and heart-stopping hook. From the analog warmth of the ‘60s to the digital fire of today, these 31 producers didn’t made records AND history. Here’s to the sound-shapers who turned the studio into an instrument.

Berry Gordy
Founder of Motown, he built the assembly line that gave us Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye. Gordy didn’t just produce songs — he produced stars.

Brian Eno
The ambient alchemist. Eno made atmosphere an art form, from David Bowie’s Low to U2’s The Joshua Tree. Every synth whisper owes him a nod.

Brian Wilson
The genius of The Beach Boys, Wilson turned surf pop into symphonic brilliance with Pet Sounds — influencing everyone from Paul McCartney to modern indie dreamers.

Catherine Marks
A powerhouse of modern rock, Marks shaped the raw emotion of Wolf Alice, The Killers, and Foals with her fearless, cinematic production.

Dr. Dre
He built the West Coast from the ground up. The Chronic, 2001, and beats that became anthems — Dre’s basslines still shake the world.

Ester Dean
The pop hit machine. Behind Rihanna’s “Rude Boy” and Katy Perry’s “Firework,” Dean proved that power and playfulness can coexist on the charts.

George Martin
The “Fifth Beatle.” His orchestral genius turned Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band into the template for every great concept album that followed.

J Dilla
Detroit’s underground heartbeat. His off-kilter grooves on Donuts changed hip-hop production forever — soulful, human, and ahead of its time.

Jeff Lynne
The ELO frontman turned producer who gave George Harrison, Tom Petty, and even The Beatles their shimmering, layered sound of nostalgia.

Lee “Scratch” Perry
The mad scientist of reggae and dub. From his Black Ark studio, Perry created sounds so strange and spiritual they changed how music could feel.

Linda Perry
From “Beautiful” (Christina Aguilera) to “Get the Party Started” (P!nk), Perry turned raw emotion into global pop anthems — no auto-tune required.

Martin Hannett
Joy Division’s echoing despair was his masterpiece. Hannett’s haunting production on Unknown Pleasures defined post-punk’s icy atmosphere.

Max Martin
The pop professor. With hits from Britney Spears to The Weeknd, Martin has written the modern songbook — and made it all sound effortless.

Missy Elliott
A boundary-breaking producer, rapper, and visionary. Her work with Timbaland flipped hip-hop upside down with beats that still sound futuristic.

Nigel Godrich
The “sixth member” of Radiohead. From OK Computer to In Rainbows, Godrich built worlds where guitars, synths, and silence coexist.

Nile Rodgers
The groove king. From Chic’s “Le Freak” to Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” Rodgers’ guitar makes everything sound instantly cooler.

Paul Epworth
He gave Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” its cinematic punch and turned Florence + The Machine into festival fire. Epworth balances soul with sparkle.

Phil Spector
Creator of the “Wall of Sound.” His studio wizardry made The Ronettes and The Righteous Brothers sound larger than life — and they still echo today.

Prince
A one-man studio revolution. Writing, producing, and playing nearly everything, Prince made Minneapolis the funkiest city on Earth.

Quincy Jones
From Thriller to Sinatra to Ray Charles, Quincy is the maestro of modern music. Every genre he touched became gold — and often, platinum.

Rick Rubin
The barefoot Buddha of the board. Whether it’s Beastie Boys, Metallica, or Johnny Cash, Rubin finds the truth in every genre.

Robert John “Mutt” Lange
Precision meets power. Behind AC/DC’s Back in Black, Def Leppard’s Hysteria, and Shania Twain’s Come On Over, Lange turned radio into stadiums.

Sam Phillips
The man who found Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Without Sun Records, rock ’n’ roll might never have been born.

Sonia Pottinger
Jamaica’s first female record producer, Pottinger helped define rocksteady and reggae with artists like Culture and Marcia Griffiths.

Steve Albini
A champion of raw authenticity. From Nirvana’s In Utero to Pixies’ Surfer Rosa, Albini made sure the mic caught truth, not gloss.

Sylvia Massy
Known for her wild studio techniques — like recording through vegetables — she produced Tool and System of a Down with fearless creativity.

Sylvia Robinson
The “Mother of Hip-Hop.” She produced “Rapper’s Delight” and “The Message,” bringing rap from the Bronx to the Billboard charts.

Timbaland
Beat futurist. Aaliyah, Missy, and Justin Timberlake owe their sleek soundscapes to his rhythmic genius. Every snare hits like a spaceship.

Tom Dowd
The engineer-turned-innovator behind Aretha Franklin, Cream, and Derek and the Dominos. Dowd’s multitrack experiments became the studio standard.

Trevor Horn
The sonic sculptor of the ’80s. From The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” to Seal’s lush ballads, Horn made production itself an art.

WondaGurl
Toronto’s own powerhouse. Producing for Travis Scott and Drake before 20, she’s redefining what a modern hitmaker looks and sounds like.

Behind every great song is someone who made the impossible sound effortless. From Berry Gordy’s Motown magic to WondaGurl’s digital fire, these 31 producers remind us that music history doesn’t just happen on stage — it happens in the studio.

25 Facts About John Lodge: The Heartbeat of The Moody Blues

Eric Alper
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25 Facts About John Lodge: The Heartbeat of The Moody Blues

John Lodge, the legendary bassist, vocalist, and songwriter of The Moody Blues, passed away suddenly in October 2025 at the age of 82. His music shaped generations, his basslines anchored timeless classics, and his voice helped define one of the most beloved bands in rock history. As fans mourn his loss, we celebrate the man behind the melodies with 25 remarkable facts about his life and legacy.

  1. John Charles Lodge was born on July 20, 1943, in Birches Green near Erdington, Birmingham, England.
  2. He attended Birches Green Infant and Junior School, then Central Grammar School.
  3. Before pursuing music full-time, he studied engineering at the Birmingham College of Advanced Technology.
  4. His early musical inspirations included Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis.
  5. At just 14, Lodge met Ray Thomas — a friendship that would lead to The Moody Blues.
  6. He joined The Moody Blues in 1966, replacing bassist Clint Warwick.
  7. His arrival coincided with that of guitarist Justin Hayward, marking the band’s most iconic lineup.
  8. Lodge’s songwriting shaped the band’s sound with hits like “Ride My See-Saw,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” and “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band).”
  9. Both “Isn’t Life Strange” and “I’m Just a Singer” earned him ASCAP songwriting awards.
  10. He co-wrote “Out and In” with Mike Pinder for To Our Children’s Children’s Children (1969).
  11. His falsetto harmonies became a defining feature of the band’s lush vocal arrangements.
  12. In 1975, he teamed up with Justin Hayward for Blue Jays, a collaboration outside of The Moody Blues.
  13. He released his debut solo album, Natural Avenue, in 1977 on Decca Records.
  14. The single “Say You Love Me” from that album showcased his romantic lyrical side.
  15. Lodge also produced music for the band Trapeze during the 1970s.
  16. In 1980, he released a solo single “Street Café,” featuring Moody Blues keyboardist Patrick Moraz.
  17. He reunited with Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder on his 2015 solo album 10,000 Light Years Ago.
  18. Lodge was a beloved performer on progressive rock cruises like “Cruise to the Edge” and “Rock and Romance.”
  19. His daughter Emily married Jon Davison, the lead vocalist of the band Yes — who often toured with Lodge as a guest singer.
  20. During the pandemic, Lodge wrote and recorded “In These Crazy Times” at home with his family’s help.
  21. He was married to Kirsten Lodge from 1968 until his passing, and they had two children, Emily and Kristian.
  22. A devoted Evangelical Christian, he credited his faith with grounding him amid the rock world’s chaos.
  23. In 2018, Lodge was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Moody Blues.
  24. The following year, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Prog Awards in London.
  25. Bass Player magazine ranked him among the top ten bassists of all time — a fitting tribute to his lifelong craft.

John Lodge’s music reached beyond the stage and studio — it lived in the hearts of those who found peace, beauty, and reflection in The Moody Blues’ songs. As he once wrote in “Candle of Life”: “So love everybody and make them your friends.” His light, indeed, will keep burning on.

WERIO Faces Adulthood With Soul and Honesty on New EP ‘27’

Eric Alper
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WERIO Faces Adulthood With Soul and Honesty on New EP ‘27’

“Now at 28, I just want to be a functional adult who finishes songs. I don’t want to transcend or become a legend like those in the 27 Club.” With that statement, WERIO introduces 27, his second EP: a work that explores vulnerability, contradiction, and the need to reconcile what has been lived with what has been dreamed.

Half in Spanish and half in English, 27 consists of four songs that blend neo soul and pop rock with a progressive twist. Vibrant guitars, organic drums, bass, and an intimate, magnetic voice. Labyrinthine lyrics and cinematic references intertwine with grooves that embrace both teenage nostalgia and the unease of adulthood.

The journey begins with “Wanderlust”, the lead single (September 2025): a celebration of healthy, fearless love, with a neo soul-pop rhythm that breathes sensuality and freshness. It will be followed by tracks such as “Charcos” and “Bomba de Humo”, delving into contradiction, the vertigo of growing up, and the need to reconcile with the everyday, all wrapped in a raw sound.

WERIO defines his style as “neo-soul on tap with a twist”, and in 27 he proves it with rawness and songs that sound like daily life shared. All packaged with visuals that evoke what shaped the childhood and teenage years of many Gen Z listeners.

Recorded with his band in Barcelona, the EP will be presented live on November 6, 2025, at La Sala Sauvage, where the songs will expand into a full-bodied experience without losing their intimate essence.

Dates:

September 12, 2025 → Release of first single “Wanderlust” + music video.

October 3, 2025 → Full EP 27 release.

November 6, 2025 → Release show at Sala Sauvage, Barcelona.

WERIO is the solo project of Mario Llanes, a Barcelona-based songwriter and producer. He has collaborated and produced for artists such as Eva Santillana and Citrus Dude, and has performed his project in venues such as La Nau, Marula, La Báscula, Poblenou Urban District, and Fak Club.

After connecting with thousands of listeners both online and on stage in Barcelona, he now presents 27, an EP that combines pop rock and neo-soul with lyrics filled with irony, nostalgia, and emotion. His songs—self-produced in his bedroom and brought to completion in the studio with his band—reflect the vertigo of becoming an adult, while carrying the freshness of someone who still embraces curiosity and the vulnerability of a child.

Spotify Rolls Out Five New Features To Make Listening More Personal And Powerful

Eric Alper
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Spotify Rolls Out Five New Features To Make Listening More Personal And Powerful

Spotify is always evolving to give listeners more control, more personalization, and more ways to connect. Whether you’re a playlist curator, a casual listener, or a music superfan, these five features are worth trying out today.

1. Get Spotify recommendations in ChatGPT

You can now bring Spotify into your ChatGPT conversations. Just mention Spotify in a prompt—like asking for songs to match your mood or planning a playlist for a road trip—and you’ll receive personalized recommendations instantly.

How to try it:

    • Mention Spotify in ChatGPT and connect your account when prompted.
    • Ask for songs, albums, artists, playlists, or podcasts.
    • Tap a track to open Spotify and start listening.

Available in English in select markets to Free and Premium Spotify users.

2. Exclude tracks from your Taste Profile

Not every listen needs to impact your recommendations. Now, you can remove specific tracks—like sleep sounds, kids’ songs, or one-off listens—from your Taste Profile.

How to do it:

    • Tap the three-dot menu on any track.
    • Select “Exclude from your Taste Profile.”
    • You can add it back anytime.

This helps keep Discover Weekly, Wrapped, and other personalized features focused on what you actually want to hear.

3. Stream in Lossless audio

Lossless has now rolled out for Spotify Premium users in all eligible markets, delivering higher-quality audio at up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC. It’s ideal for listeners who want the clearest sound possible.

How to enable it:

    • Go to Settings → Media Quality.
    • Select where you want to enable “Lossless”—Wi-Fi, mobile, or downloads.
    • Look for the “Lossless” indicator in the Now Playing view.

Lossless works best with wired headphones or on devices that support Spotify Connect. 

4. Share directly with friends using messages

Spotify’s new in-app Messages feature makes it easy to share and discuss your favorite music, podcasts, and audiobooks with friends.

How it works:

    • Tap the share icon when listening to a song, podcast, or audiobook.
    • Select a friend and send a message.
    • Once you accept a message request, you can chat, react, and share content back and forth, all inside the Spotify app.

Rolling out in select markets. Users must be aged 16 or older to access the feature.

5. Add seamless transitions to playlists 

Spotify Premium users can customize the way their playlists sound with transitions between tracks. With the new Mix tool, you can fade songs into one another, adjust EQ and volume, and create a smoother listening experience.

To start mixing:

    • Open any playlist you’ve created and tap “Mix” in the toolbar.
    • Use Auto for instant results or customize manually.
    • Save and share your mixed playlist.

This feature is in beta and available to eligible Spotify Premium users globally.

These updates are designed to make your Spotify experience more intuitive, more immersive, and more you. Keep your app updated to access the latest features and make sure you’re getting the most out of your music.

The rise of subscription models in digital entertainment

Eric Alper
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By Mitch Rice

Subscription models have become the foundation of digital entertainment, offering predictable revenue for providers and convenience for customers. The shift from ownership to access is reshaping how audiences engage with content across music, video, and gaming platforms, fundamentally altering consumer expectations and business strategies.

  1. Why subscription models are dominating digital entertainment

The move to subscription-based services is driven by convenience, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to access vast content libraries on demand. Netflix and Spotify pioneered this shift, offering unlimited access for a monthly fee that provides businesses with stable, recurring revenue whilst giving consumers flexibility and choice. According to Juniper Research, subscription economy revenue reached approximately $593 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow to $996 billion by 2028, representing a 68% increase. This model eliminates large upfront investments, lowering barriers to entry for consumers who can access premium content for less than traditional ownership costs. The predictability of subscription revenue allows providers to invest confidently in original content creation and platform improvements, creating a virtuous cycle of quality enhancement.

  1. How they shape consumer behaviour

Streaming platforms have changed how audiences consume media, with users now expecting personalised recommendations, flexible access, and a steady stream of original content. This has led to increased binge-watching habits, reduced tolerance for advertisements, and a strong preference for curated experiences tailored to individual tastes. Ofcom’s Media Nations report indicates that approximately 20.1 million UK households subscribed to video-on-demand services in Q3 2024, with 68.8% of UK households having access to streaming subscriptions. Algorithm-driven content discovery replaces traditional channel surfing, whilst simultaneous multi-device access allows for consumption anywhere and anytime. The “always-on” nature of streaming services has normalised immediate gratification in entertainment consumption, with viewers expecting new episodes and films to appear regularly without traditional broadcast scheduling constraints.

  1. Subscription versus ad-supported models

Whilst subscription models tend to offer ad-free viewing and predictable income streams, ad-supported platforms provide free access and broader reach to diverse audiences. Many services adopt hybrid approaches to cater to both premium subscribers looking for uninterrupted experiences and cost-sensitive audiences willing to tolerate advertisements in exchange for reduced or zero subscription fees. This dual-tier strategy maximises market penetration whilst allowing providers to monetise different user segments effectively. Premium tiers often include additional benefits such as higher video quality, simultaneous streams, and early access to content, creating clear value propositions that justify higher pricing. Ad-supported tiers, meanwhile, leverage advertising technology to deliver targeted campaigns that generate revenue whilst maintaining user accessibility.

  1. Future trends

The next wave of innovation includes AI-driven personalisation, virtual reality integration, and flexible subscription plans that adapt to changing consumer circumstances. Retention strategies will likely emphasise loyalty incentives, pause features allowing temporary subscription holds, and bundled offerings combining multiple services at discounted rates. Niche platforms are also gaining popularity across specialised entertainment categories. For example, services like casino slots at Mr Q show how subscription models are expanding into targeted entertainment segments, catering to specific user interests besides traditional streaming. These developments reflect broader industry recognition that one-size-fits-all approaches no longer suffice in fragmented entertainment markets where personalisation and flexibility determine competitive advantage.

Subscription models have irrevocably transformed digital entertainment, establishing recurring revenue frameworks whilst fundamentally reshaping consumption patterns and consumer expectations.

Spotify Lets Fans Build Their Dream ‘My Top 5: Ariana Grande Songs’ Playlists

Eric Alper
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Spotify Lets Fans Build Their Dream ‘My Top 5: Ariana Grande Songs’ Playlists

Ariana Grande fans, the moment has arrived. Whether you’ve loved Ariana since her Yours Truly days or have been streaming eternal sunshine on repeat, you now have the chance to officially crown your favorite tracks. Starting today, Spotify is launching My Top 5: Ariana Grande Songs, a new in-app experience that lets eligible fans curate and share their ultimate quintets of Ari’s hits.

This is the latest My Top 5 experience, which has previously celebrated the iconic discographies of artists like Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and BTS. They’re always looking for fun, unexpected ways for you to connect with the music you love, and their latest release lets you celebrate your fandom and see how your taste stacks up.

How to pick your five faves

Ready to build your list? Here’s how it works:

    1. Make sure your Spotify app is up-to-date.
    2. Search “My Top 5” or visit Spotify.com/Top5. 
    3. Scroll through Ariana’s entire discography to select your songs.

Once you’ve locked in your picks, the real fun begins. You’ll receive two personalized share cards. The first showcases your hand-picked top five (“by choice”), perfect for sparking debates with your friends. The second reveals your actual top five (“by listens”), based on which of her songs you’ve streamed the most on Spotify. Prepare to be surprised—your listening history might just tell a different story.

And for the most dedicated fans, they’ve added a special treat. If you’re in the top 1% of Wicked: The Soundtrack listeners, you’ll receive an exclusive “Glinda bubble” badge on your share card.

Where to play

The My Top 5: Ariana Grande Songs experience is now available for users in Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Egypt, KSA, Morocco, UAE, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, UK, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Turkey and will run until November 6, 2025.

How the world is listening to Ari

As the female artist with the most entries in their Billions Club (a staggering 21 tracks and counting), Ariana Grande is a global phenom. To celebrate, they took a look at how fans around the world are streaming her music, with a focus on songs featured on her studio albums and included in the My Top 5 fan experience.

All-time most streamed:

    1. “7 rings”
    2. “thank u, next”
    3. “One Last Time”
    4. “Into You”
    5. “Side to Side”

Top deep cuts (non-singles):

    1. “motive (with Doja Cat)”
    2. “intro (end of the world)”
    3. “bloodline”
    4. “needy”
    5. “Everytime”

Most-shared songs (last three years):

    1. “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
    2. “yes, and?”
    3. “the boy is mine”
    4. “intro (end of the world)”
    5. “7 rings”

Want even more Ari? Stream the This Is Ariana Grande playlist on Spotify for all her biggest hits.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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