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TAYLOR SWIFT’s First Six Albums Now Available in Immersive Spatial Audio on Apple Music

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To celebrate the release of Taylor Swift’s new six-episode docuseries, The End of an Era, and her concert film, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show, Apple Music has delivered an unprecedented listening experience: for the first time, all six of the global pop star’s seminal albums—Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and Reputation—are now available in immersive Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. This monumental addition completes Swift’s entire standard catalog on Apple Music in the revolutionary format, which allows sound to move all around the listener, offering a deeper and more connection to the music.

This news arrives on the heels of the monumental triumph announced in May: Swift successfully acquired her entire original Big Machine master recordings from private equity firm Shamrock Capital. This long-awaited victory marked the culmination of a years-long, highly public battle for artistic ownership that saw Swift meticulously re-recording four of the six albums in dispute, and delivering a resounding message about artist empowerment in the digital age. Having already been crowned a billionaire by Bloomberg due to the massive success of her Eras Tour and album re-records, and named the first and only female artist in history to surpass 100 million RIAA-certified album units, the availability of these original records in Spatial Audio is the perfect way to cap off an era of unprecedented success and artistic autonomy.

MARIAH CAREY’s Legendary Demo Tape Sells for Record-Shattering $54,050

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Well, if you needed a reminder of just how important a single piece of music history can be, look no further than the recent sale confirmed by Wax Poetics: an exceptionally rare early Mariah Carey demo tape fetched a staggering $54,050. That’s a record for the highest-selling cassette by a female artist, proving that sometimes the format doesn’t matter when the content is this foundational. Sourced from producer Arthur Baker’s archive and offered in partnership with Brenda K. Starr, this tape is the legendary one—given to Baker on the same night in 1989 when Starr introduced Carey and the demo to Tommy Mottola at a Christmas party, setting off one of the most consequential breakthroughs in pop music history. Revered as a holy grail by collectors, this recording is one of the only known originals to survive and captures a generational voice taking shape in her raw, unfiltered, pre-label creative form.

The cassette contains seven formative recordings from 1988, including early versions of five songs that would form the nucleus of Carey’s blockbuster 1990 self-titled debut album, which produced four No. 1 singles, plus two unreleased tracks long mythologized by fans. Produced and arranged with Ben Margulies and Chris Toland, the recordings reveal Carey’s wide-ranging musical instincts—from Minneapolis-inspired funk and quiet storm elegance to new-wave-infused synth-pop textures—that Columbia would later distill for global consumption. This stunning sale underscores the tape’s status as a defining piece of pop and R&B history, celebrating not just the material but the self-made beginnings and creative foundations that launched a superstar.

DEVON ALLMAN’S NIGHTVISION Drops “Awaken,” A Sci-Fi Instrumental from Upcoming Debut

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nightvision, a new ambient art-rock project led by Devon Allman, is thrilled to release “Awaken,” the second single from their forthcoming self-titled debut album, set for release on January 2nd. Allman shared that “Awaken” was the first instrumental track they created, explaining, “It really set the tone for the sci-fi vibe of the whole set. For me it’s part Pink Floyd meets The Cure riding through Arabia watching VHS copies of the original Dune. An amalgam of my Texan youth.” This project, designed to be a full sensory experience, blends mystic rhythms, searing guitars, and song titles that nod to ’80s sci-fi cinema and esoteric Middle Eastern imagery, creating a soundscape that is both otherworldly and immersive.

Recorded at Allman’s home-turned-studio during the COVID pandemic, the album also marks the recording debut of his son, Orion Allman, on synthesizer, alongside longtime collaborators John Lum (drums) and Justin Corgan (bass). Allman describes his creative process, which included recording drums in the foyer with microphones placed upstairs “ala John Bonham,” and chasing that classic Andy Summers sound. For Allman, pulling this project out of the vault after five years is a sense of accomplishment, fulfilling a long-time desire to write music for film. This lush, cinematic exploration is equally suited for meditations or herbal vacations, inviting listeners to drift, dream, and disappear into its glowing nocturnal world.

CHARLIE NIELAND Announces Dazzling and Profound New Album ‘Stories From The Borderlines’

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Renowned NYC songwriter and producer Charlie Nieland—known for his work with artists like Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Blondie, and Scissor Sisters—is set to release his deeply personal new album, Stories From The Borderlines, a dazzling and profound exploration of connection and severance. This set of songs is a kaleidoscope of styles, notes Nieland, who describes the meticulously crafted tracks as a geography of intention, passionately mining for light and truth in a darkening world. This new work, featuring drummer Billy Loose, rapper spiritchild, and Joe McGinty (The Psychedelic Furs), showcases a visceral blend of post-punk, glam, dream pop, and progressive rock, a sound one might describe as cinematic soundscapes and poignant songs that are a masterclass in emotional texture.

Nieland explains that the songs tell stories of growing up, of how we got severed, and how we connect, allowing him to burrow into each idea over several years filled with personal drama to create an experience that shifts with each listen. The album includes the new single Shame, which has been released with a firecracker video directed by Hypnodoll and explores the obsessive lust and repulsion weaponized against the queer community. This follows the epic lead track Win featuring spiritchild and The Ocean Understands EP, highlighting Nieland’s continued evolution as an artist who uses sweeping melodies and restless rhythms to deliver an immersive journey.

Nieland’s extensive backstory includes being awarded a Gold record (UK) for his production work on Blondie’s Greatest Hits Sight & Sound and achieving a Top 10 Billboard Dance Chart Position with Debbie Harry’s single Two Times Blue, which he co-wrote and produced. His commitment to creating culture is resistance, as he believes imagination is more real than what can be measured, making Stories From The Borderlines not just an album but an act of imaginative resistance that marks the start of a bold new chapter.

LAPTOP Delivers Deadpan Jazz-Robotic Cover of Tom Waits’ “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis”

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NYC artist Laptop has delivered a winter transmission that sits oddly and perfectly within their catalog: a deadpan, jazz-robotic recreation of Tom Waits’ 1978 classic, “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis.” This version is equal parts heartbreak and smirk, performed as if a soul adrift at 2 AM in search of a working payphone, capturing the essence of a holiday season that has gone wrong while stubbornly clinging to the hope that things might just go right. For frontman Jesse Hartman, who revived the band with his son Charlie, this song is deeply personal, having played it since he was 13 and noting it was “the blueprint for Laptop” that showed him how to mix sadness and humor.

While both Laptop and Waits are obsessed with doomed characters, Hartman’s version departs from Waits’s gravel-and-whiskey delivery, leaning into Laptop’s signature swing between warmth and machinery: jazz chords, cold synths, more groove, and Hartman’s dry, controlled, emotionally sideways vocal. The basic tracks were recorded in Valencia with Iñaki Ariste Aznar and drummer Mike Desmerais, with Hartman finishing the song in New York this Thanksgiving. Family members, including Odetta Hartman (backing vocals) and Camellia Hartman (violin), fill the edges of the arrangement with warmth, contrasting the icy synth pad and the rhythmic bed that feels like a jazz band learning to operate inside a drum machine.

Though this is a standalone offering, outside the song cycle leading to their 2026 album On This Planet, it fits the themes Hartman has been exploring lately: aging, reinvention, and the personal fictions we tell ourselves to get through the night. The holiday backdrop adds a chill, making it a perfect Christmas song for people who can’t quite afford to believe in Christmas. The final confession, “I need the money to pay my lawyer,” lands with a mix of dry humor and real ache, concluding one of the great American monologues with unsentimental elegance.

GEORGE MICHAEL’S Landmark Debut Solo Album ‘Faith’ Set for Major Vinyl Reissue

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Few albums have defined an era and redefined a generation of pop music quite like Faith, George Michael’s groundbreaking 1987 debut solo album. Nearly four decades later, its influence continues to resonate across music, fashion, and culture, an enduring testament to the artistry, courage, and creative vision of one of the world’s most beloved and successful performers.

To celebrate its continued impact and influence, George Michael Entertainment and Sony Music have announced that on February 20th, multiple limited-edition Faith vinyl variants will be available on red and black marble vinyl, Picture Disc, 1 LP and 2 LP black vinyl, single CD, and Blu-ray Audio. Most variants offer “I Want Your Sex- Pts. 1, 2 & 3, The Monogamy Mix” as a bonus track. It’s been over a decade since the album was offered on vinyl.

Written, arranged, produced, and performed almost entirely by George Michael, Faith marked the emergence of a new type of pop icon, an artist capable of blending soul, R&B, and rock into a sleek, emotionally charged, and deeply personal sound. The album catapulted the then 24-year-old artist to global superstardom, outselling Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince, and earning him a Grammy Award for Album of the Year, three American Music Awards, and a record-breaking run of four U.S. No. 1 singles, including “Faith,” “Father Figure,” “One More Try,” and “Monkey.” All of which makes George the only British male solo artist ever to achieve four U.S. No. 1 singles from a single album on the Billboard Hot 100, a record that remains unmatched.

Faith has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, topping charts in over ten countries, and cementing George Michael as one of the best-selling British solo artists of all time. Emerging as a defining anthem of its era, its title track with its instantly recognizable guitar riff and iconic leather-jacket-clad video became a cultural touchstone of the late ’80s, inspiring countless artists and defining the MTV generation.

Beyond its commercial triumphs, Faith was a bold artistic statement. It showcased George Michael’s exceptional songwriting, vocal prowess, and meticulous production; a creative tour de force that challenged genre boundaries and redefined what a pop album could be. From the sensual introspection of “Father Figure” to the gospel-tinged power of “One More Try,” every track remains a masterclass in emotion and craftsmanship.

As the world continues to rediscover George Michael’s genius, Faith stands as a monument to his brilliance, a timeless reminder that true artistry transcends decades. Today, its spirit lives on in the voices of artists inspired by his honesty, style, and unwavering individuality.

Minimizing our environmental impact was the guiding principle for this release, from start to finish. We used sustainable materials and environmentally responsible methods at every stage.

The vinyl itself is pressed on Biovinyl, a PVC derived from renewable, bio-based sources—a clear alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastic. Packaging is manufactured using a combination of FSC-certified materials and printed with vegetable-based inks. Furthermore, the sturdy outer polybag is intended to stay with the album as a permanent protector, preventing unnecessary waste.

This album was manufactured at Optimal Media in Germany. For every album pressed, a contribution is made to their regional nature conservation project at Nature Park Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heide to support tree planting, forest maintenance and management. Optimal commits to resource conservation throughout its production process, minimizes production waste to achieve 100% waste recycling within the company, and sources 65 percent of electricity from renewable sources.

The CD is made with 90 percent recycled polycarbonate and packaged in FSC-certified materials from sustainably managed forests, and the artwork was printed using vegetable-based inks. Manufactured at Sonopress, who commit to ensuring their production processes are environmentally sound and aims to minimize energy consumption using combined heat and power in their production process to emit 52% less CO2 compared to traditional energy consumption in Germany.

‘FAITH’ TRACK LISTING (Bonus track available on most variants):

  1. Faith
  2. Father Figure
  3. I Want Your Sex (Parts 1 & 2)
  4. One More Try
  5. Hard Day
  6. Hand to Mouth
  7. Look at Your Hands
  8. Monkey
  9. Kissing a Fool
  10. A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Part 3)
  11. I Want Your Sex – Pts. 1, 2 & 3, The Monogamy Mix (Bonus Track)

REBEKAH SNYDER Drops Alt-Country Christmas Single “Up on the Housetop”

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Alt-country and Americana artist Rebekah Snyder is welcoming the holiday season with a charming new single, a modern country take on the classic Benjamin R. Hanby Christmas tune “Up on the Housetop.” The track, which arrives tomorrow, Friday, December 12th, carries a deep story rooted in family: Snyder realized she had a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to record a Christmas song with her three young children while they were with her in Nashville working on her upcoming album with producer Dean Miller. Inspired by her son’s performance of the song at his second-grade pageant, the recording became a multigenerational celebration, featuring her children on vocals, including the iconic “clicks” and a chorus of “ho ho ho.”

This heartfelt rendition follows Snyder’s recent success with Adam Cunningham on their charting duet “Don’t Ever Date A Yankee.” For this holiday single, Snyder steps into the Christmas spotlight with a nod to classic country traditions, recording the track with fiddle and banjo in the spirit of Dolly Parton’s cover of Jimmie Rodgers’ “Blue Yodel No. 8,” complete with a playful “blue” yodel to bring new life to the standard. For Snyder and her resilient family, the track became a celebration of togetherness and the simple, enduring joy of the holiday season.

HAND ON HEART Deliver Romantic Christmas Single “Frosted Memories (Under the Christmas Tree)”

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Italian hard rock/AOR quartet Hand On Heart is celebrating the holiday season with their brand-new single, “Frosted Memories (Under the Christmas Tree),” a romantic and atmospheric Christmas ballad that marks the first chapter of their upcoming second album, due in 2026. Following the strong response to their debut album, Space, the band returns with a song that blends melodic sensitivity with the warm, emotional sound typical of late ’80s and early ’90s rock ballads. Listeners will instantly recognize influences from stadium-rock heavyweights like Bon Jovi, Journey, Bryan Adams, and Bad English, all reimagined through the band’s distinctive modern identity.

The single, which explores emotions, memories, and the intimate atmosphere of the holiday season, was produced and arranged entirely by the band, with recording split between Tuscany, Italy, and England, where the final mix and guitar parts were completed, giving the track a polished, international feel. With its romantic melodies, cinematic arrangements, and rock-driven intensity, “Frosted Memories (Under the Christmas Tree)” provides a fresh, seasonal twist that fits perfectly within Hand On Heart’s style. Fans can look forward to the official music video, which is currently in production and expected to be released around Christmas 2025.

SABRINA STERLING Releases New Single “Jukebox,” Inspired by Raw Honesty and Grief

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Rising alt-pop storyteller Sabrina Sterling has released her brand-new single, “Jukebox,” a track built on warm, nostalgic production and her signature crystal-clear vocals, which explores the deep ache of longing for a version of someone that never truly existed. Sterling, who is known for her intimate, soul-baring releases, pushes even further into raw honesty here, explaining that she wrote the song after having to cut her father out of her life, saying, “sometimes I would miss – not who he was – but who he was supposed to be.” At just 20, the diaristic storyteller has already built a loyal following by writing emotionally resonant songs well beyond her years, having quickly gone viral after posting her first song to TikTok and later earning millions of views and co-signs from artists like Finneas and Olivia Rodrigo, solidifying her as a talent to watch.

HONEY BXBY Drops Fiery New Single “Shame,” Ushering in Next R&B Era

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Honey Bxby, armed with natural curls, red-hot attitude, and vocals built for revenge, has ushered in her next era with the fiery new single “Shame,” out now via Rebirth Ent. / ART@WAR / Warner Records. The track is a sleek evolution in her sound, style, and storytelling, serving as a soulful, stinging takedown of a disloyal lover that flips heartbreak into a power move. With smooth vocals over a hypnotic beat and an unmistakable nod to the Wu-Tang Clan, Honey is not pleading; she’s issuing a final check: “Shame on a n- for thinking he can play me…” The accompanying visual cleverly uses chaos erupting behind her while she sits unbothered, a perfect metaphor for walking away with dignity.

“Shame” arrives hot on the heels of the vocalist’s rising original holiday smash, “All I Want,” a sultry, tongue-in-cheek Christmas record that is positioning her as one of the few new R&B artists expanding into seasonal classics early in their career. Following her breakout year and the success of her most recent EP, Raw Honey—which cemented her as one of R&B’s most magnetic newcomers with collaborations from Lil Kim and Coi Leray—Honey Bxby continues to prove she is a fearless vocalist with a sharp pen and a clear point of view. With “Shame,” the table is now set for her most elevated, intimate, and fiery chapter yet.