Music news

• Taylor Swift Celebrates Dolly Parton’s ‘Dazzling’ Legacy

  26-08-2026 05:19 via rollingstone.com
  
  "She possessed the softest heart when it came to the struggles of others, and a backbone of steel to defend her own self worth as an artist," Swift wrote in her tribute
  
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• Queen’s Last Filmed Concert With Freddie Mercury Is Headed to IMAX

  26-08-2026 19:40 via rollingstone.com
  
  See a trailer for Queen Budapest, filmed in 1986, which will open in cinemas this fall
  
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• Miley Cyrus Honors ‘Aunt’ Dolly Parton: ‘I Have an Angel by My Side’

  26-08-2026 19:30 via rollingstone.com
  
  "One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis," Cyrus wrote of her godmother and mentor
  
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• SoundCloud Adds On-Platform Support for Paid Downloads, Says Artists Will ‘Keep 100% of Each Sale’

  26-08-2026 18:48 via digitalmusicnews.com
  
  Photo Credit: SoundCloud
  SoundCloud has rolled out a limited beta for on-platform paid downloads, with eligible artists expected to “keep 100% of each sale.”
  The increasingly superfan-geared platform kicked off the beta today, pointing to an initial launch involving “approximately 200 U.S.-based Artist Pro creators with Fan Support enabled.” From here, SoundCloud intends to “gradually” expand access en route to making downloads “available to all eligible
  
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• Meta agrees to major $17billion settlement and changes to Facebook and Instagram after trial over teen addiction

  26-08-2026 18:10 via nme.com
  
  Meta has agreed to a $17.1billion (£12.6billion) settlement and new restrictions for teenage Facebook and Instagram users after a landmark US trial.
  California and 28 other states had brought the case against Meta, the technology company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, alleging that they had deliberately incorporated addictive features into its platforms.
  The suit also claimed that Meta had misled users about their safety and unlawful
  
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• Jay-Z Reintroduces Himself Once More in New ‘Jay-Z in 8’ Trailer

  26-08-2026 18:01 via rollingstone.com
  
  The docuseries, which was directed by and co-stars Rick Rubin, will premiere in September
  
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• Jay-Z Reintroduces Himself Once More in New ‘JAŸ-Z in 8’ Trailer

  26-08-2026 18:01 via rollingstone.com
  
  The docuseries, which was directed by and co-stars Rick Rubin, will premiere in September
  
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• Watch Charli XCX review her past Reading & Leeds performances: “It’s cringing me out”

  26-08-2026 17:58 via nme.com
  
  Charli XCX has watched back some of her previous performances at Reading & Leeds, and teased what fans can expect from her 2026 headline set.READ MORE: Reading & Leeds boss talks biggest-ever arena overhaul and “strength of UK and Irish music” on line-up: “We’re buzzing with ideas for the future”The singer is set to make her headline debut appearance at Reading & Leeds later this week, performing at the dual festival for the first time since 2022. The pe
  
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• Mastodon’s New Album, ‘Marrow Deep,’ May Be Their ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’

  26-08-2026 17:06 via rollingstone.com
  
  Recorded a week after the death of former bandmate Brent Hinds, the Atlanta metal crew mines their grief for one of their most emotional albums
  
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• We Can All Agree on Dolly Parton. She Wanted Something More From Us

  26-08-2026 17:05 via rollingstone.com
  
  Dolly knew that if we could universally love her, we could also love and understand one another
  
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• Paul McCartney and John Lennon Crack Each Other Up in Rare ‘Day Tripper’ Demo

  26-08-2026 16:55 via rollingstone.com
  
  The "Songwriting Work Tape" version of the classic single was recorded at Lennon's house and will be included on the upcoming special edition of Rubber Soul
  
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• Hope Of The States’ Sam Herlihy launches captivating new solo single ‘Insignificance’ via text-based adventure game

  26-08-2026 16:49 via nme.com
  
  Hope Of The States‘ Samuel J Herlihy has dropped a new solo single ‘Insignificance’ via a text-based adventure game – find out more below.READ MORE: Hope Of The States on their return: “It’s loud, it’s messy, it has all that heart in it”The new music comes following the singer announcing last year that he would be embarking on a solo career, and dropping his first single, ‘The Entire Span of Human Existence’.
  He went on to play a debut
  
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• Bruce Springsteen to headline Stand Up For Heroes benefit show in New York in November

  26-08-2026 16:42 via nme.com
  
  Bruce Springsteen will headline a Stand Up For Heroes veterans benefit show in New York in November.READ MORE: Bruce Springsteen live in London: the heartland hero remains firmly at his majestic peakThe fundraiser is set to take place at David Geffen Hall at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan on November 9, and it will mark the 20th anniversary of Stand Up For Heroes, which is held in connection with the New York Comedy Festival.
  Also on the bill will be &lsq
  
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• Anderson .Paak and Cordae announce collaborative album ‘Heavy Is The Crown’

  26-08-2026 15:33 via nme.com
  
  Anderson .Paak and Cordae have announced their first collaborative album, ‘Heavy Is The Crown’. Find all the details below.READ MORE: Anderson .Paak: “I have a gift of bringing the best out of other people”The record will be released on October 23 through APESHIT, Mass Appeal and EMPIRE. A tracklist or lead single has not yet been shared, but the album is available to pre-save and pre-order here.
  The two artists first worked to
  
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• Watch ZZ Top return to stage for first gig since drummer Frank Beard’s death

  26-08-2026 15:11 via nme.com
  
  ZZ Top have returned to the stage following the death of their longtime drummer Frank Beard. See the footage below.
  Beard died last Monday (August 17), aged 77, while receiving hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas. A cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
  The band’s founder, Billy Gibbons, paid tribute to the late musician, who joined the group’s line-up in 1969. He described him as “one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas&rdq
  
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• Stella Lefty explains Noah Kahan songwriting credit on ‘Boston’ and ‘Stick Season’ interpolation

  26-08-2026 14:47 via nme.com
  
  Stella Lefty has explained how Noah Kahan came to receive a songwriting credit on her hit ‘Boston’ and how the songs’ similarities came about.READ MORE: Noah Kahan in London: rising folk-pop superstar graduates to arenasThe track was released in March and has now climbed to a peak of Number Two on the Billboard Hot 100. For some listeners, its chorus bears a close resemblance to Kahan’s 2022 breakout hit ‘Stick Season’, and Kahan is credited as a son
  
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• Surviving Soundgarden members to reunite for NFL season opener halftime show

  26-08-2026 14:34 via nme.com
  
  Surviving members of Soundgarden are set to reunite for a performance at the NFL season opener halftime show.READ MORE: Chris Cornell songs: the best by the Soundgarden and Audioslave frontmanThe grunge icons have rarely performed live since the tragic death of Chris Cornell in 2017. They came together for a tribute show for the singer in 2019, again in 2021 when they performed with Brandi Carlile, and again in 2024 at a benefit event where they were fronted temporarily by Shaina Shepherd.
  Last
  
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• Johnny Marr reacts to Andy Burnham covering The Smiths on guitar with soldiers in Ukraine

  26-08-2026 14:11 via nme.com
  
  Johnny Marr has reacted to Prime Minister Andy Burnham covering The Smiths on guitar during a visit to Kyiv.READ MORE: Government announce £45million to “turn up” music industry for artists, businesses and children – but what do Andy Burnham’s government need to do now?The PM, who previously served as Mayor of Greater Manchester, jammed ‘Rusholme Ruffians’ from the band’s 1985 album ‘Meat Is Murder’ alongside a Ukrainian soldier.
  &ldquo
  
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• Why We Will Always Love Dolly Parton

  26-08-2026 14:00 via rollingstone.com
  
  Behind the glitter, she was the toughest, most soulful of songwriters. Remembering the icon who represented the best of American music — and the best of America
  
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• Snoop Dogg and his son are coming to ‘Hitman: World Of Assassination’

  26-08-2026 13:39 via nme.com
  
  Snoop Dogg is the latest celebrity to appear in Hitman: World Of Assassination, playing elusive target Dr Crysu Cane.READ MORE: Inside Lana Del Rey’s era-defining James Bond theme song ‘First Light’Hitman: World Of Assassination launched in 2023 and brought together the best bits of the original Hitman trilogy. Since then, a number of limited-edition missions have been added to the stealth shooter with a number of celebrities also getting involved.
  Already this year, Wiz Khalif
  
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• Reading & Leeds 2026: check out the final weather forecast

  26-08-2026 13:24 via nme.com
  
  The 2026 edition of Reading & Leeds is just around the corner now – but what does the weather have in store for both festival sites? Check out the weather forecasts for both locations below.READ MORE: Reading & Leeds boss talks biggest-ever arena overhaul and “strength of UK and Irish music” on line-up: “We’re buzzing with ideas for the future”As usual, the dual festival is set to take place across the August Bank Holiday Weekend, with gates opening to
  
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• Tupac Shakur cast in upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic

  26-08-2026 13:19 via nme.com
  
  The part of Tupac Shakur has been cast for the forthcoming Snoop Dogg biopic, with Camron Jones stepping into the shoes of the rap icon.
  Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) is directing the film, titled Snoop, based on the life and career of Snoop Dogg, who is played in the film by actor Jonathan Daviss. Snoop himself is producing, alongside Brian Grazer who was behind Eminem’s 2002 semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile.
  The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Camron Jones, best known for Amazon
  
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• Donald Trump orders that flags be flown at half-mast across the US for a week in honour of Dolly Parton

  26-08-2026 13:01 via nme.com
  
  Donald Trump has ordered that flags across the US be flown at half-mast for a full week in honour of the late Dolly Parton.READ MORE: Dolly Parton, 1946-2026: the Queen of Country was a unifying force in a divided worldThe death of the music icon and philanthropist was announced yesterday (Tuesday August 25). In the update, the singer’s team shared that the 80-year-old died following “a brief battle with cancer”.
  The ‘Jolene’ singer had spoken publicly about her hea
  
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• Violet Grohl axes two UK shows after sudden voice loss days before Reading and Leeds

  26-08-2026 13:00 via music-news.com
  
  Violet Grohl has been forced to cancel UK dates as she loses her voice ahead of a weekend of festivals.
  
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• Soundgarden set for Seahawks halftime show with Taylor Momsen and Mike McCready

  26-08-2026 13:00 via music-news.com
  
  Soundgarden announce Seahawks halftime performance as the band edges closer to releasing their long-awaited Chris Cornell album.
  
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• Hear how The Beatles’ ‘Day Tripper’ came together as they share early ‘songwriting work tape’

  26-08-2026 12:14 via nme.com
  
  An early ‘songwriting work tape’ has been released, showing how The Beatles‘ ‘Day Tripper’ came together.READ MORE: Paul McCartney: “Writing a song is still a magic feeling for me, and hopefully always will be”The original song was recorded during the sessions for the Fab Four’s landmark 1965 album ‘Rubber Soul’. Both ‘Day Tripper’ and ‘We Can Work It Out’ were set to be released as a standalone double A-side sin
  
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• Friendly Fires return with dazzling new single ‘Lose All Your Friends’

  26-08-2026 12:11 via nme.com
  
  Friendly Fires have returned with a new single, ‘Lose All Your Friends’ – you can listen to it below.
  The song marks the first music from the Mercury Prize-shortlisted band since their third studio album, 2019’s ‘Inflorescent’.
  Released via LAB Records, the tune marks a “rebirth” of Friendly Fires, who are now a duo comprising Ed Macfarlane and Edd Gibson. The creative process for their new material “shifted toward a return to their roots&rdq
  
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• Girl In Red to make acting debut in Eivind Landsvik’s new film ‘Low Expectations’

  26-08-2026 12:08 via nme.com
  
  Girl In Red will make her acting debut in the upcoming film Low Expectations, which will be released in the UK & Ireland in early 2027.READ MORE: Girl In Red – ‘I’m Doing It Again Baby!’ review: fun, free but too few risksThe singer, real name Marie Ulven, stars in the drama directed by fellow Norwegian Eivind Landsvik, which was shown as part of Director’s Fortnight at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
  The movie has found UK and Ireland distribution, with
  
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• Kesha and Jack White honour Dolly Parton with covers during their concerts

  26-08-2026 12:00 via music-news.com
  
  Kesha sang Old Flames (Can't Hold a Candle to You) while Jack White performed Jolene.
  
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• Billy Ray Cyrus 'will always love' Dolly Parton with his 'whole heart'

  26-08-2026 12:00 via music-news.com
  
  Dolly Parton was the godmother to Billy Ray Cyrus's daughter Miley Cyrus.
  
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