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Barry Manilow walks off stage after two songs, cancels weekend shows
After returning from a hiatus, Barry Manilow abruptly stopped his Las Vegas concert after just two songs and nixed weekend performances because of health issues.
‘Play On!’ hits all the right notes
The English Renaissance meets the Harlem Renaissance in “Play On!,” a sparkling show that marries a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's “Twelfth Night” with the music of Duke Ellington. Conceived by Sheldon Epps, who also directed the original 1996-97 production (first in San Diego, then on Broadway), the show is getting a marvelous revival under his direction to open Chicago Shakespeare Theater's 40th anniversary season.While the title “Play On!” refers to the famous quote about music being the food of love and thus to the dozens of Ellington songs—among them “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good),” “Solitude” and “I’m Beginning to See the Light”—incorporated into the plot, one of the highlights for me is the clever way Cheryl L. West's book reworks the story. Apparently, it's also been updated for this outing, among other things to give the women more agency. In the big opening number (there's a six-piece, horn-heavy onstage band), aspiring songwriter Vy (Hailee Kaleem Wright) is the one to “Take the 'A' Train” to “Drop Me Off in Harlem.” She wants to meet the famous Duke (Edred Utomi) — Ellington, not Orsino, that is — and she seeks the help of Jester (an engaging James Harkness) to find out how. When Jester tells her in no uncertain terms that the music industry is a man's world, she disguises herself as Vy-Man and persuades the Duke to listen to one of her songs. He's suffering from a creative block because he's pining for Lady Liv (Krystal Joy Brown), queen of the Cotton Club, and convinces Vy-Man to bring the Lady the song as if the Duke had written it, promising to reward her with employment. Vy reluctantly complies, and the predictable complications ensue. Lady Liv is attracted to Vy-Man, while Vy is attracted to the Duke and he to Vy, though it disturbs him because he thinks she's a man. The fallout when the deception comes to light bodes ill—at least for a while.Here's where West's book cannily diverges from Shakespeare. Vy's twin brother Sebastian really is dead, so West devises another love interest for Lady Liv basically by rehabilitating the Malvolio character, here named Rev (Alan H. Green), the Lady's uptight, self-important manager. His unrequited love for her is magically transformed after he gets his comeuppance (minus the torture) from Miss Mary (Alanna Lovely), her honey Sweets (James Earl Jones II) and Jester, the stand-in for Sir Toby, who has romantic problems of his own with a woman named CC (Kaylah Janssen). In other words, Rev gets the girl — and also a show-stopping yellow zoot suit from costume designer An-Lin Dauber. All the costumes are dandy, though those for the men have more pizzazz than the women's day dresses. The bilevel, slanted scenic design by Beowulf Boritt brings 1930s Harlem to life in a slightly expressionistic way with the help of Adam Honoré's lighting and Ray Nardelli's sound design. Edgar Godineaux's choreography adds to the period feel, though there could be even more of it.Most of all, the leads have splendid voices, and the performances are terrific. Green's Rev and Harkness's Jester get my vote for comedy chops, and Brown's Lady Liv probably will stay with me the longest for her complexity and big blues number, “I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues.”
Alt-pop songstress Julia Wolf tried to become a vampire. Plan B? Hypnotizing the internet with 'In My Room'
Grunge-pop hit 'In My Room' shot Julia Wolf to internet fame. As she embarks on tour, arriving in L.A. on Oct. 25, Wolf is 'saying the crazy stuff out loud' and reflecting on a childhood of 'Twilight'-fueled escape.
CD Projekt Promises 'The Witcher 3' Remaster Fixes as Some Players Struggle
An upcoming patch will target performance issues
Miranda Lambert returns with country-disco album 'Crisco,' a set of songs that have 'a lot of joy'
Miranda Lambert has entered her disco era with her new album, “Crisco,” set to release Friday | KYW Newsradio
“Dancing With the Stars ”season 35 week 4 songs revealed: Which Mariah Carey hits are taking center stage?
The ABC competition series is honoring the pop icon with dances set to some of her biggest songs.
Switch 2 players Can Claim a Free Copy of The Witcher 3 Thanks to a Loophole
Dig up those old cartridges
Can we just like a Taylor Swift song in peace?
Taylor Swift's four new songs sparked instant debate, but "Patient Zero" makes a case for letting the music grow on you before joining the discourse.
Witcher Dev Reveals Why CD Projekt Red Doesn't Do Crossovers In Its Own Games
A Geralt-inspired skin is coming to Diablo 4, but don't expect Diablo characters in The Witcher 3 Remastered
Nearly 50, Jason Mraz is genre-shifting, living in the moment and done flirting
Ahead of his Hong Kong concert, the American singer spills all on love songs and ‘highlighting the goodness’.
ENTERTAINMENT: Fantasies, folk songs on Festival of the Senses program
Violinist Andrew Irvin, cellist David Gerstein and pianists Jaeyeon Park Hakutani and Naoki Hakutani perform for the opening Festival of the Senses concert Tuesday at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in North Little Rock.
Taylor Swift's new 'Encore' songs, ranked from worst to best
LOS ANGELES — "You only need to find one person in this entire world who doesn't find you completely insufferable." That's the wisdom Taylor Swift dispenses near the end of
Taylor Swift's new 'Encore' songs, ranked from worst to best
LOS ANGELES — "You only need to find one person in this entire world who doesn't find you completely insufferable." That's the wisdom Taylor Swift dispenses near the end of
Taylor Swift releases 4 new songs for 'Life of a Showgirl: The Encore.' What do critics say?
Swift's songwriting has been called "captivating" and "shockingly tender," though one critic dismissed the new tracks as "derivative and flat."
Taylor Swift releases 4 new songs, including 'Patient Zero'
Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore' (Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott)
Taylor Swift releases 'The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore' with 4 new songs after Swifties try to decode her mysterious zeros
Our favorite pop star has dropped new music, including the single "Patient Zero."
The Polish Pavilion Dissolves You in the Politics of Sound
At the Venice Biennale, whale songs become a means for communication, opening up a dialogue on accessibility.
Jewel says her top songs were 'medicine' amid mental health issues. Now, she's helping others
Singer Jewel shares the tools that shaped her life, what worries her about young people and why talking about mental health isn't enough.
Fans Seem to Think The Witcher 3 Remastered Looks Worse Than the Original
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered comes out in about a week, and when CD Projekt Red put out a comparison clip on Twitter, some fans really didn't like what they saw.
Taylor Swift announces 'The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore' will be released on Friday
The pop superstar will release an expanded version of her blockbuster 2025 album with four new songs.
Taylor Swift announces 'The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore' with 4 new songs after Swifties try to decode her mysterious zeros
Swifties, it's happening: Our favorite pop star is releasing new music.
Who went home on 'DWTS' Week 2?
Dancing with the Stars continued on its journey to find the next Len Goodman Mirrorball champ this week with the remaining 14 couples all performing to viral hit songs. It was a night filled with tangos, some salsa and a breakout performance from Olympians Amber Glenn and Ezra Frech.
Here are seven candidates for song of the summer
These are seven songs that could be song of the summer for 2026. Candidates include artists like Karol G, Olivia Rodrigo and Ella Langley.
Major Billboard Hit, Ranked Among 'Greatest Songs of All Time,' Was Originally Not Written for Britney...
Before "Toxic" became a defining Britney Spears hit, the song had a very different destination.
Major Billboard Hit, Ranked Among 'Greatest Songs of All Time,' Was Originally Not Written for Britney...
Before "Toxic" became a defining Britney Spears hit, the song had a very different destination.
Major Billboard Hit, Ranked Among 'Greatest Songs of All Time,' Was Originally Not Written for Britney...
Before "Toxic" became a defining Britney Spears hit, the song had a very different destination.
1955 Country Hit Voted One of the ‘Greatest Country Songs of All Time' by Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone ranks it No.
1977 Fleetwood Mac Hit, Written by Christine McVie, Wasn't About a Dog
Christine McVie tried to hide the inspiration behind one of her biggest songs.
1977 Fleetwood Mac Hit, Written by Christine McVie, Wasn't About a Dog
Christine McVie tried to hide the inspiration behind one of her biggest songs.
Stevie Wonder and the Politics of Rhythm
Lee Humber looks at the legacy of Stevie Wonder In September 1976, exactly fifty years ago this month, Stevie Wonder released Songs in the Key of Life (SKL).
'DWTS' Season 35 Viral Hits Songs and Dances Revealed Before Week 2
Dancing With the Stars is gearing up for Viral Hits Night following the season 35 premiere's double elimination.
Burna Boy to headline NFL halftime show in Paris
Burna Boy for 'Global Citizen Live.' (ABC)Burna Boy will take the stage at the NFL's debut in France.The Nigerian Afro-fusion singer was named as the headline performer for the NFL's Paris Game on Oct. 25 at Stade de France, in an exclusive announcement on Good Morning America Thursday morning.The NFL Paris Game will be the first NFL game played in France, and one of a record nine international games played this season.The Paris Game, played between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints, is one of seven international games that will feature a halftime show this season.Burna Boy, a native of Nigeria and the artist behind songs such as "Last Last" and "Love," shared a statement on the event in a release from the NFL regarding the show."The NFL is bringing something to France that has never happened here before, and I get to stand in the middle of it representing African music and I intend to give the people a show they will not forget," he stated.Tim Tubito, senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment at the NFL, said in a statement, "Paris is one of the great cultural capitals of the world, and African music sits right at the heart of what the city listens to."The Jonas Brothers, Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin, Ayra Starr, Cage The Elephant and The Warning have already been announced as international game performers at NFL games this season, according to the release.Rio de Janeiro and Paris will both see NFL games for the first time this year, while London, Madrid, Munich and Mexico City will return as hosts this season. Melbourne also hosted their first NFL game earlier this season.The Paris Game will air Sunday, Oct. 25, at 9:30 a.m. ET on the NFL Network.Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Dolly Parton honored posthumously, shares prerecorded video message
Singer Dolly Parton performs, January 24, 2014 in Rancho Mirage, Calif. (Valerie Macon/Getty Images)The late Dolly Parton is sharing a new video message, which was recorded before she died in August.The Americana Music Association released Parton’s video Wednesday, which was submitted as part of her acceptance of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Americana Honors & Awards.“Roots music, or what is now called Americana music, is what I grew up playing back in the Smoky Mountains,” Parton said in part in the video. “It’s that same music that drew me back to East Tennessee back in 1997 to write and record my album 'Hungry Again.' And that project really opened the door to a series of bluegrass and acoustic albums that changed the course of my career in so many ways.”“Now, new fans discovered these albums, new Americana music communities embraced them, and now looking back at it all, I see this era of my career as a musical renaissance of sorts,” Parton continued.The Americana Music Association announced in August that Parton — whose songs include “I Will Always Love You,” "Coat of Many Colors" and “Jolene” — was being recognized for her “enduring contributions as one of history’s greatest songwriters and recording artists.”Parton was in good company: Emmylou Harris, Van Morrison and Willie Nelson are among the artists who have been honored with the Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award.Parton, a Tennessee native, died on Aug. 25 at the age of 80 following a private battle with cancer, according to her family.Throughout her six-decade career, Parton built a legacy that expanded beyond music into entrepreneurship and philanthropy.Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Judging St. Louis Cardinals Walk-Up Songs
I went to the game on Monday – and I am grateful I went to the one win of the series if you’re wondering – and for some reason a few of the players walk-up songs stood out to me. Just some surprising picks that threw me off briefly. I instantly wanted to write this […]
The Witcher 3 Geralt Skin for Diablo 4 Barbarians Revealed
CD Projekt and Blizzard have released a first look at the Geralt-themed Barbarian skin for Diablo 4, but you'll need to preorder The Witcher 3 expansion Songs of the Past on Battle.net to get it.
The Witcher 3's New Weapon Was 'Impossible' 11 Years Ago
The Witcher 3's upcoming Songs of the Past DLC finally gives Geralt a chain
Ohio Senate campaign staffer used Nazi soldiers as profile photo
A top staffer for Sen. Jon Husted's reelection campaign recently made a playlist of songs in honor of White colonists in Rhodesia and wore a Nazi uniform.
Journey's biggest hits, ranked from worst to best
Ahead of the band's show Saturday night in Los Angeles, here's a critical rundown of Journey's best-known songs.
FX's Adults Cast Gets Candid in NYLON’s Speed Dating
The cast of FX’s Adults reveals their biggest red flags, karaoke songs, party tricks, dream careers, and more in NYLON’s Speed Dating.
Lafferty, Highway Outlaws like to get the crowd moving
ELOY — Popular local musician Everett D. Lafferty and his Band the Highway Outlaws return to the Eloy Fiestas Patrias stage this year, promising a lineup of dance-worthy, sing-along songs.
Gillian Smith brings country confidence to In The Streets
For Gillian Smith, a good country show is not just about sticking to tradition. She wants people to leave feeling like they got to know the person singing the songs.
Pediatrician-soprano to headline Bayfield concert finale
Soprano Dr. Tiffany Darling will headline the season finale of Bayfield Summer Concerts with an evening of arias and art songs Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 5:30 p.m. at Bayfield Presbyterian
Tuesday ‘Dawg Bites Is Crazy From The Heat
No, I don’t imagine this post will lead to the breakup of Dawg Sports, and no, it isn’t filled with cover songs, but yes it does take advantage of the best sports fandom in the land (Steve Vai was done dirty by that album IMHO). So just hold on a second while we reset. /Hand […]
Humpback whales can sing for up to 16 hours without stopping, and scientists have found their songs are synchronized with every dive — different themes line up with the descent, the deep-water phase and the climb back to the surface
The whales aren't just singing—they're composing underwater symphonies that match the architecture of their own bodies in motion, revealing a hidden layer of sophistication in one of nature's most mesmerizing performances.
Eyal Golan’s ‘Science Fiction’ is Israel’s most played song of the year
Eyal Golan, Sarit Hadad and Avi Ohayon led ACUM’s annual rankings of Israel’s most played songs, performers, songwriters and composers. Eyal Golan’s “Mada Bidyoni” (“Science Fiction”) was the most-pla...
New album from the ‘Ole Gangalee’ Louie Culture
Give Louie Culture a mic and a stage and he will perform from now until next year, pulling out hit on top of hits from his tried, tested and proven catalogue of rich reggae and dancehall classics. Louie Culture, known as the ‘Ole Gangalee’, a line from one of his hit songs, is old school. The Rastafarian singer is part of the tribe that continued the building of the musical foundation and he’s a troubadour who can be depended on to “nice up” any dance or stage show and is guaranteed to entertain from the youngest to the oldest.
Cecile Azarcon honored with new tribute song
Cheska CK with Cecile Azarcon Photo from Facebook/@BaleKuCafe ‘The Songs Came Home’ celebrates the veteran songwriter behind enduring OPM favorites Veteran Filipino songwriter Cecile Azarcon-Inocentes is the subject of a new tribute song honoring a career that has produced some of Original Pilipino Music’s enduring compositions. “The Songs Came Home,” released by TrueStoriesSung Creative Studio, features…
AI-generated ads have come to Oakland politics. Accessible solution
Slowly but surely, more campaigns are using videos and songs made with artificial intelligence. We asked local candidates and experts about the implications.
The year in review: Influential people who have died in 2026
Country music icon Dolly Parton was the rare celebrity whose popularity transcended generations and politics. Writing hundreds of songs including classics “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” she was
The year in review: Influential people who have died in 2026
Country music icon Dolly Parton was the rare celebrity whose popularity transcended generations and politics. Writing hundreds of songs including classics “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” she was
The year in review: Influential people who have died in 2026
Country music icon Dolly Parton was the rare celebrity whose popularity transcended generations and politics. Writing hundreds of songs including classics “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” she was
The Year in Review: Influential People Who Have Died in 2026
Country music icon Dolly Parton was the rare celebrity whose popularity transcended generations and politics. Writing hundreds of songs including classics “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” she was one of music's most beloved personalities when she died last month. In addition to her musical ...
From country to pop: readers tell The Bee their favorite Dolly Parton songs
After the country singer’s death at the age of 80, The Bee’s readers revealed their favorite Dolly Parton tunes.
BEYONCÉ MARKS HER BIRTHDAY WITH THE RELEASE OF A REMASTERED DELUXE "B'DAY" ALBUM HER COMING-OF-AGE MASTERPIECE IS AMPLIFIED WITH UPGRADED VISUALS, SURPRISE NEW TRACKS, AND SPANISH LANGUAGE SONGS, INCLUDING COLLABORATIONS WITH MALUMA AND THE LATE SELENA
/PRNewswire/ -- Today marks Beyoncé's birthday and the release of a voluminous remastered B'DAY, her coming-of-age second album. When it was released on...
gamescom 2026’s Steam wishlist winners
gamescom wrapped up last weekend, and it was bloody fantastic. It really felt like the industry had a spring in its step again. The show itself was BUZZING, with 368K attendees (+3% over last year), maxed-out exhibit space, and Opening Night Live pulling over 78M online views (+7.5%). Let’s have a look at the games at the event that brought in the most new Steam wishlists between August 23 and 30. One quick thing before we start, and stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but wishlists are NOT a barometer for launch sales (they’re bookmarks, not baskets is what we always say over here at Alinea). With that aside, wishlists are a nice gauge of hype, so let’s dive in. Witche(r)s and Warlocks take the top two spots The biggest game of the event (by new wishlists, anyways) wasn’t a game at all. It was an expansion. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s upcoming expansion, Songs of the Past, nabbed 451K Steam wishlists by the end of the weekend. It’s a big example of something we bang on about constantly: proven IP with built-in fandom is the most powerful force in this market. But said IP can also ripple into other external success stories (more on that later!). Anyway, Songs of the Past debuted at Opening Night Live, and it’s the first Witcher 3 expansion in over a decade, landing next year after a full Witcher 3 remaster (free for existing owners!) arrives next month. The Witcher 3 has sold around 66M copies, and I’ll be one of those owners jumping back in to refresh myself on the core game (like there isn’t enough to play!), then play the expansion next year. This is all part of CDPR’s plan. The studio is clearly whetting everyone’s appetite for The Witcher 4 in 2028 via a classic bridge strategy. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Releasing a free 4K remaster next month – followed by a proper expansion in 2027 – keeps IP top-of-mind across a huge gap between content (games-wise, anyway). It kind of echoes Capcom’s evergreen catalogue strategy. And outsourcing co-development to Fool’s Theory (a studio led by trusted Witcher 3 veterans) keeps CDPR’s internal headcount focused on The Witcher 4. #2 by wishlists between Aug 23 and 30 went to another giant IP: Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, published by Wizards of the Coast and developed by Invoke Studios (a team of ex-Far Cry, Watch Dogs, and Splinter Cell devs). It’s due to launch in 2027, and it looks brilliant so far. It’s a dark-fantasy open world with third-person spell-slinging. It’s a very Witcher-ish aesthetic. As you might expect, 48% of Warlock’s Steam wishlisters have played Baldur’s Gate 3, and 46% have played The Witcher 3. One to watch. For sure! Mash-ups: Anime GTA (!?) and a city-builder for kids (and adults) Ananta took #3 with 302K new wishlists. It’s an open-world game that looks like GTA and Persona had a baby. It was published by NetEase, developed by Naked Rain, and got a trailer at Opening Night Live. I got hands-on at the show, and it wears its influences openly; there’s literal web-slinging (very Spider-Man) and a LOAD of mini-games (Like a Dragon). It’s free-to-play and out in January. For Ananta, Naked Rain is taking the free-to-play, cosmetics-only route. That’s certainly a choice for a single-player open-world game. Without gacha mechanics driving high ARPU, Ananta is betting purely on top-of-funnel reach and long-term retention. This puts pressure on skin appeal when there’s no multiplayer lobby to flex in (although, co-op is reportedly coming later). Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Then there’s Lego Skylines (273K wishlists between Aug 23 and 30), which does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a cosy Lego twist on the city-builder genre, as shallow or as deep as you fancy (five min quick sesh or ten-hour no-lifer session; latter for me). There’s some family-friendly stuff in there like couch co-op, which is only really viable on console. Iceflake Studios, which Paradox acquired back in 2020 is developing this one. So Paradox is probably looking for a family-friendly onramp to its rad Cities: Skylines games. The overlap there is plain, with 33% of Lego Skylines wishlisters having played Cities: Skylines and 16% Skylines II. There’s no doubt plenty of parents here (and uncles, ahem) planning to indoctrinate the next gen of city-builders. I’ll definitely be playing with my youngest nephew. This one could be big and educational. I’m very curious to see more. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Mature IP, new and old, rounds out the list As for the rest of the list of gamescom games by new wishlists between Aug 23 and 30: Heroes of Might & Magic III Remake got 189K new wishlists. It remakes the iconic 1999 turn-based-strategy classic in full 3D and 4K. It follows this year’s Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era (~1.8M copies sold, as per our estimates), and around a quarter of the III Remake wishlisters have played Olden Era, including 7% of them this month. Wardogs – a $40 PvP shooter – added another 146K to an already massive pile (nearly 1.6M total). It’s published by Team17 and made by Bulkhead. It plays somewhere between the tactical squad stuff of … Squad and the all-out-chaos battlefield of … Battlefield. It’s up to 100 players, and it’s out in about 10 days. It’s already pre-sold over 500K copies on Steam ($16.6M), boosted by a pre-order-only beta. It sold another 70K copies during gamescom, too. Afterworld managed 121K new wishlists. It’s a Paradox-made post-apocalyptic grand-strategy game, and it was announced at the show. It’s a departure from Paradox’s usual historical stuff, and the studio’s first new setting in over a decade. The Paradox purists are into it, with over half its wishlisters having played Hearts of Iron IV (19% this month) and 41% Crusader Kings III (17% this month). Metro 2039 got 110K during the show, tunnelling its total past 1.3M. Nearly 40% of wishlisters have played 2020’s Metro Exodus, the previous mainline title in the series. The Metro novels are Russian, dev 4A Games is Ukrainian, and it’s set in Moscow, so it’s unsurprising that – after the US (17.3% of wishlisters) – the next two countries are Russia (12.7%) and Ukraine (10.0%). The Blood of the Dawnwalker drew in (the blood of) 108K new wishlisters, now totalling an impressive 1.7M (at a $70 price point, though). It’s an open-world dark-fantasy action-RPG set in 14th-century Europe (with vampires!), made by some former Witcher devs at Rebel Wolves. Again, it shows. Over half of Blood of the Dawnwalker’s wishlisters have played The Witcher 3, and its #2 market is Poland, home of Rebel Wolves. That’s that hometown-hero effect we keep banging on about again! And Blood of the Dawnwalker plays very well, by the way. While it looks like a Witcher clone on the surface, it actually brings a lot to the table mechanics-wise. I love the whole time-as-a-currency spin on RPG gameplay. It gives the game a different, refreshing pace. Essentially, you start Blood of the Dawnwalker with a pool of 480 action points spread across 30 days and 30 nights. As for how the game performs, we’ll be posting some numbers next week, so hit subscribe below to get that in your inbox when it’s ready. Subscribe The Witcher’s legacy ripples Make no mistake: on a high level, this was The Witcher‘s gamescom. The #1 game by wishlisters was a Witcher 3 DLC. Warlock is clearly Witcher-inspired – as is Blood of the Dawnwalker, which was made by ex-Witcher devs. There was a lot of other cool stuff on the floor that we’ll no doubt be covering in subsequent newsletters, though! As always, wishlists went through the roof for sequels, remakes, DLC, and licensed IP. As always, though, these wishlists will likely convert to about 5% to 10% of launch-day buyers, with the probable exception of The Witcher DLC – the exception that proves the rule. Either way, we’ve got a nice, diverse list here – one that is very Witcher-y, Paradox-y, and – if you’re a fan of great games on Steam – a bloody good list. We even got a bunch of new IP to get excited for. Great gamescom! Even if we are still processing that unfathomable number of mini Kölsch beers! One more thing: GTA 6 broke the internet (again) Move aside, Spider-Man and The Odyssey (I love you both, really). But the decade’s defining entertainment zeitgeist is round the corner. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that Rockstar dropped an extended look at GTA 6 last week. It was INSANE, the most impressed I’ve ever been by a showcase like this. You can see the budget seeping through every second of the extended look, and this level of game is unobtainable for any other publisher. Everyone’s going nuts, and rightly so. GTA 6 is out in holiday 2026, and it’ll be the biggest entertainment release ever, full stop. For those without a PS5 or Xbox Series console, a $500-$900 console is a big ask in this economy, but GTA will pull a lot of last-generation-console fence sitters over the current-gen fence either way: The autumn timing puts GTA 6 on (digital) shelves for the holidays, meaning a PS5 or Xbox (let’s be honest, mostly the former) will be on many a Christmas and Hanukkah list. Demand will outweigh the struggling supply, though, and PS5 Pros are already sold out and being sold at a markup via scalpers. Every console that isn’t on a shelf is a sale deferred or lost, and worse, it hands scalpers the margin. GTA has cultural clout that reaches everyone. It’s been a mainstream fixture since 2001’s GTA III and its clout has only grown exponentially since then. There’s a touchpoint for every generation alive. The FOMO-word-of-mouth double punch does the rest. Loading... It’ll reactivate the lockdown cohort, the millions who picked up gaming in 2020-21 and churned. GTA 6 will bring them back. Remember when College Football 25 brought a bunch of US gamers to current-gen consoles? GTA will do that globally. Once they’re back (or upgraded), and all GTA’d out, the fresh current-gen-console folks will check out the rest of the current-gen catalogue they missed. GTA Online, if not free to play, will also lead to a boost for PS+ and Xbox Game Pass, another boost for the ecosystem players. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Even some of the smug PCMR 60FPS crew won’t be able to resist their FOMO and will bite the bullet on a console to play this one early (then double dip). The consoles cost the same as a decent stick of RAM these days anyway lmao… Don’t get me wrong, though. GTA 6 is no silver bullet for the mature console market, but it does prime the current gen for a couple of strong swan-song years. And it’ll also give the consoles more users from which to maximise ARPU. ‘’We are in the latter half of the lifetime cycle of [the PS5],’’ said Sony President and CEO Hiroki Totoki in a Wall Street Journal interview. ‘’That means we do not need to aggressively sell the console today; rather than that, we are focusing on the current revenue from the current user base.’’ The biggest, best premium games always arrive late in a console cycle, so getting more players aboard now, ahead of that content storm (the new current-gen-only Call of Duty included), is a clear win for the platforms. On the Netflix thing, though: let’s all chill out a bit, like. Half my LinkedIn feed was going bonkers treating the reveal debuting on Netflix like it’s the future of entertainment. It wasn’t. It was a six-hour head start, and Netflix left that detail out of the “first-of-its-kind partnership” press release. The extended look hit Netflix at 3pm ET on 27 August, then went up on YouTube and Rockstar’s site for everyone six hours later. And it was all over social immediately, anyways. This reveal was going to reach an untold number of people whether it debuted on Netflix, YouTube, a Times Square screen, or a group chat. The last trailer did nearly half a billion views in a day with no gatekeeper at all. Netflix just stood next to that audience for six hours, borrowing it. It’s was a tidy deal for Netflix, sure. But every outlet on earth was breaking the thing down frame by frame by the evening anyway. Anyway. I’m hype. And we’ll be covering some GTA numbers on the newsletter soon. So hit subscribe below to get that in your inbox when it’s ready! Subscribe The last word Reply to this email – or reach out here – if you have any feedback for the newsletter – or want to request a game for us to cover. [Alinea Analytics boasts the most accurate PC and console estimates in the business. Game makers use our platform to understand their audience, keep an eye on the competition, monitor sales trends, and spot new opportunities. We equip game studios and financial institutions with accurate data and the confidence to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Want to talk about all things games market data? We’d love to chat!]
Noah Kahan’s heartwarming Seattle concert turns tears to elation
The small-town troubadour is an unlikely stadium filler, but his distinctly American songs sounded right at home in a sold-out T-Mobile Park.
Sony says Claude trained on pirated lyrics, seeks $150K a song
In a new lawsuit, Sony Music and Warner Chappell say Anthropic used "thousands upon thousands" of songs to train Claude, including "Eye of the Tiger."
What's the 411?
The music world is mourning the loss of country music legend Dolly Parton. She was known for her hit songs “Jolene, “9 to 5” and “I’ll Always Love You,” to
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past Preview: Coming Out
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Preview: We get an extended look at the newly announced expansion for The
CD Projekt Red explains where The Witcher 3's expansion region Letten actually is, and it's close to the setting of The Witcher 4
Exactly where is the new Witcher 3 expansion location of Letten on the map - why is it so hard to find?
The story for Witcher 3: Songs of the Past was actually written "years ago", according to Fool's Theory CEO
Jakub Rokosz, CEO of Fool's Theory, explains how Songs of the Past has actually been in CDPR's mind for a while.
Dolly Parton built a better world, with rhinestones and songs
Dolly Parton was a beloved icon whose influence spans music, film and philanthropy. Parton, who died Tuesday, was known for her rhinestone-studded style and quick wit, as she captivated fans
Geralt Returns in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Songs of the Past and Remastered
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered launches September 29 with an array of improvements and modernizations. New expansion Songs of the Past is coming in 2027.
The Witcher 3 Remaster announced, free for existing owners, while expansion Songs of the Past details finally shown
Our first proper look at The Witcher 3 expansion Songs of the Past. What does it tell us about the game?
Country music icon Dolly Parton has died at 80
She wrote hundreds of songs, including classics like "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors" and "I Will Always Love You"
Dolly Parton, country music legend, dead at 80
Dolly Parton, the beloved country music superstar known as much for her philanthropy and theme park business as she was for her chart-topping hit songs, has died at 80.
Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 report - all the news and announcements as Witcher 3 expansion Songs of the Past shown for first time
Join us for live coverage of Gamescom 2026's opening showcase on 25th August.
The Witcher 4 Gets 2028 Release Window but No Gamescom Gameplay Preview
It's now been over a year since CD Projekt Red, the game studio behind the Witcher franchise, revealed that The Witcher 4 would likely launch "after 2026." Now, in a recent announcement, CD Projekt Red revealed that it would be showing off The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt—Songs of the Past at Gamescom...
Nintendo Music Update Adds Final Mario Kart World Free Roam Songs
Two recording performances have also been shared
The Witcher 4 Release Date Confirmed, Gamescom Songs of the Past Showcase Announced
Wind's howling... in 2028.
CD Projekt Red is "targeting" a 2028 release date for The Witcher 4, per a new update from the developer
Move over, Songs of the Past - there's a new Witcher news byte in town.
What to Expect from ONL | gamescom 2026 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, and more!
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past and Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will be at gamescom Opening Night Live, but what surprises could be in store? Here's what to expect from ONL on August 25.
10th Street Entertainment Launches 'Pub Crawl' Label And Publishing Divisions, Adds Piero Giramonti As EVP & Artist Manager
Major artist management company 10th Street Entertainment has launched its own Pub Crawl Recordings label group and Pub Crawl Songs music publishing company,
Science meets art beneath the sea in Phoenix's latest immersive experience
Dive beneath the waves in Phoenix! Sounds of the Ocean is a 47-min immersive experience of marine life, whale songs & ocean art at the Dorrance DOME.
Indigo Girls to share songs, stories at Columbus Commons in September
The Indigo Girls and special guest Linda Perry will perform in the Bicentennial Pavilion at the Commons on Sept. 16.
Can politicians use whatever music they want on social media?
Some of Taylor Swfit’s songs quietly disappeared from several posts from the White House and “Team Trump” campaign TikTok accounts.
Taylor Swift songs removed from Trump campaign material
Taylor Swift songs have been removed from videos posted online by Donald Trump’s campaign and the White House.
Taylor Swift songs removed from several White House TikTok videos
Taylor Swift's music is no longer available on several videos posted by President Donald Trump's Team Trump TikTok page.
Taylor Swift removes multiple songs from Trump social media posts
An official Donald Trump campaign account used multiple Taylor Swift songs in TikTok posts supporting the president —until copyright claims removed the singer’s music from the account.
Science reveals birdsong shares hidden pattern with human language
By Stephen Beech Birdsong shows patterns similar to human language, according to a new study. Researchers have uncovered a previously undetected structure in the songs of Bengalese finches that has th...
Tommy Sullivan and John Ziegler to Perform at LI Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame on Aug 16th
As part of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Soundtrack to Summer Series, Musician Tommy Sullivan (a member of the Brooklyn Bridge) will perform LIVE music and Comedian John Ziegler will open with comedy set at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook Village (97 Main Street, Stony Brook, NY) on Aug. 16th from 3-4pm. The event is free for members or with general admission ticket purchase or $10 at the door concert ticket purchase. For details on this and upcoming events please visit https://www.limusichalloffame.... About Tommy Sullivan A life-long Long Islander and proud U.S. Army veteran, Tommy Sullivan enlisted in 1965 and was accepted to the United States Military Academy Band, where he created the first official rock group at West Point. Reentering civilian life in 1968, he helped create the Rhythm Method, a 7-piece Long Island band which was discovered by Johnny Maestro, then singing lead with the Del-Satins. The combined groups became the Brooklyn Bridge. As band leader and musical director, Tommy penned the group’s horn arrangements on every Bridge hit, including their gold record, Worst that could happen. Upon leaving the Bridge, Tommy co-founded Atlantic Records’ supergroup Ramatam, which was Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell’s first group following Hendrix’ death. For the second Ramatam LP Tommy wrote and orchestrated original material which featured select members of the NY Philharmonic Orchestra. Together with Johnny Maestro, Tommy co-produced Johnny’s final CD, Peace on earth. The critically acclaimed album features Tommy’s arrangements & orchestrations, plus several of his original songs. A Charter Inductee to the LI Music Hall of Fame, Tommy Sullivan continues to write, record, arrange and produce records, serve as musical director/ arranger/conductor for projects across many musical genres plus donates dozens of performances annually for numerous charity events. Tommy Sullivan’s dynamic and unique one-man show, A thousand memories, featuring his vocals and performances on four instruments, has been packing concert auditoriums, nightclubs, private parties–even vineyards-for the past several years. John Zeigler Born and raised in New York, John has performed stand-up comedy for close to 20 years and was the winner of the 2016 "Funniest Comic on the East Coast" Contest at Mohegan Sun. John's opened for such comics as Sebastian Maniscalco, Gilbert Gottfried, Jim Breuer and Robert Klein. He currently headlines clubs across the country and regularly tours with legendary comedian Bobby Collins. John recently released his Dry Bar Comedy Special and Getting My Affairs in Order.
Acoustirats and Jordan Lauterbach to Perform at LI Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame on Aug 23rd
As part of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Soundtrack to Summer Series, the band Acoustirats will perform LIVE music and Comedian Jordan Lauterbach will open with comedy set at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook Village (97 Main Street, Stony Brook, NY) on Aug. 23th from 3-4pm. The event is free for members or with general admission ticket purchase or $10 at the door concert ticket purchase. For details on this and upcoming events please visit https://www.limusichalloffame.... About AcoustiRats AcoustiRats is an acoustic duo dedicated to stripping Good Rats classics down to their raw, essential form. Fronted by Stefan Marchello, lead singer and 36-year veteran of the Good Rats, alongside guitarist Matt McCarthy, who also did a run on guitar with the band. Between them, they've got decades of Good Rats DNA in their blood. After years of playing these songs loud and electric, Stefan and Matt are thrilled to break them down to the bare bones. No frills, no amps cranked to 11 — just voice, acoustic guitar, and the songwriting that made the Good Rats legendary. It's the same attitude and stories fans know, delivered in a raw, intimate format. For diehard Good Rats fans, it's a new way to hear the classics. For first-timers, it's proof that great songwriting doesn't need to be loud to hit hard. About Jordan Lauterbach Jordan Lauterbach is a fast-rising comedian who features prominently in clubs around the country. His autobiographical style and supreme wit keep audiences laughing for hours after they leave the club. Lauterbach is likable, relatable, and tremendously funny. He has opened for some of comedy's best and is quickly carving out an audience of his own.
Secrets of birdsongs' 'spectacular diversity' revealed
A scientific study has revealed the acoustic secret that connects all birdsong - and it is surprisingly simple
Billion Views Club entries for Black Eyed Peas, Roxette
Two very different songs have both joined YouTube's Billion Views Club.
Cool Course: Mind Playing Tricks on Me—Mental Health in Contemporary Music
Student analyze and critique songs from diverse artists and genres to explore mental health topics and related stigmas
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Songs of the Past Reveal Date Confirmed
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Songs of the Past will be revealed at gamescom 2026 during Opening Night Live, CD Projekt has announced.
The Witcher 3's Big New Expansion Makes Its Debut at Gamescom Opening Night Live
Songs of the Past shows itself
Here are the 30,000 songs Sony is suing Udio’s AI music generator over
Sony claims Udio “copied and ingested” its music.
How Christopher Nolan weaponized Matt Damon's persona for 'The Odyssey'
What if Odysseus isn't the hero the songs sing about?
AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 8:12 p.m. EDT
10 songs to get hyped for the World Cup final
AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 1:07 p.m. EDT
10 songs to get hyped for the World Cup final
10 songs to get hyped for the World Cup final
To get in the spirit for the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, The Associated Press has made a themed playlist. The list includes Shakira and Burna Boy's
Simone Ashley On Returning For <i>Bridgerton</i> Season 5, Her New Music Career & Touring
Simone Ashley on returning for Bridgerton Season 5, her new EP Songs I Wrote In New York, and the world tour she's hoping to make happen.
Suno Got Hacked
The AI music generator reportedly scraped millions of songs and lyrics from YouTube, Deezer, and Genius
Silverstein brings emo favorites to Capitol Theatre
Emo band Silverstein will bring familiar favorites and new songs to Capitol Theatre on Saturday, July 18.
11 Actors You Probably Forgot Had Hit Songs
Many actors have tried their hand at music, but only a few have landed genuine hits. From chart-topping singles to unexpected fan favorites, these stars proved they could succeed in more than one corn...
The World Cup showed me sports fans are the same everywhere
The players were different, the songs were different and the sport was different. The hope, heartbreak and belief? Those felt just like home.
How Mick Jagger Strikes A Balance When It Comes To Politics In Music
The Rolling Stones rocker told the New York Times that he likes to sneak "small doses" of real-world issues into his songs but takes a different approach when it comes to concerts.
Deana Carter To Headline Marshall County Fair Entertainment Lineup
MOUNDSVILLE — This year’s Marshall County Fair, slated July 19-25, will include a performance by country music star Deana Carter, known for hit songs like “Strawberry Wine.” Carter is scheduled to perform at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 25, on the main festival stage at the Marshall County Fairgrounds, 1433 12th St., Moundsville. Opening for Carter […]