Ten-gallon hits! Why country is the biggest pop music craze of 2024
Beyoncé and Dua Lipa have swapped mirrorballs for rhinestones, while new stars such as Shaboozey and Dasha are making hay with uptempo hoedowns. Even the UK is enjoying its first rodeo – but can it last?
April 2024
Breakups, fantasies and her most cutting lyrics: inside Taylor’s Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department
What are the big takeaways from Swift’s new album? She’s refining her sound, confronting elements of her fanbase and done with romantic idealisation
March 2024
First look review
Road House review – Conor McGregor almost steals riotous 80s remake
Jake Gyllenhaal fills Patrick Swayze’s shoes in a brashly entertaining romp featuring a knockout debut from the UFC champ
August 2023
Post Malone: Austin review – up close and whiny
The US singer and rapper’s most personal album is stunningly affecting at first, but soon starts to pall
May 2023
US rapper Post Malone helps Scottish musician fund downpayment for house
Post Malone review – mesmerising shapeshifter cements his stature
March 2023
Post Malone settles Circles songwriting lawsuit out of court
Last-minute settlement comes as court was selecting jury for trial, in case brought by musician Tyler Armes who claimed he wrote major elements of the hit song
November 2022
Megan Thee Stallion, Coldplay and Future sign petition against rap lyrics as criminal evidence in US court
Other signatories of Warner Music’s open letter, Art on Trial: Protect Black Art, include Alicia Keys, 50 Cent and Post Malone
August 2021
Reading and Leeds festival review – Stormzy and Liam Gallagher unite the masses
With thoughts of Covid banished in a blitz of teenage hugging, there are some terrific moments amid this disappointingly male-heavy lineup
March 2021
Top Snore-ty: can sleep-oriented pop remixes help our critic drift off?
Grammy awards 2021: women rule as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé break records
December 2020
'Audiences don't want white anger': how white rap grew a conscience
Bad Bunny is most streamed artist of 2020 on Spotify
August 2020
Reading and Leeds festival announces 2021 lineup
Stormzy and Liam Gallagher roll headline appearances over from 2020, but Rage Against the Machine no longer feature
February 2020
Brit awards 2020: who will win every award … and who should
Lewis Capaldi could sweep the board in his breakthrough year, but he faces strong competition from Stormzy, Dave and Michael Kiwanuka
January 2020
Grammys 2020: who will win the big categories – and who should
Billie Eilish and Lizzo are competing for a string of the top prizes, but could the likes of Ariana Grande, Lana Del Rey and Rosalía cause upsets?
December 2019
Drake and Ed Sheeran most streamed artists on Spotify this decade
Sheeran’s Shape of You is most streamed song, with 2.3bn plays, while Drake is most popular artist with 28bn streams
February 2019
Post Malone review – pop-rap rockstar picks emotion over politics
When angstily rapping about his fractured psyche, the US star is compelling, but you sense he still hasn’t worked out his true voice
December 2018
Best music of 2018
The best albums and tracks of 2018: how our writers voted
Drake, Post Malone and XXXTentacion are most-streamed artists of 2018 on Spotify
