Pop

Live music has never been cheap. But it has also never felt this inaccessible. Ticket prices are climbing. Dynamic pricing is quietly inflating face value. Resellers scoop up inventory in seconds. And fans are left refreshing screens, watching tickets triple before checkout, even loads. The frustration is loud. The response from the industry is not.

Nick Jonas did not ease us into 2026. He went straight for the feelings. “Gut Punch”, released January 1, 2026, is the first single off his upcoming album Sunday Best, out February 6, 2026, and it feels like a song you accidentally put on and then suddenly you’re staring at the wall thinking about your entire inner dialogue. Artwork by Steven R. Gilmore The song starts immediately with a soft piano and Nick’s voice sounding almost fragile. Like he’s letting a thought slip bef

More and more people are tuning into streaming apps like Spotify or Apple Music, rather than turning on the radio. It has become the norm to pair up the streaming apps to cars, TVs, and every device you can listen to music from. It’s easier to pay a monthly fee to avoid commercials, know exactly what you will be listening to, skip a track, or add it to your personal playlist.

Dakota Diehl’s “Falling Out of Love” feels like the exact moment when heartbreak stops knocking the wind out of you and starts lighting a fire instead. This song marches with its shoulders back, head up while saying enough. It adds strength to a woman scorned in the best way possible, not by making her cruel or careless, but by reminding her she survived, learned and came out sharper on the other side.

Amy Allen is continuously reaching new heights in her career as a songwriter. The Maine born writer has accumulated numerous charting hits through her powerful penmanship. Her relatability is part of why artists continue to work with her repeatedly. She has said that she finds something similar that has happened in her life and relates it to what the artist is going through, in order to write the massive hits she does.

Article Contributed by Monica Soriano There’s something in the air lately. Girl groups are popping up and it appears they are growing in popularity. This phenomenon hasn’t been seen since the Fifth Harmony and Little Mix days, at least for non-KPop girl groups. The rise of K-pop in recent years has opened doors to many girl groups internationally. Blackpink held the title of the biggest female K-pop group and NewJeans was following closely with their rise in stardom until th

Article Contributed by Monica Soriano If something feels like it’s missing from the music industry, it would definitely be music video shows. Those shows that you could tune into just to catch the latest music videos from a variety of artists. There were countdown shows that would air the most popular videos at the time and although it could've felt like a competition for the musicians, for the audience it was a fun time to guess what would be number 1. A lot of music fanatic

Article By Ernesto Raul Aguilar Q101 kicked off its week-long Twisted Xmas 2025 series at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom with a high-voltage opening night that blended indie cool, alt-rock energy, and full-on pop spectacle. Three bands, each with a distinct voice and presence, took the stage and delivered a night that felt as festive as it was electric, setting the tone for the rest of the holiday concerts ahead. The evening opened with Los Angeles band Out in Front, who wasted no

Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Lately, it can feel as though all artists do more than just music. The blending of professions is common since they can be fully established within different creative or business ventures. Being multi-hyphenate can be a way to stay relevant, have various sources of income, or pursue other dreams. Artists now easily launch companies in beauty or fashion as well as reach high levels of success as actors, podcast hosts, or entrepreneurs. Ima

Article Contributed by Monica Soriano The Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer recently released their album ‘EVERYONE’S A STAR’ which is filled with expressive commentary, reflective tracks and an almost theatrical-esque feel for a few songs. Album Artwork by Brian Ziff If you’ve ever needed a recommendation for an album to play while you’re out on a late night drive - this is it. ‘EVERYONE’S A STAR’ by 5 Seconds of Summer is the perfect mix of melancholy, vibey tunes and lyr

Detroit did not blink at the weather. Even with a snowstorm delaying flights and pushing doors nearly two hours past schedule, the crowd kept arriving. People bundled against wind and ice still chose to stand shoulder-to-shoulder inside The El Club, a small venue with the energy of something much larger. It was our first time shooting here, and stepping into a space without a barricade meant we became part of the audience instead of perched in front of it.

Cassadee Pope’s acoustic set at The Loft at City Winery in Philadelphia proved that a stripped-down show can sometimes hit the hardest. With just her guitar, her voice, and a room full of fans, she created a night that felt intimate, warm, and disarmingly honest. Cassadee Pope performing at City Winery in Philadelphia, PA - Photo by Rebecca McDevitt (IG: @rebeccajeanlimitedphotography ) She wasted no time diving into nostalgia, pulling out Hey Monday classics like “Homecoming

It’s impossible to not have heard the name Julia Michaels or a song written by this talented songstress. The music she’s written is internationally listened to by millions of people. She dominates the charts through catchy melodies, powerful penmanship and an overall grasp on feeling out loud.

The music industry is constantly adapting to technological changes. Social media has become the biggest marketing tool for artists. Cellphones are being held up to record every second of a performance. With the rise of viral sensations becoming stars, not all artists can decide whether they can start in small venues or go straight into being an opening act for the biggest superstar in the world.

Lila Holler writes like she’s slowly unfastening something fragile inside herself. Her sound shifts between indie pop glow and alt-folk vulnerability, shaped by a life spanning coasts, climates, and now continents. That constant motion shows up in her music as shifting light and quiet self-redefinition, the kind that comes from picking yourself up and starting again in new places until you learn what feels like home.

It’s no shocker that, to us, Charlie Puth is one of the greatest artists of our generation. One scroll through TikTok and you’ll find him teaching millions of people about chord progressions, bass voicings, and why certain hooks feel addictive. But those clips barely scratch the surface of what makes him extraordinary. Charlie operates in an entirely different class of musical intelligence.

Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt & Ilana Bornstein Photo Provided by Ken Phillips Publicity Group David Archuleta is entering his jolly pop era and honestly, we’re obsessed. My Only Wish doesn’t follow the cookie-cutter “holiday album” formula. Instead, it feels like David took festive energy, sprinkled it with pure joy, and built a sound that could genuinely be its own genre. It’s warm, upbeat, and unmistakably holiday, but in a way that makes you want to dance around your li

“i don’t like being left behind” opens in swirls and spirals, an ambient wash of synths that feel almost video game–esque. It is dreamy and atmospheric, yet it carries a pulse that instantly catches your attention. Leyla Ebrahimi’s voice enters with a softness that glows against the production. Even in these early moments, the track makes its intentions clear. This is indie alternative at its core, but it welcomes pop influences with open arms.

Article and Photography Contributed by Fernando Flores Grant Knoche performing at the Meadows in Brooklyn, NY - Photography by Fernando Flores (IG: @fernandofloresphotography ) So good it's on AUTOPILOT Grant Knoche’s rise from kid-friendly pop prodigy to a fully realized alt-pop force has been nothing short of electric. His latest tour stop in Brooklyn proved exactly why audiences are so drawn to his world, kicking the night off with a burst of warmth and charisma from Taylo

Sienna Spiro’s “Die on This Hill” begins with a quiet magnetism that feels instantly inviting. A single piano line opens the door and her voice steps in with striking richness. It is warm, resonant, and full of a clarity that draws you in immediately.