American singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman; one of the 21st century’s defining entertainers.
A set of articles explores how FIFA’s sonic branding shapes global culture. A veteran composer reflects on crafting a World Cup theme, while artists discuss the intersection of branding, fame and creative identity. Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody and Syd discuss breakthroughs, with a nod to The Guardian’s profile and BBC coverage.
A curated playlist highlights the world’s most iconic World Cup songs, with tracks spanning from 1998 to 2026, underscoring football’s cultural reach and how nations celebrate on and off the pitch.
Tokyo has introduced a policy allowing shorts, t-shirts, and trainers as part of its summer work attire under the "Tokyo Cool Biz" initiative. The change aims to cope with extreme heat while curbing energy use, though reviews are divided—some applaud comfort, others raise concerns about fairness and legibility of dress codes.
Three articles provided cover music copyright, streaming impersonation scams, and a Japanese electronic duo. They show a blend of copyright debates, digital manipulation, and collaborative innovation in a pandemic-era workflow. The latest updates highlight ongoing accuracy concerns and evolving platform safeguards.
A$AP Rocky has said Rihanna has returned to the studio and is working on new music. The comments, given on Jason Lee's podcast this week, add to years of intermittent updates about the singer's long-promised follow-up to 2016's Anti. Neither Rihanna nor her team has confirmed a release date or detailed the project.
Dolly Parton has died; her nephew Bryan Seaver has announced the death on Instagram. The 80-year-old icon had recently faced health issues and had postponed events at Dollywood. No cause of death has been disclosed and her public health updates had indicated ongoing health challenges.
Dolly Parton has died at age 80 in Nashville, her publicity team has said. Her nephew Bryan Seaver announced the news on Instagram. Parton has written thousands of songs, sold more than 100 million records, won multiple Grammys and founded the Imagination Library, which has distributed hundreds of millions of free books.
Dolly Parton has died after a brief battle with cancer, aged 80. Her family confirms the death and reflects on a career that defined country music and philanthropy, including Dollywood and the Imagination Library.
Tributes have poured in following Dolly Parton’s death at 80, with fans and peers sharing memories and AI-generated tributes raising ethical questions. Parton’s family highlights the need for compassion and respect amid a flood of content, while friends and industry figures reflect on her business legacy and philanthropy.
Dolly Parton’s death has triggered a global spike in streams of her discography. Luminate reports a 2,109% US surge on the day of passing and a 1,280% worldwide rise, with “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “Islands in the Stream” among the top performers.
Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell have filed a federal lawsuit accusing Anthropic and its founders of illegally torrenting and using tens of thousands of copyrighted lyrics and sheet music to train Claude. The publishers say Claude can reproduce protected lyrics verbatim and generates AI songs that compete with human composers; they seek statutory damages and an injunction.
Victoria Beckham Holdings Ltd has posted its first operating profit in 18 years, reporting £7.3m profit in 2025 on revenues of £129.8m, a 15% rise. The brand’s fashion and expanding beauty arm drove growth after years of losses, aided by cost discipline and a Netflix documentary that boosted momentum.
Dolly Parton has died at 80 after a brief battle with cancer. Tributes pour in from fans and fellow artists as the industry reflects on her career, influence, and the cultural footprint of her music and film work.
Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces has reaffirmed participation in Prince Harry’s Invictus Games after Buckingham Palace clarified that the King has no objection, following Uganda’s initial withdrawal amid tensions over the Harry-Meghan coverage. The reversal follows a call between Uganda’s CDF and the King’s private secretary, signaling a diplomatic resolution.
The Jay-Z 30 tour has brought a masterclass in live hip‑hop, with a 50,000‑strong London crowd. The show features Idris Elba’s opening, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean joining for Fugees classics, and Git the atmosphere buzzing with a catalog that spans three decades. Beyonce marks her birthday with a spotlight and fireworks as the star hits two stadium dates.
Oprah Winfrey has launched a four-date immersive event, “Oprah Winfrey’s AHA,” at Las Vegas Sphere from April 2–4, 2027, featuring artists like Jacob Collier and Ocean Vuong. The project, inspired by Winfrey’s U2 experience at Sphere, aims to transform how audiences see themselves through a multisensory journey.
Netflix executives describe events as appointment TV and outline a strategy to use global events, NFL rights, and international games to fuel growth. The company is pursuing five NFL games this season and contemplates FIFA World Cup rights while expanding international programming amid a shifting sports and entertainment landscape.
Taylor Swift has released a deluxe edition of The Life of a Showgirl, titled The Encore, adding four new songs. The move follows mixed reviews of Showgirl and signals Swift’s continuing prolific output as she expands her catalog with fresh material after the original release.
Taylor Swift has received the inaugural Artist Director Honors at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, bringing her total to 31 VMAs and making her the most-awarded artist in the show's history. She has also won video of the year for "The Fate of Ophelia," premiered the music video for "Patient Zero," and dedicated her win to Dolly Parton.