In 2024, rising pop stars Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter have reshaped the pop music landscape with their authentic, relatable, and vibrant music. Unlike the polished personas of established artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, these artists embrace imperfections and personal storytelling, resonating with the TikTok generation. Their unique sounds and engaging live performances have propelled them into mainstream success, challenging the genre's monotony and appealing to audiences seeking genuine connection and fresh perspectives.
Pitchfork's list of the 100 best songs of 2024 highlights the emergence of new pop artists, the return of established favorites, and genre-blending hits across rap, country, and jazz. The list features diverse tracks, from Church Chords' psychedelic sounds to NLE Choppa's explicit anthems, showcasing the year's musical innovations and cultural impact.
Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, both rising stars in the pop music scene and signed to Island Records, find themselves competing for the 'Big Four' categories at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Despite the competition, the two artists maintain a strong friendship, supporting each other through the challenges of their rapidly growing careers. They have shared festival stages and expressed mutual admiration, with Carpenter even covering Roan's hit song. As the Grammy Awards approach, their bond remains strong, regardless of the outcome.
At 80 years old, Barry Manilow continues to captivate audiences with his enduring talent and showmanship. Having surpassed Elvis' performance record in Las Vegas, sold out shows at Radio City Music Hall, and planned his "last, last U.K. concerts," Manilow remains a force in the music industry. His Broadway musical, "Harmony," and his cover of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas" showcase his versatility and appeal. Despite his age, Manilow's passion for music and performance keeps him going strong, with a spirit that defies time.
Despite her team's efforts to entice Britney Spears back into recording music, with new songs being prepared by notable writers and producers, the pop star has declared on Instagram that she will "never return to the music industry." Spears emphasized her focus on ghostwriting and finding herself, aligning with sentiments from her memoir. Her last musical release was a collaboration with Elton John in August 2022, and while fans are eager for more, they respect her decision to step away from the industry.
British pop star Dua Lipa has decided not to release a music video for her upcoming third album after deeming it insensitive in light of the recent conflict in Gaza. The video, which cost hundreds of thousands of pounds and featured scenes of chaos and fighting, was filmed before the conflict escalated on October 7th. Lipa, expressing her heartache for those affected in Israel and Palestine, hopes for a ceasefire and calls for government action to address the crisis. She is also set to be a headliner at Glastonbury Festival in 2024 and is currently the UK's highest earning female singer.
Four Britney Spears superfans share their thoughts on her memoir, "The Woman in Me." They highlight the book's revelations about her deeply broken family, her experiences in the exploitative conservatorship, and the validation it provides to the #FreeBritney movement. The memoir exposes the horrors of immense fame and the years of exploitation Spears endured. Fans hope that reading her story will lead to a greater understanding and empathy towards celebrities. Despite the pain and trauma she has faced, Britney Spears continues to inspire resilience and the pursuit of a better future.
The use of Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby" in a wild sex scene in Ari Aster's latest film, Beau Is Afraid, was essential to the director's vision and cost the production hundreds of thousands of dollars. The song's connection to the film adds extratextual resonance, as it represents a leap forward in Mariah's career and Beau Is Afraid is Aster's most personal project to date. The film's producer, Lars Knudsen, says they asked the studio to up the music budget so they could afford the Mariah track, which was the last hurdle in finishing the movie.
