Category: MUSIC

Grammy-winning composer Shankar Mahadevan has created “Rubaroo” using AI tool Sandbox, developed with YouTube and Google Lab. The Sufi-contemporary fusion track was unveiled at Google’s I/O conference. Mahadevan insists AI is a “friend and personal assistant,” not a replacement for musicians, comparing it to past technology shifts like synthesizers. He emphasizes human creativity remains irreplaceable in final artistic decisions.READ FULL

Lady Gaga has won a Sports Emmy for her Super Bowl performance of “Top Gun: Maverick’s” “Hold My Hand” in New Orleans. The emotional tribute featured first responders and Tom Brady. With multiple Grammys and an Oscar already secured, Gaga now only needs a Tony Award to join the elite group of 18 EGOT winners in entertainment history.READ FULL

Three talented Russian musicians—pianist Stanislav Chernukhin, soprano Karina Khovalyg, and baritone Mikhail Loginov—performed at the National Theatre Hall yesterday. The event, organized by Russian House and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy with support from Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory, featured classical compositions and operatic works. Part of the “Rising Stars” initiative promoting young Russian musicians globally, the concert aimed to strengthen cultural bonds between nations.READ FULL

Robin Rafan, a Bangladeshi content creator known for AI and VFX storytelling, received the Best Content Creator 2025 award at the inaugural Cultural Night Awards in New York. Though unable to attend, his award was presented by legendary singer Samina Chowdhury and accepted by Wali Sujon, CEO of About Time Events Inc. The ceremony featured performances celebrating Bangladeshi culture and was attended by numerous entertainment and business luminaries.READ FULL

Kanye West, now known as Ye, shared disturbing childhood memories on social media alongside a song titled “Cousins.” The 47-year-old rapper revealed experiencing inappropriate childhood behavior after exposure to adult content, expressing guilt that these early experiences may have influenced a cousin who’s now serving a life sentence. His candid post has drawn mixed reactions from the public, with some showing empathy while others question his motives for the disclosure.READ FULL

Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has responded to singer Abhijeet’s criticism about his overuse of technology in music creation. “It’s nice to blame me for everything. I still love Abhijeet,” Rahman said. He refuted claims about reducing live instrumentation, noting he regularly employs hundreds of musicians for projects like Chhaava and Ponniyin Selvan. Rahman explained computers help design harmonies in a competitive market while maintaining his commitment to traditional musicianship.READ FULL

Mustafa Zahid, known for hit Bollywood songs like “Toh Phir Aao” and tracks in “Aashiqui 2,” will perform in Dhaka on April 11. The concert is organized by Melody and Mind Communication, with venue and ticket details pending. The lead singer of Pakistan’s Roxen band, who has over 5.5 million Spotify followers, confirmed his appearance through a Facebook video message to Bangladeshi fans.READ FULL

BTS member J-Hope has released a new single “Mona Lisa,” co-produced with Blake Slatkin. The track quickly topped iTunes charts in 67 regions and entered YouTube’s Top 10 Trending Videos in 22 countries. Inspired by the famous painting, the song celebrates individuality over external beauty. J-Hope is currently on his “Hope on the Stage” tour, which concludes in Japan in June 2025.READ FULL

Bon Jovi’s classic hit “It’s My Life” has reentered the UK charts, debuting at No. 33 on the Official Singles Sales Chart. The resurgence comes after Pitbull sampled the song in his new single “(It’s) Now or Never.” This follows Bon Jovi’s earlier 2024 success with two singles from their album “Forever” – “Legendary” and “Living Proof” – which reached No. 7 and No. 34 respectively on the UK charts.READ FULL

Six years after legendary Bangladeshi rock musician Ayub Bachchu’s death, his unreleased track “Inbox” is set to release on December 1, 2024. The song, written by Niaz Ahmed Anshu and composed by Bachchu, will be the first of several posthumous releases planned by the Ayub Bachchu Foundation. The track will be available on YouTube, iTunes, and Spotify. LRB’s guitarist Abdullah Al Masud revealed that more unreleased songs will follow.READ FULL

The “Dhaka Retro” concert, featuring iconic ’90s bands Nagar Baul, Ark, Miles, and Dalchhut, along with popular artists Jon Kabir, Oni Hasan, and Drockstar Shuvo, is set for today at Senaprangan, Dhaka. Originally planned for October 18 at Dhaka Arena, the event was rescheduled due to security concerns. The concert starts at 5 PM, with tickets priced at Tk 2,400 (VIP) and Tk 1,400 (General).READ FULL

Several celebrities expressed strong reactions to reported election results, with rapper Cardi B posting an emotional video supporting Kamala Harris and criticizing Trump supporters. Other celebrities including Jamie Lee Curtis, Christina Applegate, and Stephen King shared concerns on social media about potential impacts on minority rights, women’s healthcare, and democracy following the reported election outcome.READ FULL

Paul Di’Anno, Iron Maiden’s original frontman, has died at 66 at his home in Salisbury. He performed on the band’s first two albums before departing in 1981. Despite recent health issues that confined him to a wheelchair, he remained active in music, performing over 100 shows in 2023-24. Iron Maiden members paid tribute, with bassist Steve Harris calling his death “heartbreaking.”READ FULL

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in Bombay High Court seeking guidelines against ticket black marketing, following alleged irregularities in Coldplay’s Mumbai concert ticket sales for January 2025. The petition claims BookMyShow manipulated sales, with tickets appearing on secondary websites at inflated prices. The court will hear the matter in November after Diwali, while police investigation continues.READ FULL

Diljit Dosanjh has made history as the first Indian artist to grace the cover of Billboard Canada’s inaugural print edition. The special issue features highlights from his “Dil-Luminati” tour, marking a significant moment for Indian artists in North America. Fans celebrated this achievement on social media. Dosanjh is currently concluding his international tour and preparing for the Indian leg starting October 26 in New Delhi. Additionally, he’s set to star in the upcoming film “Border 2” alongside Sunny Deol and Varun Dhawan.READ FULL

BTS member J-hope completed his mandatory 18-month South Korean military service, greeted by bandmate Jin and fans upon release. His return is expected to boost the K-pop industry, particularly HYBE, BTS’s agency, which has faced recent challenges. The remaining BTS members will finish their service by June 2025. Jin, who completed his service in June, plans to release his first solo album in November.READ FULL

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, was found dead after falling from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Police responded to reports of an “aggressive man” possibly under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Payne’s death was confirmed by emergency workers. The singer, who had a successful career with One Direction and as a solo artist, had recently attended a bandmate’s concert in the city.READ FULL

Diljit Dosanjh, Pitbull, and Neeraj Shridhar are collaborating on the title song for “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” a horror-comedy film. The track, originally from the 2007 movie, aims to blend Bollywood style with global music. Kartik Aaryan teased the song, set to release Wednesday. Tanishk Bagchi and Pritam composed the music, with lyrics by Sameer. Directed by Anees Bazmee and starring Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan, and Triptii Dimri, the film is slated for a Diwali release on November 1.READ FULL

Blackpink’s Jennie released her new solo single “Mantra” on October 10, which quickly topped iTunes charts in 47 countries, including the US. It’s the only song by a female K-pop soloist to reach #1 on US iTunes in 2024. The energetic track features Jennie surrounded by luxury cars in its music video. This success follows her acting debut, British Empire honor, and the launch of her own label, OA, in December.READ FULL

Taylor Swift has become the world’s wealthiest female musician with a net worth of $1.6 billion, surpassing Rihanna’s $1.4 billion, according to Forbes. At 34, Swift is the first musician to achieve billionaire status primarily through music and performances. Her fortune includes $600 million from tours and royalties, $600 million from her music catalogue, and $125 million in real estate. Swift ranks #2,117 on Forbes’ global billionaires list and will resume her Eras Tour in Miami this October.READ FULL

The South Korean Embassy in Dhaka will host the “Korean Music Concert 2024” on October 4 at the National Museum’s Grand Auditorium. The free event will feature performances by Korean acapella group ‘Only Voice’, K-pop dance team ‘Lemonade’, and creative dancer Hong Soo Jeong. The concert aims to showcase both traditional Korean music and modern K-pop, offering Dhaka’s audience a diverse cultural experience. The event is open to the public, welcoming Korean culture enthusiasts and curious attendees alike.READ FULL

Charlie Puth, 32, and Brooke Sansone, 25, married on September 7 in an intimate ceremony at Puth’s family home in Montecito, California. The couple blended traditional and modern elements, with quirky touches like mini hotdogs on silver platters. The celebration included a rehearsal dinner at San Ysidro Ranch and a post-dinner party on Puth’s tennis court. They exchanged vows under an olive tree, with both including the line “It’s always been you” in their vows.READ FULL

Sabrina Carpenter’s new album “Short n’ Sweet” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 362,000 units in its first week. All 12 tracks from the album landed on the Billboard Hot 100, with three in the top five. This achievement puts Carpenter in elite company, joining Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande as the only women to accomplish this feat. Carpenter also becomes the second artist ever, after The Beatles, to achieve her first three top-five hits simultaneously from a debut album.READ FULL

The song “Dushtu Kokil” from the Bengali film “Toofan” has set a new record, amassing over 200 million views on YouTube within two months of its release. Featuring vocals by Kona and Akassh Sen, the song’s success marks a significant milestone for Bengali cinema. Despite the achievement, singer Kona expressed mixed feelings due to ongoing national issues. The film, starring Shakib Khan, has garnered widespread attention since its Eid-ul-Azha release. READ FULL

British rock band Oasis has announced their reunion after 15 years, with brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher planning a series of live shows in 2025. The tour will begin on July 4 in Cardiff, Wales, with 14 gigs across the UK and Ireland. This reunion marks the 30th anniversary of their second album “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?”. The announcement follows years of speculation and hostility between the Gallagher brothers. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, with the band promising a world tour. Reuters

Popular Pakistani band Jal is set to return to Dhaka for a concert on September 27 at the Dhaka Arena. Lead vocalist Goher Mumtaz confirmed the news on Facebook. The “Legends of the Decade” concert, organized by Assen, Xirconium, and Rootover, will feature Jal alongside several Bangladeshi bands. Tickets are priced at Tk 3,050. Jal last performed in Dhaka in 2010.

Celebrated Bengali singer Nachiketa, marking 31 years in the music industry, is preparing for a visit to Bangladesh. His recent trip was postponed, but he notes significant changes in the country. Reflecting on his career, Nachiketa expresses satisfaction with his achievements, feeling he’s received more than he deserved or imagined. His only regret, echoing Charlie Chaplin, is how swiftly time has passed. He continues to resonate with fans across both Bengals. Daily Star

Lady Gaga performed at the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, singing in French. A video on French PM Gabriel Attal’s TikTok shows Gaga introducing Michael Polansky as her fiancé, confirming engagement rumors. Gaga has been attending various Olympic events. Her performance of “Mon Truc en Plume” was pre-recorded earlier Friday. The singer, previously engaged to Christian Carino and Taylor Kinney, has been dating Polansky since 2019-2020. Her representatives have been contacted for comment. Daily Star

Indian YouTube sensation Dhvani Bhanushali visited Dhaka for a two-day trip. Known for hits like “Vaaste” and “Leja Leja Re”, Dhvani expressed eagerness to perform a concert in Bangladesh. Her rapid rise to fame includes breaking YouTube records and voicing popular Bollywood tracks. With millions of followers on social media, Dhvani feels responsible for reflecting tradition, love, and culture through her music. Her latest hit “Thank You God” is trending with 14 million views in three months.

Pop star Justin Bieber performed at the sangeet ceremony of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai, India. He sang several hit songs, including “Love Yourself” and “Peaches,” delighting guests. Bieber reportedly received $10 million for his appearance. The event is part of extensive pre-wedding celebrations for the couple, who will marry on July 12. Other international stars like Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Backstreet Boys have also performed at related events. Daily Star

Will Smith, the Grammy-winning rapper and actor, has released a new gospel-inspired single “You Can Make It” after a long music hiatus. This is his first independent music release, created with artist Fridayy and featuring the Sunday Service choir. Smith is set to perform at the 2024 BET Awards on June 30. He hinted at more personal and powerful music coming soon, following the success of his recent film “Bad Boys: Ride or Die”. Daily Star

Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” reaches No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100, marking her first chart-topper. The song, released June 6, surpassed Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help”. Her previous hit “Espresso” remains at No. 4. The music video features Barry Keoghan. Carpenter’s sixth album, “Short n’ Sweet”, releases August 23. She announced a fall tour, starting in Columbus, Ohio and ending in Los Angeles on November 15. Ticket sales begin this week. Daily Star