4 h. ago ‘Men explicitly loving men is so threatening to the status quo’: why are gay male pop stars being shut out of the music industry?

Not long ago, artists such as Lil Nas X and Olly Alexander were ruling pop. But success has stalled as acts face industry obstacles and rising homophobia. What now?At the turn of the decade, gay male and non-binary pop stars seemed poised to take pop music by storm. Lil Nas X broke out with Old Town Road – which blew up on TikTok, sold about 18.5m copies and remains tied with Shaboozey’s A Bar Song (Tipsy) and Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You as the longest-running No 1 single in US history – and artists such as Sam Smith, Troye Sivan and Olly Alexander from Years & Years were all singing about gay love and sex.But the initial promise has stalled. Lil Nas X’s attempts to build on his smash debut album have fizzled, and he is publicly dealing with mental health issues. In October, Khalid released his first album since being outed by his ex last year but only sold 10,000 copies in the first week in the US. A previous album, 2019’s Free Spirit, sold some 200,000 copie...

Events

17 h. ago Football and concert prices to 'soar' thanks to proposed hikes in policing costs

Industry chiefs are warning that football and music fans will be the ones who end up losing out if plans to make organisers pay more go ahead

Economics

40 h. ago Meet the new One Direction! Simon Cowell's Netflix boyband REVEALED and the unusual name they hope will help them break into the music industry

Simon Cowell has revealed his brand-new boyband, which he hopes will follow in the footsteps of One Direction.

Culture

40 h. ago Bros star Matt Goss' advice to Simon Cowell as music mogul forms new band

Bros icon Matt Goss, whose successful music career has spanned more than 38 years in the music industry, has shared advice to Simon Cowell as he forms a new boyband

Culture

43 h. ago Fast food chain Leon 'to shut restaurants' after going into administration

'Loss making restaurants' to be shut and redundancy program started

Society

9 d. ago Diddy would bite you & cut your neck during fights, says childhood pal as shamed mogul’s horrific upbringing revealed

FOR decades, he was the heart and soul of the rap world, a God-like figure in the music industry whose name alone opened doors. But since last year, P Diddy – the man who once bragged he could make anyone a star – has been behind bars. In October 2024, he was found guilty of...

Sport

2 w. ago Jimmy Cliff’s charisma and fearless creativity expanded the horizons of reggae | Lloyd Bradley

Cliff, who has died aged 81, took every opportunity that he was presented with, and created plenty more himself. It resulted in a career path like no other• Jimmy Cliff: A life in picturesWhen Jimmy Cliff died, reggae and the music world in general lost one of its most accomplished opportunists. The less sympathetic might have called him a chancer, but from the very beginnings there was little he wouldn’t try if he thought it would advance either himself or the music. Over the years I got to know him, both from interviews and sometimes just hanging out, so many of his anecdotes ended with the words: “Well I wasn’t going to say no, was I?” I wasn’t fully joking when I told him it should be his catchphrase.But that was Jimmy Cliff, a charismatic combination of charm, bravery, humour and an ability to see beyond what was put in front of him. Throughout his career he frequently shifted away from standard reggae industry practice, often expanding the music’s horizons and options. Continu...

Politics

2 w. ago Cruz Beckham hits back at accusations he plagiarised The Beatles and Oasis as he launches his music career

Cruz Beckham has pushed back against claims he's copied The Beatles and Oasis as he steps into the music industry.

Events

2 w. ago Celeste: ‘It can be exhausting, fighting for yourself to be heard’

The Oscar-nominated musician is back with her superb second album, ‘Woman of Faces’, but getting here hasn’t been easy. She talks to Roisin O’Connor about feeling compelled to speak up, the demands of the music industry, and ‘coming back to exist as herself, again’

Politics

3 w. ago Charli xcx plays version of herself in teaser for mockumentary The Moment

The ‘2024 period piece’ stars the Grammy-winning musician with Kylie Jenner, Rachel Sennott and Alexander SkarsgårdCharli xcx’s 2026 big screen onslaught is set to kick off with The Moment, a mockumentary starring the musician as a self-described “hell version” of herself.The film, based on an idea by the Grammy winner, is fiction but xcx has called it “the realest depiction of the music industry that I’ve ever seen”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Paul McCartney joins music industry protest against AI with silent track

Former Beatle and artists including Sam Fender, Kate Bush and Hans Zimmer record silent LP Is This What We WantAt two minutes 45 seconds it’s about the same length as With a Little Help From My Friends. But Paul McCartney’s first new recording in five years lacks the sing-along tune and jaunty guitar chops because there’s barely anything there.The former Beatle, arguably Britain’s greatest living songwriter, is releasing a track of an almost completely silent recording studio as part of a music industry protest against copyright theft by artificial intelligence companies. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago We've found Kelly Brook's very flattering leopard print Rixo dress ahead of I'm A Celeb

Kelly Brook has proved that once again she's the queen of the red carpet look as she stepped out for the Music Industry Trust Awards before flying off to Australia to star in ITV 's I'm A Celeb.

Politics

4 w. ago Starmer shuts down Lowe’s calls for a referendum on the death penalty: ‘It is not the answer’

Sir Keir Starmer has shut down Rupert Lowe’s recommendation that the death penalty be reintroduced for foreign criminals.

Politics

4 w. ago 'Keep your mouth shut' Granit Xhaka fires warning to Premier League star after international row

Noah Okafor has not been called up by Switzerland for almost a year and went public with his frustration at his ongoing omission from the national team squad

Events

last month ‘I expect humility’ – Leeds star Noah Okafor in explosive international row as Switzerland chief fires back warning

GRANIT XHAKA has waded into the explosive international row between Switzerland and exiled Noak Okafor. And the skipper has urged the Leeds United star to keep his “mouth shut and work” to earn a recall.   Winger Okafor, an £18m arrival at Elland Road from AC Milan in August, has been left out of the squad...

Events