News about music: events, facts and developments on tafs uz.
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Rapper Gazan (Konstantin Zhukov), the author of the viral hit «67», told Life.ru that he does not plan to move on to serious and sad songs and will continue making cheerful music. The question was prompted by the experience of Valentin Strikalo, who changed his creative course.
Otabek YusupovScandals surrounding performances by artists from Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have led to dozens of cancelled concerts and calls for boycotts. AFP describes how the diplomatic crisis between Abidjan and the Sahel's military governments has spilled over into the cultural sphere.
Aziz Karimov29-year-old singer Jamie Miller from Cardiff has topped the UK singles chart with the viral hit Babydoll, which became popular through TikTok. This is the first time since 2011 that a Welsh artist has topped the chart, and the first solo male artist from Wales in 41 years.
Otabek YusupovThe viral AI composition by DJ NARODNII & DJ LINUSIK has stopped playing on Russian streaming platforms at the request of Roskomnadzor. Earlier, a State Duma deputy proposed labeling AI music, and the track’s author said he had wanted to mock low-quality neural-network music.
Aziz KarimovThe NFL has announced that Jay-Z will headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood — the first time during Roc Nation's partnership with the league, which has lasted since 2019. The announcement followed the conclusion of his anniversary tour marking the 30th anniversary of the album Reasonable Doubt.
Aziz KarimovBusted guitarist James Bourne has revealed that his younger brother Chris, who replaced him on tour, became his kidney donor. According to the musician, doctors had previously told him he had 'a few years left to live'.
Aziz KarimovA judge at Southwark Crown Court sentenced singer Chris Brown to eight months in prison suspended for 12 months for assaulting producer Abraham Diaw with a tequila bottle at the Tape club in February 2023. His co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu received four months suspended. Both pleaded guilty to affray; the more serious charges were dropped. A judge at Southwark Crown Court sentenced singer Chris Brown to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months, for assaulting producer Abraham Diaw with a tequila bottle at the Tape nightclub in February 2023. His co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu received four months suspended. Both admitted affray; more serious charges were dropped.
Otabek YusupovEuronews has published a round-up of the week's cultural events in Europe: an Agatha Christie exhibition at the British Library, an exhibition on quantum theory as part of Turin Art Week, the premieres of the films Wicker and Primetime, the series Nocturne on Apple TV+ and a new album by Queens of the Stone Age. Most premieres are scheduled for 30 October. Euronews has published a roundup of the week's cultural events in Europe: an Agatha Christie exhibition at the British Library, a show about quantum theory as part of Turin Art Week, the premieres of the films Wicker and Primetime, the series Nocturne on Apple TV+ and a new album by Queens of the Stone Age. Most premieres are scheduled for 30 October.
Otabek YusupovDmitry Shatunov (LDPR), a member of the State Duma Committee on Digital Development, has approached the leadership of Yandex Music and VK with a proposal to label tracks created with artificial intelligence, place them in separate charts and recommendation playlists. In his view, this will increase content transparency and help promote Russian artists. Musicians' opinions on AI in music differ.
Aziz KarimovSpotify mistakenly published the lyrics of the Welsh version of Dolly Parton's song Jolene in the Irish language. The track, recorded before the singer's death on 25 August and released on 9 October, was recorded with Welsh singer Bronwen Lewis and Parton's niece Jada Star. After a BBC request, the streaming service removed the incorrect lyrics.
Aziz KarimovBritish singer Sam Fender has announced a reduction in ticket prices for his Proper Massive Stadium Tour 2027 and the removal of the 'front standing' category, which allowed fans to pay extra to get closer to the stage. The decision was made before sales began, following discussion of prices on social media.
Otabek YusupovAccording to Luminate, in the first half of 2026 about 60% of listens in the UK and US went to songs older than five years. 18 of the 20 best-selling songs of the year in the UK were released more than 12 months ago. Meanwhile, over 100,000 tracks are uploaded to streaming services daily, and Spotify removed 75 million “spam tracks.” The industry is looking for ways to support new artists. According to Luminate, in the first half of 2026 about 60% of plays in the UK and US went to songs older than five years. 18 of the 20 best-selling songs of the year in the UK were released more than 12 months ago. Meanwhile, more than 100,000 tracks are uploaded to streaming services daily, and Spotify removed 75 million 'spam tracks'. The industry is looking for ways to support new artists.
Aziz KarimovAmerican country performer John Anderson died on Wednesday at the age of 71. The cause of death has not been disclosed. His family announced his death on Instagram. Anderson is known for the hits Swingin', Seminole Wind and Money in the Bank; he was a three-time CMA award winner and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame since 2024.
Sevara AzamovaBritish singer Raye (Rachel Keen) has won the 2026 Mercury Prize with her second album This Music May Contain Hope, beating favourite Olivia Dean, Paul McCartney and ten other nominees. It is the first pop album win at the awards since 1994. The ceremony was held in Newcastle; the prize is £25,000.
Javlon TursunovChinese researchers have created the SALF-Net model, which assigns emotional labels to music in short clips even with distortions and absence of song lyrics. On a collection of 30,000 human-labeled clips it outperformed systems from Alibaba and NVIDIA. A lightweight version labels more than 12 million clips per day on a single graphics card.
Sevara AzamovaSenegal's Orchestra Baobab, blending Afro-Cuban music with West African traditions, marks its 50th anniversary and prepares to release 'Made in Senegal' — its first album of new songs in nearly ten years. Young musicians are gradually replacing the veterans, and the band plans its first tour of Senegal's regions.
Sevara AzamovaThe anniversary, tenth Starmus festival of science and music is taking place in Tenerife. The week-long event, themed 'The Search for Truth', brings together Nobel laureates, astronauts, conservationists and artists, including Queen guitarist Brian May and keyboardist Rick Wakeman.
Javlon TursunovIndian rappers have recorded the 'Climate Emergency Mixtape' — according to the organizers, the country's first multilingual rap album about the climate crisis. The record includes six tracks in different Indian languages, devoted to water scarcity, floods, and the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities.
Shahnoza Ergasheva
