Episodes

  • Music's Biggest Week: Brass Revival, Jazz Festivals, and Pop Tours Dominate the Scene

    Music's Biggest Week: Brass Revival, Jazz Festivals, and Pop Tours Dominate the Scene
    Feb 22 2026
    Well listeners, it's been a week that reminds us why we keep our ears open and our hearts tuned to what's happening across the musical landscape. Let me walk you through what's been moving the needle in ways both expected and surprising.

    First, the brass world is having a moment. Interlochen Public Radio just wrapped up a brass spectacular weekend featuring Seraph Brass, the Prairie Brass Band, and Wynton Marsalis, with listeners requesting classics from Handel, Leroy Anderson, and Victor Ewald. There's something deeply satisfying about seeing traditional brass instrumentation command attention in an age where digital synthesis dominates. It's a reminder that the physical vibration of metal and breath still speaks to something primal in us.

    Over in Gainesville, Florida, something beautiful is unfolding. The inaugural New Horizons jazz festival launches tomorrow and runs through March first, celebrating what festival curator Steven Head calls an invisible-until-now jazz community. We're talking drummer and composer Makaya McCraven headlining a lineup that refuses to be boxed in by genre. Mike Baggetta, a guitarist who's spent years traveling the world, is coming home to play intimate venues. This is what happens when a city decides its musicians deserve better than obscurity. It's community as music, music as community.

    The new music ecosystem continues its fragmentation across every conceivable corner. Kid Fourteen is making his comeback with a track from an upcoming album called Far Away and Well Adjusted after a two-year absence. Yungblud completed his Idols album with part two, while Hilary Duff returned to pop music with Luck or Something. Meanwhile, pop-rock band Nightbreakers dropped Disaster and Caroline Romano released Unsteady. The Kid Laroi, Poppy, and Breaking Benjamin are all announcing substantial tours for twenty twenty six. This is the thing about the current moment: there's no single narrative, just dozens of stories unfolding simultaneously across every platform imaginable.

    On the festival front, momentum is building. The Cloud City Music Festival is coming this spring courtesy of Belgian bass duo Ganja White Night, marking their largest headline event yet. These aren't your parents' music festivals anymore. They're multi-stage experiences designed to blur every boundary between genre, generation, and expectation.

    What strikes me most is how alive things feel right now. We've got vinyl lovers and algorithm-escapists sitting beside kids discovering music through completely different channels, and somehow it all matters. The brass bands, the jazz innovators, the pop kids, the bass producers—they're all part of the same story we're living through.

    Thank you so much for tuning in and please make sure you subscribe so you don't miss what comes next. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

    For great Music deals
    https://amzn.to/3BPL8A7

    Or check out these podcasts http://quietplease.ai

    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • Nashville Rebrands Power, New Music Explodes: Foo Fighters, U2, and Sabrina Carpenter Lead Week's Biggest Releases

    Nashville Rebrands Power, New Music Explodes: Foo Fighters, U2, and Sabrina Carpenter Lead Week's Biggest Releases
    Feb 21 2026
    Hey listeners, Lenny Vaughn here, spinning the raw truth on the music world's endless groove from vinyl soul to digital fire. Nashville's buzzing with seismic shifts as HYBE America's country arm rebrands to Blue Highway Records, helmed by CEO Jake Basden, folding in The Valory and boosting stars like Thomas Rhett, Carly Pearce, and Midland. Kane Brown's opening his own Lower Broadway venue this summer, while Jelly Roll snags the Country Radio Broadcasters' Artist Humanitarian Award for his offstage heart. Publishing heats up too, with deals for Mary Kutter at BBR Music Group, Jonny Capeci via Sony and Kane Brown, and Big Loud adding Matt McCartney and Max Martin.

    New Music Friday exploded with heavy hitters: Foo Fighters dropped "Your Favorite Toy," unlocking their April album tone with new drummer Ilan Rubin; Mumford & Sons stomped back with banjo-fueled Prizefighter, co-written by Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, Brandi Carlile, and Finneas; U2 surprised with scathing EP Days of Ash, led by "American Obituary" slamming ICE; YUNGBLUD expanded his IDOLS saga into IDOLS II with Britpop chills; Lana Del Rey haunted with "White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter"; Megan Moroney served country fire via "Medicine" and album Cloud 9; plus fresh cuts from Bebe Rexha's "Çike Çike," Hilary Duff's "Weather for Tennis," Gorillaz's sitar-laced "Orange County," and New Found Glory's hopeful Listen Up! after guitarist Chad Gilbert's cancer battle.

    Tour whispers ignite: Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet video leaked UK dates like Manchester's Co-op Live on Feb 14 and O2 doubleheader Feb 20-21. Europe gears up with Garbage, Deep Purple, Pet Shop Boys, Black Keys, and Nena shows, while Shinedown teases rockers EI8HT. Industry moves include Live Nation's record $25.2BN 2025 revenue forecasting 2026 growth, UMG partnering direct-to-fan EVEN, and signings like Julia Cumming to ROAM, Isaia Huron to RCA, and Ministry of Sound's new A&R head Oli Welch.

    From psych-rock Temples' "Jet Stream Heart" to Jlin's electronic chamber mashup with Third Coast Percussion tonight, the spirit's alive amid algorithm noise. Thanks for tuning in, listeners—subscribe for the deep cuts. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

    For great Music deals
    https://amzn.to/3BPL8A7

    Or check out these podcasts http://quietplease.ai

    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • Taylor Swift's Continued Global Dominance and the Evolving Music Industry Landscape

    Taylor Swift's Continued Global Dominance and the Evolving Music Industry Landscape
    Feb 19 2026
    Well listeners, it's been quite a week in the music world, and there's some fascinating shifts happening beneath the surface that remind us why we keep our ears tuned to this industry.

    Let's start with what's happening right now. Taylor Swift just locked down her sixth consecutive IFPI award as the world's biggest-selling artist globally in 2025. That's not just dominance, that's a legacy being written in real time. Meanwhile, the spring release cycle is hitting full force with artists understanding something fundamental about timing. According to industry veterans like Rob Evans at Capricorn Studios, most releases are planned six months to a year in advance. Summer touring season drives everything. Artists want their music out early enough for listeners to know it by heart before they hit the stage, and that's why we're seeing this flood of announcements right now. Bruno Mars and RAYE are already teasing spring releases they'll play this summer. Zach Bryan, Megan Moroney, and BTS are all touring with records timed perfectly to support those dates.

    On the business side, there's real movement happening. HYBE America just rebranded its Nashville operation as Blue Highway Records with industry veteran Jake Basden taking the CEO seat. They're consolidating operations, folding in publishing and distribution under one umbrella. Meanwhile, Universal Music Group partnered with EVEN, a direct-to-fan platform, recognizing what artists are learning everywhere: that superfans are the real foundation of sustainable careers. We're watching artists like Wale grow their owned fan audiences by over three hundred percent in a single week using these tools alongside streaming.

    The technology side is evolving too. Apple just launched Playlist Playground, letting listeners use AI to turn text prompts into actual playlists with cover art and descriptions. Google is pushing similar tools. This matters because it's changing how listeners discover and engage with music, though some worry we need better labeling on AI-generated content before this goes further.

    Looking at what's dropping, the catalog is wide. Twenty One Pilots released Drag Path while SZA put out the Hoppers soundtrack for Pixar. Jessie Ware is preparing Superbloom for April tenth. On the heavier side, Metal Insider compiled ninety new metal albums announced just since the start of this year, with bands like Exodus and Evergrey already locked in for spring releases. The sheer volume tells you something important: the industry is banking on this moment to establish momentum for the entire year ahead.

    It's a reminder that beneath all the algorithms and playlists, music still operates on seasons, on strategy, on the fundamental human need to gather together and experience sound live.

    Thanks for tuning in listeners. Make sure you subscribe for more insights into the music that moves us. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

    For great Music deals
    https://amzn.to/3BPL8A7

    Or check out these podcasts http://quietplease.ai

    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • Discover the Metal Underground's Hottest Drops and the K-Pop Empire's Latest Moves

    Discover the Metal Underground's Hottest Drops and the K-Pop Empire's Latest Moves
    Feb 17 2026
    Hey listeners, Lenny Vaughn here, your bridge from dusty vinyl grooves to the digital haze, preaching the gospel of raw sounds over algorithm slop. In the last 24 hours, the metal underground's roaring with February's freshest drops—heavyblogisheavy hails Wildhunt's traddy prog-thrash stunner Aletheia, Exxûl's epic doom debut Sealed Into None blending heavy and power vibes, and Blackwater Holylight's post-rock gaze triumph Not Here Not Gone, where doom meets hypnotic buoyancy as Bearded Gentlemen Music raves. Chaoszine reports Cult of Luna locking in their 2026 summer run, hitting Inferno Festival in Oslo April 2, Roadburn in Tilburg, Hellfest in France, and ArcTanGent in Bristol with Julie Christmas—post-metal pilgrims, mark those dates before bots snatch the tickets.

    Over in K-pop empire-building, Music Business Worldwide details HYBE's earnings glow: Weverse flipped profitable, their US arm restructured with Ethiopia Habtemariam as President of Music, and BTS, all military service done, unleashes fifth album ARIRANG March 20 ahead of a record-shattering 82-show world tour starting April, Netflix-livestreamed no less. Country's buzzing too with Riley Green's Billboard history, while they ink South African star Tyla.

    Eurovision gets weird and wired—ITV announces YouTuber Look Mum No Computer, the Ramsgate synth wizard building Furby organs and flame keyboards, as UK's 2026 entry for Vienna, promising "synthesised" chaos per BBC brass. Pop-punk faithful, Frontview Magazine says New Found Glory's long-awaited Listen Up! drops February 20, their first full-length in six years.

    Industry shakes include Nikkei Asia on Sony's new tech tracking copyrights in AI tunes for songwriter payouts, and New Industry Focus confirming the EU greenlights UMG's Downtown Music buy despite backlash. Warner Music Group's surging 4.1% post-earnings on AI borders and superfan cash grabs, per Chronicle Journal, while Victoria Canal blasts music's misogyny and NDA gag culture in The Independent.

    Loudersound spotlights singles like Starbenders' propulsion-packed Summon My Heart and Earth Tongue's fuzz-witch Orbit Of A Witch from Dungeon Vision. From blackgaze to brutal death, the week's stacked for discovery.

    Thanks for tuning in, listeners—subscribe to keep the spirit alive. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

    For great Music deals
    https://amzn.to/3BPL8A7

    Or check out these podcasts http://quietplease.ai

    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • Uncover Vinyl-to-Streaming Sonic Gems: A Music Lover's Roundup

    Uncover Vinyl-to-Streaming Sonic Gems: A Music Lover's Roundup
    Feb 15 2026
    Hey listeners, Lenny Vaughn here, spinning the threads from vinyl grooves to streaming chaos, bridging the beats that algorithms can't touch. Over the past 24 hours, the music world's buzzing with Valentine's vibes and fresh drops across the map. Interlochen Public Radio's Music by Request celebrated the holiday with listener picks like Kevin Lau's works, Giuseppe Verdi's classics, and Edward Elgar, featuring the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Gil Shaham, and Renée Fleming—pure archival gold keeping classical alive.

    In pop's global whirlwind, The Bias List rounded up February standouts: A*Teens' bombastic "Iconic" from Melodifestivalen, Agnes' sleek "Trigger," Emmy's crystalline "Sykt Fin," and Surferosa's long-awaited comeback "Holiday" after 17 years—retro cheese meets modern fire. Eurovision hopefuls shine too, with eMMa’s "Northern Lights," Luke Black's dark "Parasite," and Loreen's steady "Feels Like Heaven." Gaga echoes ripple through Ericka Jane's "Death Of Me," Magdalene's "DJesus," and Mileo's quirky "Frankenstein."

    Latin heat exploded as Marc Anthony launched his "VEGAS…MY WAY!" residency at Fontainebleau Las Vegas' BleauLive Theater on February 14, PR Newswire reports a sold-out triumph with pyro blasts, hits like "Valió la Pena," "You Sang to Me," and a bilingual "My Way" closer—powerhouse vocals had the crowd roaring.

    Hip-hop whispers grow louder around Jay-Z, as Ad-Hoc-News fuels speculation of a 2026 era with studio sightings, Roc Nation moves, and fan theories of anniversary shows blending "Empire State of Mind" with deep cuts—no confirmations yet, but Hov's silence screams something big.

    Metal heads, Louder highlights the 12 best new songs, from Nirvana retrospectives to proggy gems by Crown Lands and a cult band's jungle-born 90s epic. Twin Cities rocked Valentine's with Bad Bad Hats at First Avenue, Tchaikovsky at Orchestra Hall, and Cory Henry at the Dakota.

    Spotify's New Music Friday Canada spotlights Myles Smith, Niall Horan, Tame Impala, JENNIE, J. Cole, and more—diverse fuel for your next spin.

    Thanks for tuning in, listeners—subscribe to keep the raw discovery flowing. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

    For great Music deals
    https://amzn.to/3BPL8A7

    Or check out these podcasts http://quietplease.ai

    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • New Music Roundup: Olivia Dean, Bruno Mars, and Deezer's AI Innovations

    New Music Roundup: Olivia Dean, Bruno Mars, and Deezer's AI Innovations
    Feb 14 2026
    Hey listeners, Lenny Vaughn here, spinning the raw truth on the music world from my vinyl-stacked bunker. In the last 24 hours, Billboard's Hot 100 chart dropped some heat—Olivia Dean holds strong at number two with "Man I Need," while Bruno Mars climbs to four with "I Just Might," scoring the biggest airplay gain. Don Toliver floods the lower ranks with fresh drops like "Secondhand" featuring Rema and "Rendezvous" with Yeat, both debuting at 29 and 30. Morgan Wallen stays country king with "I Got Better" at 23, but tracks from Myles Smith, KATSEYE, and even Prince's "Purple Rain" tumbled out.

    New Music Friday exploded yesterday—Charli XCX unleashes "Wuthering Heights" soundtrack vibes alongside her single "Always Everywhere," Brent Faiyaz drops "Icon" and "Other Side," and Central Cee freestyles "Iceman." Bleachers teases their May album with the soaring "you and forever," MUNA shares "Dancing on the Wall" from their upcoming LP, and Cold War Kids return with two fresh cuts. Albums like Angel Du$t's "COLD 2 THE TOUCH" and Worm's "Necropalace" hit Bandcamp hard, blending hardcore grit with melodic twists. The Indy Review shouts out Gogol Bordello, Hiss Golden Messenger, and They Might Be Giants blaming it on "Wu-Tang."

    Industry buzz? Bad Bunny re-signs with Rimas Entertainment per New Industry Focus, Britney Spears reportedly sells her catalog to Primary Wave, and UMG inks a global licensing deal with ClicknClear for choreographed sports tracks. AI chatter ramps up—Suno spars with Universal over licensing, Spotify eyes AI remixes amid deepfake drama, Jack Righteous reports. Deezer just launched Flow Tuner for hyper-personalized recs, and hires shake things up with NIVA and peermusic promotions.

    Looking ahead, Metacritic teases Charli XCX's full "Wuthering Heights," Chet Faker's "A Love For Strangers," and Bruno Mars' "The Romantic" next week. From punk revivals to pop anthems, the spirit's alive beyond the algorithms.

    Thanks for tuning in, listeners—subscribe to keep the vinyl soul burning. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

    For great Music deals
    https://amzn.to/3BPL8A7

    Or check out these podcasts http://quietplease.ai

    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
    Show More Show Less
    2 mins
  • New Music Roundup: Tech-Metal, Pop-Electronic, and Grunge Blitz

    New Music Roundup: Tech-Metal, Pop-Electronic, and Grunge Blitz
    Feb 13 2026
    Hey listeners, Lenny Vaughn here, your bridge from dusty vinyl grooves to today's digital storm, preaching the raw soul of music over algorithm slop. It's New Music Friday, February 13th, and the drops are hitting hard across the board. Boolin Tunes hails Showing Teeth's blistering tech-metalcore single "Rip," with Addison's screams backed by Periphery drummer Matt Halpern and Zach Munowitz—pure chaos for the pit crowd. Knocked Loose unleashes "Hive Mind" featuring Denzel Curry on Pure Noise, while Angel Du$t goes cold on their post-hardcore album Cold 2 the Touch via Run For Cover. Over in pop-electronic territory, Charli XCX drops her Wuthering Heights soundtrack, Ásgeir's Julia, and Chet Faker's A Love For Strangers, as Metacritic's release calendar lights up. Converge's Love Is Not Enough pounds for the grind faithful, and Official Charts spotlights Cruz Beckham's tour-teasing "For Your Love," Perrie's valentines-ready "Woman In Love," and Jodie Harsh's euphoric "The Night Is Yours."

    Industry ripples: Spotify's ballooned to 750 million monthly users and 530,000 video podcasts, per Alan Cross, but King Gizzard's frontman Stu Mackenzie rips the platform on Galaxy Brain, yanking their catalog amid AI floods and "diet music" choking real art. UK electronic scene powers a £2.47 billion boom, Record of the Day reports, with free parties surging but mid-tier venues crumbling—North leading 93% growth. Fresh off Grammys glow on Feb 1, where Kendrick Lamar swept five including Best Rap Album for GNX, Bad Bunny nabbed Album of the Year for his Spanish-language stunner DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, and Olivia Dean took Best New Artist, per The Elm.

    No major blowups today, but eyes on upcoming heat like Mumford & Sons' Prizefighter and BlackPink's Deadline mini-album. Dig into these crates before the bots do.

    Thanks for tuning in, listeners—subscribe for more unfiltered fire. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

    For great Music deals
    https://amzn.to/3BPL8A7

    Or check out these podcasts http://quietplease.ai

    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
    Show More Show Less
    2 mins
  • Unfiltered Music News: Bridging Gaps Where Algorithms Fear to Tread

    Unfiltered Music News: Bridging Gaps Where Algorithms Fear to Tread
    Feb 12 2026
    Hey, listeners, Lenny Vaughn here, spinning the raw truth from vinyl grooves to digital streams, bridging the gaps where algorithms fear to tread. In the past 24 hours, Broadway's buzzing with Michael Arden directing the world premiere of Sara Bareilles and Sarah Ruhl's musical The Interestings at Berkeley Rep, while The Lost Boys cast dropped videos of "If We Make It Through The Night" and a mashup of "Lose Yourself/Have To Have You." Over in the West End, Richard Kind joins The Producers for seven weeks, and Schmigadoon! adds McKenzie Kurtz, Isabelle McCalla, and Brad Oscar to its Broadway run. Raj Kapoor, Sarah Levine Hall, and Jack Sussman are set to produce the 79th Tony Awards, keeping theater's heartbeat strong.

    K-pop's February lineup explodes with BLACKPINK's 3rd mini-album DEADLINE, IVE's REVIVE+, ATEEZ, NCT subunits, and RIIZE's Japanese release, fueling global playlists. Neo-soul shines as Eric Roberson unleashes "Sweeter Than You" featuring Avery*Sunshine from his album Beautifully All Over The Place, a Valentine's vibe straight from the heart.

    RIAA gold and platinum certs rained down February 11: Bad Bunny's "Mia" feat. Drake hits gold, Moneybagg Yo sweeps with singles like "Wat3va I'm Wit," "Keep It Low" feat. Future, his album Hard To Love, and collabs with Glorilla, J. Cole, and Morgan Wallen; plus The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry" certified anew.

    Industry shakes include Spotify's $11 billion payout to creators, demonetizing 2 billion fraudulent streams last year per Apple Music's VP, and Sound Royalties funding $135 million in creator contracts for 2025. But turbulence hits: KCRW lays off DJ legends Jeremy Sole and Jason Kramer amid funding cuts, hiring new blood like John Tejada and Peanut Butter Wolf to pivot toward AI-era discovery. Wasserman Music bleeds talent—Bethany Cosentino, Chappell Roan, Orville Peck bolt after CEO Casey Wasserman's Ghislaine Maxwell ties surface in DOJ files. AI battles rage, from Universal vs. Suno to the industry's flood of synthetic tracks.

    Rock fans savor February's reissues and live sets, while publishers sue Anthropic for $3 billion over piracy. Listeners, in this algorithm swamp, chase the real—raw voices, fresh cuts, live sparks.

    Thanks for tuning in, subscribe for more unfiltered spins. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

    For great Music deals
    https://amzn.to/3BPL8A7

    Or check out these podcasts http://quietplease.ai

    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins