Rodrigo is currently one of the biggest names in pop music at the age of just 23, with four US and UK number one singles, and both of her albums also topping charts here. Singles like her debut ‘Drivers License’, ‘Good 4 U’ and ‘Vampire’ were all incredibly popular, with ‘Drivers License’ winning a Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance and ‘Good 4 U’ taking home the Brit Award for International Song of the Year in 2022. Her debut album ‘Sour’, released in 2021, is still Spotify’s most streamed album by a female artist.

With third album ‘you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love’ due for release in June, Rodrigo’s continued chart-dominance shows no sign of letting up – its lead single ‘Drop Dead’ released two weeks ago, shooting straight to UK Number One last week. In an interview with British Vogue back in March, she says the album draws inspiration from time spent living in London, is packed with “sad love songs”, and will be her “most experimental” release yet. NME report that it will contain a darker sound and influences from acts such as The Cure, New Order and Joy Division, as well as a potential feature from Geese frontman Cameron Winter.

The ‘Unraveled Tour’ was announced today, a blockbuster lap of North America and Europe which will see Olivia Rodrigo perform 65 dates over 9 months. Support varies between dates, with a cast consisting of Devon Again, Die Spitz, Grace Ives, The Last Dinner Party, and Wolf Alice. It kicks off this September in Hartford, Connecticut, travelling across the US and Canada before touching down in Stockholm next March for the European leg. Before it wraps, she’ll play four nights at the O2 Arena in London, with Grace Ives opening. In a post on Instagram, Rodrigo said “i am so so excited to announce The Unraveled Tour!!! I am counting down the days till I get to sing all of the songs from ‘you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love’ with u guys!!!”

The ‘Unraveled’ tour will run from the 25th of September this year to the 2nd of May 2027. Dates at the London O2 Arena are on the 5th, 6th, 8th and 9th of April next year. For full world dates, check Olivia Rodrigo’s website, and expect more songs from ‘you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love’ before it releases on Geffen Records on the 12th of June.

Prince Rogers Nelson, known by various names but chief among them, Prince, was an enigmatic artist. An unparalleled savant and polymath, he was regaled for playing numerous instruments with a natural flair, as well as his ability to write music in nearly any genre with ease. Since 1978, he released a staggering 39 albums across numerous projects, as well as 5 films including 1984 multimedia-sensation ‘Purple Rain’, which won him an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. His accolades count 7 BRIT Awards, 11 Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, and a 2004 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

His passing in 2016 due to an accidental fentanyl overdose, with no signs of foul play, shocked the world of music. Since his death however, Prince’s musical releases have not let up – his unrelenting genius yielded a vault of previously-unheard songs, albums and live footage, as well as fully produced music videos that have still yet to see the light of day. While some items have been leaked as raw bootleg versions, others like 2021’s ‘Welcome 2 America’ received a full studio release through NPG.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Prince (@prince)

 
Today, in memory of 10 years since Prince’s death, his estate have released ‘With This Tear’ as part of their annual ‘A Day 2 Reflect | A Night 2 Remember’ observation of his life. The track was recorded in November 1991 at his Paisley Park home studio in Minnesota. It was originally written, recorded and mixed by himself, but has been remixed and mastered by former collaborator Grammy-nominated producer and engineer Chris James, best known for his work with Frank Ocean and Janelle Monáe. Prince gave the song to singer Celine Dion, which appeared on her 1992 self-titled album as a non-single track.

The music video is an emotional tribute to the great man, opening with a short clip of him saying “when I was younger I always said that, one day, I was going to play all kinds of music, and not be judged for the colour of my skin, but the quality of my work. And hopefully that’ll continue.” Footage of his vast career plays behind the gentle ballad, a reminder of how storied his time on his planet was and the still-growing trove of material he has left behind.

‘With This Tear’ is out now on NPG Records in association with Sony’s Legacy Records. It comes ahead of ‘Prince Celebration, 10th Anniversary Celebration of Life’, a vigil which will see 5 days of gathering and remembrance in Prince’s home of Paisley Park in Minneapolis, including performances by his former backing groups New Power Generation and The Revolution. More unreleased recordings by Prince are due to make their emergence later this year in an as-yet unnamed album project.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Paisley Park (@officialpaisleypark)

PinkPantheress, born Victoria Walker makes history as both the first woman and the youngest recipient of the award. She recognised the honour saying  My music production is the thing I’m proudest of, and I’ve worked really hard at it, so I hope this inspires others to pursue their passion.”

Previous winners include Calvin Harris, A.G Cook and Fred Again. Similarly to PinkPantheress’ early win, Mark Ronson and Noel Gallagher have also been honoured for Outstanding Contribution To Music and Songwriter Of The Year respectively.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The BRIT Awards (@brits)

After beginning her career through Soundcloud, PinkPantheress found notoriety through TikTok in 2020. In April 2021, she was signed to Parlophone and by October the same year, she had released her debut mixtape ‘To Hell With It’. Singles like ‘Pain’ and ‘Break it Off’ catapulted PinkPantheress into stardom. PinkPantheress has also toured supporting Halsey and Olivia Rodrigo and headlined three tours of her own.

PinkPantheress has previously been awarded for her music production skills receiving Producer of The Year at Billboard’s Women in Music in 2024. After winning Producer of the Year, PinkPantheress is also up for two other awards come February 28th; Dance Act and Artist of the Year.

Her debut album, ‘Heaven Knows’ was released in November 2023, which saw her capture mainstream attention resulting in 3 Brit nominations including Song of the Year and Best New Artist. Its primary single ‘Boy’s A Liar Pt 2. reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Her second project ‘Fancy That’ garnered two Grammy nominations, MOBO and Mercury Prize nominations and reached number three on the UK Albums chart.

Following the release of this project, PinkPantheress released an extended mixtape named ‘Fancy Some More’ which featured artists like Seventeen, Kylie Minogue, Ravyn Lenae and most significantly Zara Larsson. ’Stateside’ by PinkPantheress featuring Zara Larsson peaked in the top 20 of the Billboard Global 200 and its video has garnered over 20 million views.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by

The Brit awards this year also sees Olivia Dean and Lola Young be nominated five times each, both artists being rewarded earlier this year at the Grammy’s for Best New Artist and Best Pop Solo Performance respectively.

PinkPantheress has referenced Kate Nash, Imogen Heap and Lily Allen as her biggest influences. Lily Allen has also been nominated at this year’s awards with four nominations; including competing against PinkPantheress for Artist of the Year.

Catch the Brits, this Saturday February 28th.

The singer acknowledged that fans were reimbursed by Ticketmaster and given a voucher by the company. But she went on to further offer those 65 affected fans free tickets to any future Raye show, as well as a complimentary signed vinyl.

The entire post of Raye’s apology is below.

pic.twitter.com/3kB1eBAMHw

— RAYE (@raye) February 17, 2026

Fans have come out in vocal support of this gesture.

A post on X from a fan calls this an example of Raye being a ‘genuinely kind human’ and how admirable it was for the singer to post about situation publicly. Another fan simply says, ‘what a gesture.’

This gesture to the affected fans is indicative of the rich sense of community the singer fosters within her fanbase, something which was felt by her in 2021 prior to the artist parting ways with her record label, Polydor.

Raye was signed to Polydor in 2014 at just 17 years old. There for six years, she released a series of singles, features, and EPs. But in June 2021, she took to X, formerly Twitter, to say the label had been withholding her debut album. She claimed that the release of her debut was now contingent on the success of her single, ‘Call on Me’ and opened up to fans on how the pressure of this negatively affected her. This show of vulnerability pulled fans closer to her. She said in one of her final posts that June evening, her fans had ‘made [her] feel heard.’ Raye stepped away from the spotlight after this, taking a brief hiatus. Almost exactly a year later, in June 2022, she released her first single as an independent artist, ‘Hard Out Here.’

Fast-forward to 2025 and Raye has been launched to a global level of notoriety after the success of her independently released 2022 debut album, ‘My 21^st Century Blues’ and its viral third single, ‘Escapism.’ Throughout it all, she has retained the bravery and honesty which fans admire from her. In response to the incident at her Paris show this Sunday, one fan says, ‘the fact that an independent artist is apologizing and literally paying for [T]icketmaster’s mistakes out of her own pocket before that f**ka** company even says anything.. raye you are so special to all of us.’

Raye continues her tour at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester tonight. Full UK/IE dates for This May Contain New Music Tour can be found below.

Raye’s This May Contain New Music UK/IE Tour Dates

18/2 – Co-op Live – Manchester, UK

20/2 – OVO Hydro – Glasgow, UK

21/2 — OVO Hydro – Glasgow, UK

23/2 — bp pulse LIVE — Birmingham, UK

24/2 — bp pulse LIVE — Birmingham, UK

26/2 — The O2 — London, UK

27/2 — The O2 — London, UK

1/3 — The O2 — London, UK

2/3 — The O2 — London, UK

4/3 — 3Arena — Dublin, Ireland

5/3 — 3Arena — Dublin, Ireland

19/5 — The O2 — London, UK

20/5 — The O2 — London, UK

1/8 — Pride on the Park — Brighton, UK

29/8 — Reading Festival, Richfield Avenue — Reading, UK

30/8 — Leeds Festival, Bramham Park — Leeds, UK

This year marks the 70th annual Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), held in Austria following singer JJ’s victory with song ‘Wasted Love’ in 2025. As a member of the “Big Four” of Eurovision, the UK’s entry receives an instant bye to the grand final. Last year’s British entrants Remember Monday were fairly well received by the internal Eurovision jury, circumventing our national tradition by receiving points and finishing 19th out of 26.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BBC Eurovision (@bbceurovision)

The ESC is organised by a cohort of broadcasting companies around Europe, known as the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and with the BBC as our primary public broadcaster it has always been a key part of the EBU. In the past, they ran live televised auditions and a public vote to choose our candidate for the song contest, but between 2011 and 2015, and currently since 2019 they instead elect them via an internal jury of music industry professionals.

This afternoon the BBC revealed their choice – Sam Battle, who goes under the alias Look Mum No Computer. He is as they describe him in the article “an inventor of unique musical machines”, an innovator who engineers novel instruments and synthesisers from retro toys and tech as a pastime. Among his many contraptions, highlights include a church organ made from Furbies, a bizarre children’s toy from the turn of the millennium, and the Sega MegaDrive synthesiser, created using a Sega MegaDrive games console. He owns a museum in Ramsdale in Kent called “This Museum Is (Not) Obsolete”, which houses and displays his many curios.

Formerly the frontman of an indie rock band called Zibra, performing a BBC Introducing set at Glastonbury Festival in 2015 with them, Battle opened his Youtube channel in 2013 to promote the group. After the band dissolved he then used it to post videos documenting his inventions before uploading his debut solo effort ‘Groundhog Day’ in 2019. Between all of his projects combined, he’s amassed 1.4 million followers on his online platforms, with his Youtube account alone having over 704,000 followers and nearly 85 million views.

His studio releases are a lively mix of electro-pop played on a full arsenal of analogue synthesisers, with his indie-style vocals laid over it. In recent years the UK Eurovision selections have made a reputation for playing it safe, opting for more generic pop with limited success other than Sam Ryder’s second place finish in 2022, but Look Mum No Computer seems to be a turning point to something more radical. After having heard the 2026 entry single, BBC Radio 2 DJ and Eurovision enthusiast Scott Mills said “The UK often gets criticised at Eurovision, or it has in some years. ‘We’re always really safe, we always keep it really middle of the road.’ So we are going to try something different this year. Why not? Let’s try something different, and it is different.” The BBC also quoted other opinions, including Oscar-nominated composer Daniel Pemberton, who said on social media site X he was “very excited we are going to have a truly unique eccentric oddball repping the UK (meant in the best way possible) at Eurovision”.

The grand final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be held at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna on the 16th of May. Look Mum No Computer’s entry is due to be make its debut to the public on Scott Mills’ Radio 2 breakfast show at some point in the next few weeks. You can follow Sam’s journey on the BBC and on his Youtube channel, or find his music on streaming platforms.

Following her set at Glastonbury, Lola Young has confirmed a UK tour for later this year, playing three shows in October, firstly in Manchester, then Birmingham, before finishing in London.

UK! to get pre-sale tickets, pre-order any format of ‘I’m Only F**king Myself’ from my store before 10am BST monday 7 july, link in my bio.
general sale on thursday 10th july – 10am local!

can’t wait to see you all. going to be so specialhttps://t.co/HvZnlu8nXa pic.twitter.com/RQJy3Sj7gA

— LOLA YOUNG (@lolayounggg) July 2, 2025

The tour will come ahead of the release of her upcoming album, “I’m Only F**king Myself“, due to drop this September.

Young has recently experienced a surge in popularity, with her hit single ‘Messy’, which topped the UK charts, and in April, was announced by Official Charts as the biggest song of 2025. In May, she won the coveted Ivor Novello Award for Rising Star. In an interview with NME, Lola Young discussed the success of Messy:

“It’s weird for me talking about my own song that I wrote from my past experience in a way that sounds like it’s not me talking about it. I just wrote it from a really personal place and it can sometimes be retriggering hearing that song because it was so intense. I’m out of that place now, out of that difficult time in my life.

“I think it’s just a relatable song. A lot of people don’t feel like they’re enough for somebody, they don’t feel like they’ll ever win.”

The UK dates are wedged between a world tour for the South London singer, who will take to the stage across Europe this July, and then North America in September, November and December.

See the dates for Lola Young’s UK and world tour below:

LOLA YOUNG WORLD TOUR

JULY
3rd – Open’er Festival, Gdynia, Poland
4th – Rock Werchter, Leuven, Belgium
5th – Roskilde Festival, Roskilde, Denmark
17th – Gurtenfestival, Bern, Switzerland
18th – Lollapalooza Paris, Paris, France

AUGUST
7th – Øya Festival, Oslo, Norway
9th – Way Out West Festival, Gothenburg, Sweden
10th – Flow Festival, Helsinki, Finland
14th – Paredes de Coura, Praia do Taboão, Portugal
16th – MS Dockville, Hamburg, Germany
17th – Lowlands Festival, Biddinghuizen, The Netherlands

SEPTEMBER
27th – All Things Go Festival, Queens, New York
28th – All Things Go Festival, Columbia, MD

OCTOBER
6th – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, UK
9th – O2 Academy, Birmingham, UK
15th – O2 Academy Brixton, London, UK

NOVEMBER
1st – History, Toronto, ON
2nd – History, Toronto, ON
4th – Roadrunner, Boston, MA
5th – Terminal 5, New York City, NY
6th – Terminal 5, New York City, NY
8th – The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
9th – The Anthem, Washington, DC
11th – The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN
12th – Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
15th – Corona Capital, Mexico City
19th – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, Austin, TX
21st – The Bomb Factory, Dallas, TX
24th – The Salt Shed, Chicago, IL
25th – Palace Theatre, St. Paul, MN
28th – The Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO
29th – The Union Event Center, Salt Lake City, UT

DECEMBER
1st – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, Vancouver, BC
2nd – WAMU Theater at Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
4th – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
6th – Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, CA
7th – Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, CA

Tickets go on sale Thursday 10 July. You will be able to find them here.

The pop megastar was raised in Framlingham, a town north of Ipswich, and is a lifelong supporter of Ipswich Town FC, in which he now owns a minority stake. 

Ed Sheeran will be playing three shows at Ipswich Town Football Club’s home stadium, Portman Road, from 11 July to 13 July. Each night, he’ll be accompanied by special guest performers, such as Busted, Tori Kelly and James Blunt to name a few. 

To celebrate, Ipswich Borough Council, along with Ipswich Central Business Improvement District, have announced they will decorate the town in pink bunting, the same shade of pink that features on the cover of Sheeran’s upcoming album ‘Play’. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by All About Ipswich (@allaboutipswich)

Leo Walker, CEO of Ipswich Central, shares his enthusiasm: “When we heard that global superstar, dedicated Ipswich Town fan and local lad Ed Sheeran was coming home to perform in Ipswich this summer, and bringing 90,000 fans with him, we knew we had to celebrate.

“As we ‘Welcome Home Ed’, it is a chance for the whole town to celebrate as the eyes of the world fall on the town.

“We are the only town getting this opportunity this summer. Ipswich has a proud history of turning out and turning up to celebrate its successful sons and daughters, so let’s seize the opportunity once more as we ‘Welcome Home Ed’.” 

This wouldn’t be the first time Ipswich has turned pink for Ed Sheeran. In August last year, Ipswich Town unveiled a Suffolk-inspired football kit, in a collaboration with the artist. Instead of ‘Play’ pink, the kit took inspiration from Suffolk pink, a unique shade of pink paint which covers homes all across the county. It also featured mathematical symbols, from Sheeran’s iconic albums and ‘Mathematics’ tour, and a silhouette of Framlingham Castle, a reference to his hometown, and in Sheeran’s opinion, “a huge landmark of Suffolk.” 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos)

Throughout July, Ipswich Borough Council will also provide a variety of street entertainment, such as live performances from local talent, and on concert days, there will be a fan zone in the town square, where customers can enjoy food, drink and merchandise. 

As well as this, Ipswich Central is hosting a window dressing competition, challenging businesses to decorate their windows in ‘Play’ themed colours. The winner will receive a £500 cash prize.  

Venues that have a connection to Sheeran will be highlighted in walking tours hosted by All About Ipswich. 

Borough Councillor Neil MacDonald added: “Ipswich is really excited about the gigs coming up on Ed’s home turf and I’m sure plenty of people will be on board with painting the town pink. 

“We are very happy to welcome him back, and the whole area will benefit from the boost to the local economy.” 

You can get your tickets to Ed Sheeran’s Portman Road shows here. 

The 41-year-old X Factor star left fans shocked and disappointed last Thursday after he walked off stage in the middle of his set at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow. The singer was only twenty minutes into his performance before he unexpectedly dashed off the stage, telling fans: “This has never happened to me before, but you can hear my voice is going.”  

After coming 2nd in the 2009 series of The X Factor UK, Olly Murs soared to success. Over his more than 15-year-long career, Murs has achieved 5 number 1 albums and several number 1 hits in the UK, such as ‘Troublemaker’ and ‘Dance With Me Tonight’.

Currently, he’s amidst his ’15 Years Of Hits’ tour, supported by boyband Blue, playing for thousands of fans in gigs across the country. He kicked off the tour on 24 April, in Plymouth, and has since extended the tour, adding extra dates due to popular demand. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Olly Murs (@ollymurs)

Prior to this, only one day into the tour, Murs had to postpone his gigs in Brighton and Hull, due to an outbreak of gastroenteritis infecting his band and crew. Murs assured fans that the dates would be “rescheduled as soon as possible.” His Hull show was on 20 May, and his Brighton show is due to take place on 27 May.

In a video shared by The Sun, taken from the Glasgow show, Murs explains his reasoning for cancelling on stage. He tells fans: “I wouldn’t want to continue on and just ruin it for you guys because it’s a really great show. I’m really proud of this whole production and how it’s looking, how it’s sounding, and for some reason, five songs in, my voice is going. That is so unlike me, so I just want to say sorry from the bottom of my heart.

“I don’t want to upset you guys, I’m so sorry. We’ll sort out refunds for anyone that’s unhappy, but Glasgow, I will be back to see you guys soon. I’m so sorry. I’ll see you soon. I love you all.

“That’s the best I can do, so sorry.”

Since then, Murs has scrapped a further two shows on his tour, in Manchester and Birmingham, stating that his reason for doing so, and for walking off in Glasgow, was his poor health. He tells fans in a post on Instagram that he has “been instructed to go on a strict 48 hour voice rest by the doctor to ensure no further damage to my vocal cords.” He still hopes to perform a show tomorrow, 25 May in the O2 Arena in London.    

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

A post shared by Olly Murs (@ollymurs)

For the most part, fans have taken to social media to share their support and understanding, though many have also shared their criticism and frustration.

One fan on X shares: “Take care for yourself. A performance can be redone, but a permanently damaged body is harder to fix.”

However one asks: “Surely […] the decision could have been made earlier? We came from England, dogs in kennels, hotel, holiday booked!”

Another jokes: “There will be no dancing with Olly Murs tonight at the Hydro.”

There will be no dancing with Olly Murs tonight at the hydro

— kieran (@kieran_ashton1) May 22, 2025

Tickets to catch the end of Olly Murs’ ’15 Years Of Hits’ tour are available here.

Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’ from their third studio album ‘X&Y ‘ has become one of the band’s most iconic and emotional tracks. The ballad, which builds from a minimalistic arrangement to a grand, powerful climax, explores themes of healing and resilience. Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay, revealed he found inspiration for the track after his father-in-law (actor Bruce Paltrow) died, and stated he’s most proud of this song “because it’s so unlikely that that song would have come out of that period.” The song continues to resonate deeply with listeners and has become a staple on their ‘Music Of The Spheres’ Tour. 

Gorillaz’s ‘Dare,’ featuring Shaun Ryder, showcased the British band’s signature mix of Dance-Pop, Funk, and Electronic elements. The track charted in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart for four weeks and remains one of the most popular songs in Gorillaz discography. Its iconic music video and animated visuals further solidified the band’s status as pioneers in blending music with visual art.

The Black Eyed Peas’ ‘Pump It,’ from their album ‘Monkey Business’, is renowned for its sample from Dick Dale’s ‘Misirlou’. Blending Hip-Hop, Dance, and Rock elements, the song became a club anthem and was a commercial success, charting in multiple countries including the US, the UK, and Australia. The hit single contributed to the American group’s status as one of the best-selling musical acts of all time. 

‘Hip’s Don’t Lie’ by Shakira, featuring Wyclef Jean, was released as a single from the reissue of Shakira’s album ‘Oral Fixation, Vol. 2′  and topped charts across the world, reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Charts. Notable for its fusion of Latin pop and Reggaeton, the song and accompanying music video have became a global phenomenon. Shakira’s performance of the track at the 2006 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony solidified her status as an international icon.

James Blunt’s ‘You’re Beautiful,’ from his debut album ‘Back to Bedlam’, became a worldwide hit in 2005 and claimed the UK Singles Chart No. 1 position for five weeks. The song’s emotional lyrics, simple instrumentation, and sincere delivery made it one of the most memorable ballads of the year. It’s commercial success contributed significantly to the success of ‘Back to Bedlam’ which became one of the best-selling albums of all time and released it’s 20th Anniversary Recycled Vinyl and CD last year. 

Beaten to the No.1 spot in the UK by Blunt’s ‘You’re Beautiful’ was Kanye West’s ‘Gold Digger’, featuring Jamie Foxx. The song’s catchy, upbeat production and distinctive sample from Ray Charles’s 1954 hit song ‘I Got a Woman‘ creates a memorable soulful feel. It was widely praised by critics for its catchy beat, clever lyrics, and social commentary, seen as a prime example of Kanye’s ability to blend Hip-Hop, Soul, and satire into a hit song.

Kanye West’s “Gold Digger” feat. Jamie Foxx has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify. It’s Jamie Foxx’s first song to reach this milestone, and Kanye West’s fifth. pic.twitter.com/ZKOoyHb1n0

— Talk of the Charts (@talkofthecharts) November 9, 2023

Rihanna’s debut single, ‘Pon de Replay,’ was also snubbed of UK No.1 by Blunt’s hit single, and introduced the Barbados singer to the global music scene. With its Caribbean dancehall rhythms, reggae-inspired beats, and a fusion of Pop and Reggaeton elements, the song established Rihanna as a rising star, marking the beginning of her illustrious career.

Franz Ferdinand’s ‘Do You Want To’ was the hit single from their second album ‘You Could Have It So Much Better’ and cemented their status as leaders of the 2000s Indie Rock Revival. Its catchy hook and Post-Punk influences helped the band gain mainstream popularity as the single soared to the Top 10 in various countries, including the UK.

The Pussycat Dolls’ ‘Don’t Cha’, featuring Bust Rhymes, was another standout single from 2005, blending Pop, R&B, and Hip-Hop into a catchy, danceable anthem. At a time when music videos were a crucial platform for artists to express their visual identity, the iconic choreography in the ‘Don’t Cha’ music video solidified the track’s place in pop culture. Equally, the song’s playful lyrics propelled the American girl group to stardom as it claimed No.1 position in the UK for three weeks. 

Lastly, ‘Ghetto Gospel’ featuring Elton John was released as a single in 2005, a year after 2Pac’s posthumous album ‘Loyal to the Game’, produced by American rapper Eminem. The song’s fusion of 2Pac’s iconic Rap style with Elton John’s soulful vocals was groundbreaking and exemplifies the ability of music to transcend genre boundaries. As a result, it achieved global success, peaking at No.2 on the UK Singles Chart. The track is poignant not only for its themes of struggle and redemption but also as it marked the end of 2Pac’s posthumous releases.

The year 2005 was a defining moment in music history, a turning point in a decade filled with innovation and creativity.

These 20 songs exemplify cultural movements in the industry during this time: with Hip-Hop releases catalysing its rise to pop culture; the emergence of Neo-Soul and continuous evolution of R&B; Latin Pop’s transition into mainstream; the surge of Pop-Punk into global charts; the Indie Rock Revival, which reshaped how Rock music was approached; and the increasing popularity of EDM.

Additionally, the music industry was revolutionised by the rise of streaming platforms, enabling artists to connect directly with fans and increasing the impact of music videos on pop culture. The accessibility of DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) empowered musicians to create and produce high-quality tracks entirely digitally and in home-studios. Meanwhile, the growth of MP3 players made music portable, changing the way music was consumed and enjoyed – a shift that still resonates today.

These cultural movements not only shaped the decade but continue to influence music 20 years later. The 2000s undoubtedly reshaped the music industry, the way artists create and share music, and the way it is consumed, laying the groundwork for the music industry today.

While Pop dominated the charts, other genres were growing into mainstream forces such as Hip-Hop, Rock Revival, and Latin Pop. Pioneering platforms like iTunes and YouTube – also celebrating its 20th anniversary – laid the foundation for today’s streaming-driven music culture. Several tracks of this era have risen to anthem status, each shaping their respective genres. 

‘Dakota’ by Stereophonics was one of the most notable releases and is sure to be a highlight on their upcoming tour. Blending the band’s characteristic classic Rock sound with modern Rock elements, the song marked a significant shift in their musical direction. It achieved commercial success, reaching No.1 on the UK Singles Chart, and played a crucial role in reaffirming the relevance of guitar-driven rock during a time when pop and electronic music were dominant. 

‘Dakota’ has received a shiny new makeover, the official music video is now Remastered in 4k HD. Check out the full video on YouTube now! – https://t.co/1H6QU1emJC pic.twitter.com/DD1gXfhmEP

— stereophonics (@stereophonics) September 12, 2024

Another standout track of 2005 was Akon’s ‘Lonely’ – a track showcasing the rapper’s distinctive blend of R&B, Hip-Hop, and Pop. Its instantly recognisable hook is a pitch-shifted, sped-up sample from Bobby Vinton’s ‘Mr. Lonely’ (1962). ‘Lonely’ played an important role in pioneering Hip-Hop’s presence in mainstream music, topping the charts in multiple countries, including the UK, Australia, and Germany.

The second single from Oasis’ album ‘Don’t Believe the Truth’ made its mark in 2005. ‘The Importance of Being Idle,’ is widely regarded as one of the standout tracks from the album, and reflected the band’s ongoing love for British Rock, incorporating elements reminiscent of The Beatles’ Psych-Pop era. It debuted at No.1 on the UK Singles Chart and remains a concert staple, further cementing Oasis’ legacy in Rock music. Fans can hope it will be featured on the setlist for their 2025 Tour. 

Nizlopi’s ‘JCB Song’ is a distinctive track reflective of the UK’s acoustic and indie music scene in the mid-2000s, introducing a more acoustic, Folk-inspired sound to mainstream audiences. The track’s simple arrangement of guitar, bass, and piano, combined with a catchy melody and relatable themes of childhood innocence, resonated widely, and propelled the track to No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart.

Daft Punk’s ‘Technologic’ from ‘Human After All’  became a fan favourite despite not being released as a single. The song’s minimalist electronic production, robotic vocals, and repetitive, hypnotic lyrics captured the essence of the French duo’s unique style and their exploration of the relationship between technology and modern life. ‘Human After All’ reached the Top 10 in the UK Albums Chart and was certified gold in France within the first few weeks of its release.

‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor’, the debut single by British Rock band Arctic Monkeys, topped the UK Singles Chart, a remarkable achievement considering it gained popularity largely through internet attention and word of mouth, without traditional promotion from a major record label. Driven by Garage Rock influences, the track’s raw sound, energetic guitars, and driving rhythm, illustrated the core of Indie Rock in the mid-2000s.

Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor (Glastonbury 2023) pic.twitter.com/tiAR1T95lX

— Portal Arctic Monkeys (@portalmonkeysbr) June 24, 2023

‘Hung Up’, from Madonna’s 2005 album ‘Confessions on a Dance Floor’, was a cultural landmark, fusing high-energy dance-pop with a disco influence, evident in its upbeat tempo, funky bassline, and synth-heavy production. The track is built around the sample from ABBA’s ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme (a Man After Midnight)’ with the repetitive, memorable hook “Time goes by so slowly”. It quickly became a global success, topping the UK Singles Chart and reaching No. 1 in over 40 countries.

Damian Marley’s ‘Welcome to Jamrock’ blended Reggae, Dancehall, and Hip-Hop, providing a powerful reflection on social, economic, and political issues in Jamaica. The groundbreaking track showcased his ability to merge Jamaican rhythms with contemporary global sounds and helped introduce Marley to a wider audience. Landing in the Top 40 on the UK Singles Chart, the single marked a breakthrough in the UK music scene.

Robbie Williams also made waves in 2005 with his song ‘Tripping’ from the album ‘Intensive Care’. The track’s gritty guitar riff and introspective lyrics highlight a shift from Williams’ earlier Pop sound, exploring themes of disillusionment and the emotional challenges of fame (a central topic in his recent biopic). The song reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, further solidifying Williams’ place in the British Pop music landscape.

The Game and 50 Cent’s collaboration ‘Hate It or Love It,’ from The Game’s debut album ‘The Documentary‘, is widely regarded as one of the standout tracks of the 2000s Hip-Hop era. The track’s G-Funk inspired beat and soulful melodies played a significant role in defining the sound of West Coast Hip-Hop in the mid-2000s. Peaking at No. 4 on the UK Singles Charts, its commercial success helped solidify The Game’s place in the Rap scene. As 50 Cent prepares for two UK appearances in 2025, fans can expect to hear similar nostalgic hits feature on his setlist. 

These are 10 of 20 songs that stand out as monumental releases of 2005, highlighting the diversity of chart-topping hits during the mid-2000s. Their enduring legacy continues to resonate, with these tracks not only remaining staples in playlists but also serving as inspiration for modern musicians.

The remaining 10 songs will be explored tomorrow.