Music

Just days after the release of their single “Blaze That A**,” Big Freedia is teasing her upcoming album with the late SOPHIE with the new single “Go Down,” a track made for summertime and the club scene. The album, Released at Last, arrives June 19.

Tierra Whack returns with “WAX PAPER” and its accompanying music video. On the track, she “takes aim at naysayers and critics while embracing her power,” according to a press release. Directed by Child, the video gives viewers a black-and-white look at her hometown of Philadelphia.

Amazon Music has tapped Durand Bernarr for an Amazon Music Original rendition of Earth, Wind & Fire’s classic “Let’s Groove,” kicking off the platform’s Black Music Month celebration. “Earth, Wind & Fire’s music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My father worked closely with the band for years, so these songs weren’t just records in our house—they were part of the soundtrack of my upbringing,” said Bernarr. “I wanted to honor the joy, musicianship, and legacy that Earth, Wind & Fire created while bringing my own perspective and energy to a song that continues to move people generations later.”

Lizzo’s Bitch is finally here. “So many incredible women in music have used the word for positivity, like Meredith Brooks and Missy Elliott,” Lizzo said in a statement. “It was only fitting to name my album Bitch because it has become my favorite word when using it on my own terms and because I am 100% that bitch!”

Other releases:

Rob49 & Skillibeng, “Bad B*****”

Ciara, “Nice N’ Sweet”

French Montana, Max B & Remy Ma, “Ever Since You Left Me (Big Bronx Remix)”

Snoop Dogg featuring Swizz Beatz, “Step”

Tinashe, “Too Easy”

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

“Eat U Alive,” the first single from Adam Lambert’s upcoming album, ADAM, takes its sonic cues from ’90s alternative rock. But for his new single, “Under the Rhythm,” he’s looking back to 2000.

The dark dance tune interpolates ATC’s “Around the World (La La La La La),” which came out in November 2000 and hit the top 30 in 2001. There’s also a video that features a bizarre-looking Adam held captive in what looks like a mental institution before he breaks out, reverts to his normal self and dances in a darkened space together with a group of other people.

Adam says the song is “about overcoming life’s hardships through the connective and healing power of music,” adding, “It encourages the listener to keep pushing forward, one day at a time, one dance at a time, toward joy.”

“It’s easier to breath again/ The beat is in my soul/ Now I just need to find a friend/ To take the party home,” he sings, describing a night out at the club.

ADAM comes out July 10. Tickets are on sale now for his album release shows, which run from July 10 in LA through July 23 in Berlin, Germany, with stops in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and London.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ahead of his return to the stage, Barry Manilow has released What a Time, his first non-concept album of new, mostly original material in years. And he says for him, the project is a “full-circle” moment.

Barry writes in an Instagram post that the album is “a collection of songs that feel really alive to me right now. They reflect where I’ve been, where I am… and a lot of what I still want to say.”

He goes on to say that the songs also reflect “all the different styles I’ve loved working in.” That’s because, he notes, he wanted the album to feel like “a journey. Not just one sound, not just one lane… but a mix of moments.”

Barry explains, “That’s how I used to make records in the beginning… just following the music wherever it wanted to go. Letting each song be its own thing, but still part of something bigger.”

While making What a Time, he says, “I kind of realized… I was doing that again. Same freedom, same curiosity… same love for it. So yeah… in a way, this album really does feel like things have come full circle.”

Barry says he’s “really proud of these songs,” which he describes as “a little bit of the past, a lot of right now… and still looking ahead.”

The entertainer is set to start his brief U.K. arena tour June 9 in Glasgow, Scotland, and wrap up June 17 in London. These will be his first major shows since undergoing surgery for lung cancer.

“I’m terrified, and I’ve never felt that way about going back on stage,” he told US Weekly. “I really don’t know what’s about to happen. I’ve never been in this situation, so I’m really very nervous about it.”

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Steve Lacy is back with new music.

The singer is set to drop his third studio album, Oh yeah?, on July 17. He has released the record’s first single, “the feeling,” along with an accompanying music video.

The album is described in a press release as Lacy’s “most personal art to date,” noting it’s “the culmination of a four year journey whereupon Steve found himself feeling at home in foreign countries and situations and less at home at home.”

Oh yeah? is the follow-up to 2022’s Gemini Rights, which was Lacy’s major label debut. It reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and went to #1 on the Top Rock Albums chart. The album featured the hit song “Bad Habit,” which hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Oh yeah? is available for preorder now.

(Video includes uncensored profanity.)

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A group of now-legendary songwriters came together Tuesday at the historic Ryman Auditorium to raise nearly half a million dollars for Second Harvest Food Bank. 

Ella Langley headlined the night, which was organized by Nashville native ERNEST and started with a guitar pull.

ERNEST, HARDY, Lee Thomas Miller and Dean Dillon offered George Strait’s “The Chair,” Jamey Johnson’s “In Color,” Morgan Wallen’s “Wasted On You” and HARDY’s “McArthur,” among others.

Ella’s intimate set drew from her second album, Dandelion, including a duet version of “Loving Life Again” with its co-writer, ERNEST.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the way this event has grown and evolved, even just over the last few years,” he says. “It’s one of my favorite nights of every year that really captures the heart of our songwriting community. Thank you to Ella, HARDY, Lee, Dean, and everyone who made this night possible – we’ll see you next year.”

Including this year’s $445,000, ERNEST has raised more than $1.18 million since taking over Music City’s annual Stars for Second Harvest show.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Evanescence is out with their new album, Sanctuary, but this year also marks the 20th anniversary of their album The Open Door. Frontwoman Amy Lee says things have definitely improved when it comes to gender equality in music since 2006.

“When we were starting out, most of the time I was the only woman I’d see all day at festivals, besides anyone I had with me in my crew,” Lee tells the U.K. publication MusicWeek. “On the one hand, that made things intimidating. But on the other hand, [it was] powerful because we were different and I had something to say.”

“Over the last 20 years, hell yeah, I’ve watched things change,” Lee continues. “When I go to festivals now, there are always other women on stage, so we have seen progress, especially in heavy music.”

But Lee would rather dispense with the gender divisions altogether.

“I don’t want to be the best female-fronted rock band; I want to be the best rock band, period,” she notes.

She adds, “Whether you’re male or female, whatever colour you are, or wherever you come from, none of that should matter. What should matter is that you’re great at what you do. And all the women that I lift up, all the women we’re taking on tour – they all rock. That’s why they’re coming on tour with us.”

Among the artists joining Evanescence for their world tour, starting June 11, are Spiritbox, Nova Twins, Poppy and K.Flay. Amy’s happy that her collaborations with some of those artists, plus Halsey and Bring Me the Horizon, have led to younger audiences discovering Evanescence.

Says Lee, “When we earn new fans at this stage, hearing new music we make and getting into us that way, that really feels like the goal.”

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Masego has announced more than 40 dates for his upcoming Fix Your Face Tour.

The tour is set to kick off on Aug. 4 in Dallas and wrap up on Sept. 16 in LA, with a European leg scheduled to follow.

During the tour, Masego will perform music from his forthcoming project while offering fans a more personal look at the man behind the music.

An artist presale begins Tuesday at 10 a.m. local time, followed by additional presales throughout the week. General ticket sales start Friday at 10 a.m. local time. Fans can sign up for early access through Masego’s website.

“This is not a drill!!! I am leaving the comfort of my home and coming city to city. You gon’ pull up on me or what?” he wrote on Instagram. “See you soon.”

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.