The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers has announced a new solo album called Thrasher.
The “Mr. Brightside” singer’s third solo effort, and his first since 2015’s The Desired Effect, is due out Aug. 21. The lead single, titled “Plans,” will premiere on Friday.
In a trailer for Thrasher, streaming now on YouTube, Flowers previews the upcoming record’s country music influence.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found my way back to my father’s music – ‘Country-Western’ (as he called it) – and discovered that the stories I carry really feel most at home in the skin of this beautiful American tradition,” Flowers says in a statement.
The Killers’ most recent album is 2021’s Pressure Machine.
Here’s the Thrasher track list:
“Does It Ever Cross Your Mind?” “One of Us” “Tiger’s Blood” “Plans” “Paradise” “Miss America” “Angel” “The Red Ground” “In a Heartbeat” “An American Dream”
‘Buddy’s Got the Blues: A 90th Birthday Concert Celebration’ admat (Courtesy of Blackbird Presents)
Eric Clapton and ZZ Top’s Billy F Gibbons are among the artists set to perform at a concert celebrating blues legend Buddy Guy’s 90th birthday.
Buddy’s Got the Blues: A 90th Birthday Concert Celebration, happening Oct. 1 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, is described in a press release as a concert that will celebrate Guy through “unforgettable performances, once-in-a-lifetime collaborations, and heartfelt tributes from artists whose music and careers were profoundly shaped by his influence.”
The lineup also includes John Mayer, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr., Jon Batiste, Aloe Blacc, Robert Cray, Robert Randolph and Jimmie Vaughan, among others.
Guy will also perform at the concert, with more special guests to be announced.
“Can’t wait to celebrate 90 years of living, loving, and playing the blues with all my friends,” says Guy. “We’ll make it a night not just for me, but for the folks who taught us, the friends we’ve played with, and the ones coming up behind us.”
Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. ET. A complete lineup can be found at buddy90.com.
‘Sending Hearts to All My Dearies – A Tribute to The Smashing Pumpkins’ album artwork. (Sumerian Records)
Despite all their rage, The Smashing Pumpkins are getting their own tribute album.
The record, titled Sending Hearts to All My Dearies – A Tribute to The Smashing Pumpkins, is due out digitally on Aug. 14 and will be released as a two-LP vinyl set on Oct. 16.
Artists contributing to the compilation include Tame Impala, Palaye Royale, Nita Strauss, Meg Myers, Barns Courtney, Bones UK and Des Rocs, among others.
You can listen to Tame Impala’s contribution, a rendition of the Siamese Dream cut “Hummer,” out now.
“Siamese Dream was the soundtrack to my high school years and ‘Hummer’ is the song that takes me back there in the most potent way,” Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker says in a statement.
If you want to hear The Smashing Pumpkins play Smashing Pumpkins songs, you can catch them live on their The Rats in a Cage tour. The trek, which kicks off in September, will feature Billy Corgan and company performing 1995’s Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness in full, alongside another set of career-spanning songs.
Here’s the Sending Hearts to All My Dearies track list:
Tame Impala — “Hummer” Yonaka — “Today” The Midnight — “Tonight, Tonight” Carpenter Brut — “Cherub Rock” Barns Courtney — “1979” Meg Myers — “Eye” Palaye Royale — “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” Between the Buried and Me — “Jellybelly” Alice Glass — “Drown” Starbenders — “Tonight, Tonight” Nita Strauss — “1979” Bones UK — “Cherub Rock” Moon Taxi — “Thirty Three” Des Rocs — “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” Urban Heat — “Ava Adore”
Chris Daughtry and Clive Davis at a listening party for ‘Daughtry’ (Mark Von Holden/WireImage for RCA Music Group)
The death of legendary record executive Clive Davis at age 94 continues to reverberate throughout the music industry, since he was personally responsible for the careers of many artists.
Clive signed Billy Joel to Columbia Records, where he remained for his entire career. Billy said in a statement, “He recognized the talent of great musicians and understood the power of contemporary music. I will always be grateful to Clive for his recognition of the critical importance of songwriting.”
Clive helped revive Dionne Warwick’s career in the ’80s with songs like “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” and “Heartbreaker.” She said in a statement, “I can think of no other record man that seemed to have that magical ability to know a hit when he heard a song.”
On Instagram, Barbra Streisand credited Clive with helping her update her sound. “In the early 1970s, the times they were a’changin’…socially, politically, and of course, musically,” she wrote. “As the head of Columbia Records, Clive recognized these changes and encouraged me to … record an album of songs by contemporary writers like Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, Laura Nyro and Gordon Lightfoot. The album Stoney End opened new doors for me. I’m forever grateful for Clive’s vision and support.”
Clive was the head of the record label that released the music of American Idol winners in the show’s early years. Jennifer Hudson, a finalist on season 3, wrote on Instagram, “This was a huge blow to wake up to. I know nobody lives forever, but Clive’s impact and legacy will always live on! Yes, he was the legendary music mogul, but he was family to me. … You will be missed, Clive! We will always celebrate your life and legacy.”
Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks wrote, “The great Clive Davis and I used to yell at each other. Our chemistry from artist to legendary label head was edgy but we both had one goal in common, to create the best art I could. … I was honored to know him and yell at him 😉 Rest in Peace Clive, you were a legend.”
Season 5 finalist Chris Daughtry paid tribute to Clive, writing, “Thank you for believing in and taking a chance on a 26 year old me… A singer songwriter from North Carolina who couldn’t even win a TV singing competition. Thank you for seeing something more in me. Thank you for being the only record exec out of the 6 that I met with to show genuine interest in MY songs.”
He then recalled playing “Home” in front of Clive for the first time, and Clive saying, “Well… that sounds like a hit.” “My heart almost exploded out of my chest. I will never forget this moment. You will be missed sir,” he added.
U2 guitarist The Edge became an Irish citizen during a ceremony in County Kerry, Ireland.
While he’s always been associated with one of Ireland’s biggest rock groups, he was actually born to Welsh parents in Essex, England.
At the time of the ceremony he told reporters that he’s “always felt Irish,” and that “Ireland will always be home to me.” He added that his application for citizenship was “long overdue.”
Born David Howell Evans on Aug. 8, 1961, The Edge moved to Dublin with his family in 1962 and was raised in the Irish city.
He met his U2 bandmates Bono, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. when they were students at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin. They formed U2 in 1978, and went on to become one of the biggest rock bands in the world.
Lainey Wilson steps into the spotlight Thursday night for a headlining performance on ABC’s annual three-hour CMA Fest special.
But Lainey has a history with the festival, formerly known as Fan Fair, that dates back to her teens.
“I was probably 14 or 15 when I saw Sugarland in a big blow-up ball and they rolled across the entire floor of the stadium, and I thought that was the coolest thing I’d ever seen,” she recalls. “It was insane. And I remember Martina McBride singing ‘Broken Wing.'”
While the “Somewhere Over Laredo” superstar stops short of naming a favorite, she definitely has a major contender.
“I remember every single year watching Keith Urban, like, pop up in all these random spots in the stadium,” she says. “To me he’s always been one of the best performers.”
“I’ve been coming every year since I was 14 years old, so it’s hard just to choose one,” she adds.
CMA Fest premieres Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams the following day on Hulu.
Disney is the parent company of ABC News and Hulu.
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band perform at The Kia Forum on April 07, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Bruce Springsteen, the Eagles and AC/DC are among the artists landing in the top 10 on Pollstar’s 2026 midyear touring charts.
While Bad Bunny leads the worldwide touring artists midyear chart with a gross of over $225 million, AC/DC is the highest-charting rock act. It lands at #4 thanks to the European leg of their Power Up tour, which has brought in close to $120.3 million so far this year.
Eagles, thanks to their Sphere residency and a handful of U.S. shows, land at #8 on the worldwide chart, with over $69.7 million in gross sales. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band are at #10, bringing in over $58.4 million with The Land of Hope and Dreams tour.
Among the North American top touring artists, Eagles land at #5, while Springsteen lands at #7. K-pop act BTS tops the list with a gross of over $104 million.
And both AC/DC and Eagles have a chance to add to their 2026 haul. AC/DC brings their Power Up tour back to North America July 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina, with dates confirmed through Sept. 29 in Philadelphia; Eagles have more Sphere shows in September and November.
Springsteen wrapped his The Land of Hope and Dreams tour on May 30 in Philadelphia.
‘Music Video Mischief’ book cover. (Trouser Press)
Nigel Dick, the director of videos including Oasis’ “Wonderwall” and Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” is releasing a memoir.
The book is called Music Video Mischief and is due out Sept. 15.
“Music Video Mischief goes behind the scenes for a wild ride through the creative process, the egos, the politics, and the logistics involved in making videos for A-listers,” a press release reads. “Dick shares entertaining tales of things going right and wrong, stars who were wonderful to work with and stars who weren’t, natural disasters, amazing triumphs, and mad dashes around the world — all with self-deprecating wit and the enthusiasm of a lifetime music fan.”
Dick also directed videos including Nickelback’s “Photograph,” Ozzy Osbourne’s “Back to Earth,” Britney Spears’ “Oops!…I Did It Again” and Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
“If you thought Nigel could direct a video, you should see him write a book!” Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger says.
Cardi B performs during her Little Miss Drama tour at Madison Square Garden on March 25, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Cardi B has made the top-10 lists for touring artists both domestically and internationally.
She ranks #7 on Pollstar‘s worldwide list for her Little Miss Drama tour, which, according to the chart, grossed $72.1 million. On Pollstar‘s Top 10 North American Tours list, her tour ranks #4, with 36 shows reported.
New Edition rounds out the North American top 10, coming in at #10.
“It’s gratifying to see Pollstar’s record-setting mid-year data finally putting to rest this year’s so-called ‘blue dot fever,’ which erroneously claimed the live business was collapsing,” Pollstar editor-in-chief Andy Gensler said in a statement. “Our data definitively shows otherwise.”
Cardi’s Little Miss Drama tour ran from Feb. 11 to April 18, marking her first-ever headlining arena tour. It featured performances of hits from her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, and its follow-up, Am I the Drama?, as well as appearances from various artists, including Fetty Wap, Missy Elliott, Vybz Kartel, Tyla, Kehlani and GloRilla.
She is set to take the stage Sunday at the BET Awards 2026.
Lady Gaga performs onstage during The MAYHEM Ball Tour at The Kia Forum on July 28, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
BTS’ current tour landed them in the #1 spot among the North American top touring artists, grossing more than $104 million so far this year. Lady Gaga’s The MAYHEM Ball ranked #2, with a gross exceeding $87 million. Other artists in the top 10 include Bad Bunny, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, New Edition, Luke Combs, the Eagles and Cardi B.
When it comes to the worldwide chart, Bad Bunny is #1, raking in more than $225 million. Lady Gaga is #2, followed by BTS at #3. Ed Sheeran ranks at #5 with a gross of more than $105 million. He just started the North American leg of his LOOP tour a few days ago, so those numbers aren’t reflected in the totals.
While some high-profile artists canceled tours and individual shows this year, Pollstar reports the industry is doing better than ever. Gross revenue for the top 100 touring artists is more than 12% higher than last year: a total of $3.16 billion. In case you’re wondering, the average ticket price in North America is $122.15, which is actually down 2.4% from last year.
If you didn’t get a chance to see The MAYHEM Ball, Gaga filmed a reimagined version called MAYHEM Requiem, now streaming on Apple Music.
BTS’ tour, in support of their album ARIRANG, is currently making its way through Europe and is set to return to North America starting Aug. 1. Ed Sheeran’s LOOP stadium tour, featuring opening act Myles Smith and a rotating lineup of other performers, wraps up its North American leg in Tampa, Florida, in November.
