Culture
Music
‘A true original’: Music industry mourns ‘Dunedin sound’ pioneer
Martin Phillipps - widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s greatest songwriters - penned heavenly pop hits across a five decade long career, while overcoming some of life’s hardships.
- by Hamish McNeilly
Latest
Billy Joel says goodbye to New York after 104 shows over 10 years
The Piano Man has performed his final concert of a historic residency at Madison Square Garden.
- by Caryn Ganz
Musician, model, producer: what the world needs now is Eartheater
On her way to Australia, the genre-defying Alexandra Drewchin takes a moment out of her head-spinning schedule.
- by Sarah-Jane Collins
‘Anti-competitive’: Calls mount to break corporate live music domination
Australian musicians are calling for authorities to investigate the market power of major corporate players like Live Nation.
- by Linda Morris
The Australian hardcore band that’s on the precipice of unlikely stardom
The tight-knit hardcore scene has an aversion to outside interest. But that hasn’t stopped Speed from becoming Australia’s biggest musical export in years.
- by Nick Buckley
Updated
AFL grand final
Katy Perry to perform at AFL Grand Final
The AFL has confirmed the pop star will headline the pre-match entertainment this year.
- by Kate Lahey and Kerrie O'Brien
Kamala is brat: How a pop phenomenon took over culture and politics
A Charli XCX and Kamala Harris collab was probably not on many of our bingo cards for this year.
- by Nell Geraets
★★★★
Streaming
Pop goes the weasel: The sham behind boy bands *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys
The documentary series Dirty Pop is a fascinating look at one of the longest-running and most elaborate swindles in music.
- by Karl Quinn
‘What I was put on this Earth to do’: One-handed pianist to perform with MSO
British concert pianist Nicholas McCarthy is a champion of left-hand alone repertoire – and next year will be performing with the MSO.
- by Elizabeth Flux
Opinion
Protests
Tenacious D thrive on black humour. So why gag themselves now?
Jack Black and his musical partner, Kyle Gass, called off their Australian tour after an “improvised” joke about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Too soon?
- by Bill Wyman
Tenacious D pushed boundaries for 30 years, but one joke brought them undone
The self-proclaimed “greatest band on Earth” enjoyed a proud history as political provocateurs. Now the group is on the brink of demise.
- by Thomas Mitchell