Music Review: Jennifer Lopez returns to her pop music throne with new album, ‘This Is Me… Now’

On “This Is Me….Now,” Jennifer Lopez’s first solo album in a decade, the singer takes back her rightful place on the throne of pop music. In 2002, Jennifer Lopez dropped “This Is Me… Then,” her third studio album that married her glossy-eyed romanticism with R&B-pop rhythms. She also announced an engagement to the actor Ben … Read more

Taylor Swift searches restored on X after sexually explicit deepfakes led to block

Fans can once again find Taylor Swift-related content on X after the social media platform formerly known as Twitter temporarily blocked searches for her when explicit deepfake images of the singer flooded the site. “Search has been re-enabled and we will continue to be vigilant for any attempt to spread this content and will remove … Read more

Documentary on ‘We Are the World’ goes deep inside recording session of starry 1985 charity single

NEW YORK — Thirty-nine years ago, the biggest music stars in the world crammed into a recording studio in Los Angeles for an all-night session that they hoped might alter music history. “We Are the World” was a 1985 charity single for African famine relief that included the voices of Michael Jackson, Willie Nelson, Bob … Read more

Mary Weiss, lead singer of the Shangri-Las, dies at 75

Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included “Leader of the Pack,” has died. She was 75. Miriam Linna, founder of Weiss’ label, Norton Records, said Sunday that Weiss died Friday in Palm Springs, California. No cause of death was given. Rolling Stone first reported her death Friday. … Read more

Are divorce albums breaking new ground? Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Kelsea Ballerini make the case

LOS ANGELES — When the 2024 Grammy nominations were announced, one thing was immediately apparent: Women outpaced men in the major categories. The leading artists — superstars like SZA, Taylor Swift, and Olivia Rodrigo — reflect an incredible diversity of skill with acclaimed albums that mine all corners of the human experience. One such corner: … Read more

Music streams hit 4 trillion in 2023. Global acts and Taylor Swift fueled growth

LOS ANGELES — Listened to more music last year? You’re not alone. The global music industry surpassed 4 trillion streams in 2023, a new single-year record, Luminate’s 2023 Year-End Report found. Global streams were also up 34% from last year, reflective of an increasingly international music marketplace. Stateside, three genres saw the biggest growth in … Read more

Shakira’s hometown unveils a giant statue of the beloved Colombian pop star

BOGOTA, Colombia — Pop star Shakira was immortalized in her Colombian hometown of Barranquilla, where officials unveiled a giant bronze statue of the music diva known around the world for her catchy tunes and exhilarating moves. The six-meter (20-feet) tall monument depicts the multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy winner in one of her famous belly … Read more

What to stream this week: ‘America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League,’ Barbenheimer and ‘Night Court’

The return of “Night Court” and new music from the K-pop act TVXQ are some of the new television, movies and music headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists are a true crime story on Max, a new version of … Read more