Educate Your Earbuds

This week’s Educate Your Earbuds mini episode breaks down Dolly’s legacy, early 2027 Coachella and Glastonbury predictions, and Bonnaroo’s surprising year off. Plus, Miley Cyrus enters a new era, Ella Langley keeps dominating the charts, and the latest twist in the Tupac Shakur murder trial.

🎧 New mini episodes drop every other Wednesday—don’t forget to follow, rate, and share if you’re loving the pod.

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Links:

• https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/dolly-parton-buried-private-family-funeral-nashville-1236328786/

• https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/olivia-rodrigo-reflects-daisy-chain-fields-emotional-post-1236328848/

• https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/olivia-rodrigo-daisy-chain-fields-donation-melinda-gates-1236328282/

• https://support.bonnaroo.com/hc/en-us/articles/52741158558740-Bonnaroo-2027

• https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/live/countdown-column-2026-09-01

• https://www.nme.com/news/music/miley-cyrus-new-album-bass-persuades-two-hollywood-bowl-shows-3966413

• https://variety.com/2026/music/news/ella-langleys-choosin-texas-break-hot-100-chart-record-1236847519/

• https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/tupac-shakur-family-reacts-duane-010852796.html

It's time for the Song of the Summer 2026 episode! And this year we've been wondering... What even qualifies as the Song of the Summer in 2026—and does one song still have the power to define an entire summer? From the classic summer anthems that once seemed impossible to escape to today’s fragmented streaming and social media landscape, this episode breaks down what happened to the ultimate summer hit.

The biggest contenders for 2026 Song of the Summer are put head-to-head, including the songs dominating charts, streaming, TikTok, and summer playlists. But the bigger question is what this year’s race says about the state of pop music, music discovery, streaming culture, and the increasingly personalized way we listen to music.

Because if everyone has their own summer anthem… can there really be one Song of the Summer?

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Links:

• https://www.wowktv.com/news/u-s-world/ap-what-is-the-2026-song-of-the-summer-ap-offers-some-predictions/

• https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/26/entertainment/video/song-of-the-summer-hits-digvid-vrtc

• https://www.streetroots.org/opinion/2026/08/20/what-makes-a-song-of-the-summer-has-society-progressed-past-the-need-for-one/

• https://www.themusicnewsblitz.com/news/music-analysis-why-the-song-of-the-summer-does-not-really-exist-anymore

• https://www.billboard.com/charts/summer-songs/

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/interactive/2026/08/12/summer-songs-2026/

• https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-07-29/songs-of-summer-update-wild-cards/

• https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX4zbZrYRGVam?go=1&sp_cid=a8cf5d44-e3ce-4be6-86c0-218431d61a74&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1&dlsi=b40e88127b22490e

• https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-08-24/summer-culture-streaming-data/

• https://pitchfork.com/story/20-contenders-for-2026-song-of-the-summer/

• https://www.vogue.com/article/what-is-the-2026-song-of-the-summer

• https://slate.com/culture/2026/08/ella-langley-taylor-swift-country-music-morgan-wallen-billboard-songs.html

• https://www.reddit.com/r/ToddintheShadow/comments/1ms9nuy/whats_with_the_obsession_over_there_being_or_not/

Artificial intelligence is already changing the music industry—and the rules around AI-generated music are changing fast. This week on Educate Your Earbuds, it’s time for an AI music industry reality check: how artists, record labels, and streaming platforms are actually using AI, how widespread it has become, and what it means for the future of music.

From AI-generated songs and artist voices to streaming services changing how they handle AI music, the line between human-made and machine-made music is getting increasingly blurry. The episode breaks down the latest AI music developments, the biggest shifts happening across the industry, and what these changes could mean for musicians, listeners, and the future of streaming.

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Links:

• https://www.nme.com/news/music/ai-detected-in-40-per-cent-of-music-released-in-july-2026-study-reveals-3963677

• https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/08/18/g-s1-138852/grueling-fight-over-who-profits-from-ai-music

• https://happymag.tv/musicians-producers-using-ai/

• https://deadline.com/2026/07/music-ai-labels-recording-industry-1236979107/

• https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-music-industry-ai-generated-content.html

• https://www.ism.org/news/ai-music-news-may-2026/

• https://www.nme.com/news/music/spotify-announces-new-ai-labelling-system-for-ai-generated-artists-and-content-3962088

• https://www.nme.com/news/music/beatport-is-now-banning-fully-ai-generated-songs-3963207

• https://www.tiktok.com/@iamjojoofficial/video/7663490759319899423

New music, tour chaos, surprise guests, and one very unexpected wedding-adjacent encounter—this week’s Educate Your Earbuds mini episode has a little bit of everything. In 15 minutes or less, the latest music news and pop culture headlines get the group-chat treatment, starting with some of the most talked-about new music releases, including Phoebe Bridgers’ highly anticipated Lost Weekend and Troye Sivan’s new era.

Then it’s onto tour news, from John Summit cancellations and Noah Kahan’s surprise Rose Bowl guest to Ariana Grande bringing Cynthia Erivo onstage in London. And because apparently the Jonas Brothers have decided they can never stop touring, yes, the JoBros are going back on the road AGAIN.

To close things out: the Shaboozey pseudo-wedding crasher interaction that had the internet talking. Plus, a little Rihanna speculation because apparently we’re all still waiting for that album.

🎧 New mini episodes drop every other Wednesday—don’t forget to follow, rate, and share if you’re loving the pod.

Thanks for listening! Follow, rate, and review us! 

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Links:

• https://deadoceans.com/news/phoebe-bridgers-announces-new-album-lost-weekend-highly-anticipated-third-album-out-august-14th/

• https://www.npr.org/2026/08/15/nx-s1-5930259/phoebe-bridgers-releases-highly-anticipated-third-solo-studio-album-lost-weekend

• https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/troye-sivan-shes-the-best-charli-xcx-nicole-kidman-1235608285/

• https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/john-summit-cancels-four-european-festival-dates-august-1236318083/

• https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/noah-kahan-chappell-roan-perform-california-live-1235609738/

• https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/jonas-brothers-burnin-up-all-over-again-tour-announced-1236318338/

• https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-for-good-wicked-live-london-1235609808/

• https://people.com/bride-and-groom-shocked-as-shaboozey-floats-by-during-riverside-wedding-exclusive-12057144

The 200th episode celebration continues with Gerald back on Educate Your Earbuds for the ultimate Tomorrowland 2026 festival recap!

After traveling across the globe and experiencing DreamVille in Part 1, it’s finally time to enter Tomorrowland Belgium. From the artists and sets that made the weekend unforgettable to unexpected side quests, festival speed runs, food missions, and the moments that had everyone asking, “How did we even end up here?”—this episode gets into what actually went down once the festival gates opened.

With EDM, electronic music, festival culture, international travel, and Tomorrowland at the center of it all, this is the inside scoop on what it’s really like to experience one of the world’s biggest music festivals.

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Season 5 starts with the biggest milestone in Educate Your Earbuds history: the 200th episode! To celebrate, a special guest and friend of the podcast joins the show for the first installment of an unforgettable Tomorrowland 2026 recap.

Part one goes beyond the festival gates, following the journey from home to Belgium and into DreamVille, Tomorrowland's legendary camping city. From international travel chaos and first impressions to what it's really like staying in DreamVille, this episode dives into the moments that make the world's biggest electronic music festival an experience long before the first DJ takes the stage.

Whether Tomorrowland is on the bucket list or the trip is already booked, this episode offers an inside look at the adventure, community, and excitement surrounding one of the most iconic EDM festivals in the world.

Next week, Part 2 heads into the festival itself with the best performances, unforgettable food, favorite stages, and everything that made Tomorrowland 2026 one for the books.

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New music, festival drama, and another week of music industry chaos? Say less.

This week on Educate Your Earbuds Mini, we're breaking down some of the biggest music headlines in 15 minutes or less. From new releases by The Strokes, Charli XCX, and Madonna to the latest buzz surrounding Lollapalooza, we're separating the internet hype from what actually happened. Plus, there’s a recent slew of artists once again calling out the White House for using their music without permission. 

To wrap things up, we take a moment to remember legendary French producer Kavinsky and the impact he left on electronic music. Whether you're obsessed with pop culture, the music industry, indie rock, pop music, festival news, or viral entertainment stories, this is your midweek music catch-up.

🎧 New mini episodes drop every other Wednesday—don’t forget to follow, rate, and share if you’re loving the pod.

Thanks for listening! Follow, rate, and review us! 

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Links:

• https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/252420/9

• https://electronicgroove.com/madonna-adds-another-chapyter-house-music-confessions-ii/

• https://pitchfork.com/reviews/charli-xcx-music-fashion-film/

• https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/fred-again-latin-mafia-mixtape-creation-livestream-mexico-1236303864/

• https://djmag.com/news/listen-fred-again-and-latin-mafias-9-months-50-hours-mixtape

• https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ariana-grande-break-public-scrutiny-1236307902/

• https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lollapalooza-2026-flooding-delays-wolf-alice-cortis-sets-1236307838/

• https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/white-house-bad-bunny-drake-songs-ice-deportation-videos-1236307191/

• https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/katy-perry-condemns-trump-firework-military-video-1236302972/

• https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kavinsky-death-dance-world-reactions-1236305712/

This episode was originally released on December 18, 2025.

What if you bought a music festival ticket with no lineup, no headliners, and no clues—just vibes? This week on Educate Your Earbuds, I dive into one of the internet’s most compelling “what ifs,” inspired by a TikTok from @okmilmil that completely reframed how I think about live music.

I explore how music festivals evolved from loose, community-driven gatherings into lineup-first cultural events—and what might happen if we stripped that all away. From festivals that already embrace mystery to whether that model could ever work in today’s FOMO-fueled, streaming-era world, this episode questions how much lineups really matter—and if knowing less could make live music feel more spontaneous, immersive, and exciting again.

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Links:

• ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@okmilmil/video/7418581548846402858

This episode was originally released on March 27, 2025.

The media loves to paint raves as wild, drug-fueled chaos, but we’re here to set the record straight. In this episode of Educate Your Earbuds, we’re diving into the positive side of raving—because it’s not just about the neon outfits and bass drops.

Raving creates a safe space where people can truly be themselves, build friendships, and feel a sense of belonging. Plus, raving has some surprising mental and physical health benefits too! Whether it’s the joy of movement, the stress relief, or the magic of connecting with music in a crowd of like-minded people, there’s so much more to raving than what the headlines tell you.

So, grab your kandi and tune in—because this week, we’re giving raving the love it deserves! 🎶✨

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Links:

• ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@therapyravegirl/video/7481372050909711646?_t=ZP-8uxpLfLNeHe&_r=1⁠

• ⁠https://edm.com/features/why-we-rave⁠

• ⁠https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-we-rave-mckenzie-wark-techno-raving-book/⁠

• ⁠https://dailytrojan.com/2022/04/08/modern-mind-neuroscience-reveals-the-hype-behind-rave-culture/⁠

• ⁠https://ravers.co.nz/exploring-the-health-benefits-of-raving/?srsltid=AfmBOopLmIw-HYyMDwlyBWKbIqx7-GB0IKkzQbOD_gsZvkowQwVHB7RB⁠

• ⁠https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/dancing-brain#:~:text=Other%20studies%20show%20that%20dance,term%20memory%2C%20and%20spatial%20recognition⁠.

• ⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/aves/comments/zctqfr/how_has_raving_changed_you_for_the_better/

Season 4 ends with pure pop culture chaos. This week on Educate Your Earbuds, music and television collide in a game that's guaranteed to spark debates. Which musicians would be the real-life versions of some of TV's most iconic characters?

From beloved sitcoms and unforgettable teen dramas to legendary TV personalities, this episode pairs artists with famous fictional characters based on personality, iconic energy, uncanny resemblance, and, sometimes... simply because they're mother. Some matches will feel obvious, others will leave listeners questioning everything.

Whether you're obsessed with music, binge-worthy TV shows, celebrity culture, or internet fandoms, this season finale is packed with hot takes, nostalgia, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Get ready to decide which pairings are spot on—and which deserve an immediate rebuttal.

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Links:

• https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/best-tv-sitcoms-1162237/buffalo-bill-nbc-1983-1984-1163248/

• https://collider.com/best-drama-tv-shows-all-time-ranked-ever/