Maroon 5 has returned with their first album in four years, Love Is Like, packed with upbeat funk-pop tracks and high-profile collaborations, attracting widespread attention in mainstream pop circles. Conan Gray’s new release, Wishbone, explores heartbreak and introspection with a cinematic sound rooted in 80s synthpop, marking another strong entry in the pop singer-songwriter’s discography. Tom Grennan’s Everywhere I Went, Led Me To Where I Didn’t Want To Be, blends stadium pop and soul, inviting listeners to consider themes of personal growth and bittersweet reflection. Bret McKenzie, known for Flight of the Conchords, dropped Freak Out City, which features witty lyricism and quirky pop arrangements.

The rock and indie scene also sees notable drops, with Alison Goldfrapp’s Flux expanding her shimmering electropop style, and Big Noble’s It’s Later Than You Think offering experimental ambient soundscapes through the collaboration of Daniel Kessler of Interpol and sound designer Joseph Fraioli. Chance the Rapper and Marissa Nadler headline the alternative releases, while Molly Tuttle’s So Long Little Miss Sunshine fuses bluegrass and pop, including a take on Charli XCX.

Hip-hop and R&B remain vibrant with fresh singles from Cardi B, Steve Lacy, Khalid, Olivia Dean, and Joy Crookes showing up on release radars, along with new tracks from Elmiene, Polo G, VonOff1700, El Cousteau & The Alchemist, and others. These releases highlight the genre’s range from narrative-driven flows to melodic, emotion-laden vocals.

On the performance front, country-rock star Zach Bryan is drawing massive crowds in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park for his August 15 show, sparking logistical changes throughout the city due to the anticipated audience surge. Meanwhile, deep catalogue fans are treated to expanded reissues: Deep Purple’s Made in Japan has arrived in a super deluxe edition, newly mixed by Steven Wilson, and Van Halen’s Balance lands as an expanded 2CD/2LP set.

In industry news, Chord Music Partners, backed by Universal Music Group, has secured significant new funding from Searchlight Capital Partners, with Music Business Worldwide reporting this could add $1-2 billion for future catalogue acquisitions, signaling ongoing changes in music rights investment strategies.

Tech innovations continue to shake up discovery, as YouTube Music is testing a new feature called Your Daily Discover that recommends tracks in a carousel format personalized to each listener’s taste, following the popularity of Spotify’s algorithm-driven playlists.

Finally, discussion of global music history and cultural appropriation is in the spotlight with Joe Boyd’s newly released book, And the Roots of Rhythm Remain, which challenges listeners to reconsider the context and complexities behind popular music’s global rise.

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