Charli xcx portrait added to National Portrait Gallery collection
Pop star is celebrated as ‘one of the defining cultural figures of her generation’ by gallery, which acquires Brat-era portrait by Harley Weir
‘The greatest album never made’: the untold story of George Michael’s secret, star-packed duets project
Suing his record label and sick of being a sex symbol, the singer spent 1992 working on the Trojan Souls for stars including Aretha Franklin and Bryan Ferry. Now, newly released studio footage shows him in his creative prime
‘I thought it didn’t stand a cat’s chance in hell’: Andrew Ridgeley on Wham’s surreal trip to China
Four decades after he and George Michael became the first western pop act to tour the country, Ridgeley recalls silent gigs, awkward embassy receptions – and the ‘bloody ludicrous’ hiring of Lindsay Anderson as director
Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts looks back: ‘It was my dream come true, but we were all burned out’
Roberts on refusing to take no from her dance teacher, moving to the US aged 18, and reuniting with Kimberly Wyatt and Nicole Scherzinger
Luke Combs review – regular Joe megastar brings the arena-sized party home
Despite his humble persona, the highest-selling country artist of all time has the vocal firepower and heavyweight hits to deliver two hours of crowd-pleasin’ pyrotechnics
Shania Twain’s honest playlist: ‘If Dancing Queen comes on, you rush out’
The country-pop superstar loves Abba and secretly listens to Lloyd Webber, but which British heartthrob’s single gets her out of bed in the morning?
‘I know what it’s like to be vulnerable’: musician This Is Lorelei AKA Nate Amos on addiction and finding peace
The singer-songwriter and Water from Your Eyes guitarist was unstoppably prolific, despite a growing dependence on substances. Now sober, he reflects on his new album and the songs that helped him turn his life round
The Strokes: Reality Awaits review – a perfect marriage of mayhem and melody on their best album in years
Allying the crackpot strangeness of Julian Casablancas’ side projects with his band’s gift for pop minimalism, the New Yorkers are on playful, joyous form
Tyla: A*Pop review – old-school pop superstar transports us back to more carefree times
The South African singer reflects on love’s highs and lows on her second album, nimbly flipping between moods but with her voice always holding attention
‘It’s more than backcombing a beehive!’ How tribute acts got massive – and put the live music scene back in the black
Versions of Amy Winehouse and hundreds of other musicians are generating millions for beleaguered UK venues. But what is the emotional toll for the imitators, and are they pushing out original artists?
Charli xcx: Music, Fashion, Film review – slippery search into selfhood that hits just as hard as Brat
How do you follow up the album that made you a star – and a caricature? In classic Charli style: with a pivot to guitar and a meta masterpiece about the instability of identity
’Ian Curtis didn’t have a chance’: the Durutti Column on departed friends, Factory Records and fun with Morrissey
As they release their first album in 16 years, the Vini Reilly-fronted band answer your questions on sandpaper record sleeves, having Harry Styles as a fan and inventing a new style of guitar music
‘My life’s work was being delightful. That really hurt me’: breakout Americana star Brennan Wedl on freeing herself through song
With her roots stretching from the Catholic church to riot grrrl, the US singer-songwriter explains how sobriety and self-analysis powered her classic new Waxahatchee-produced album
How a boy’s own song about eastern rosellas went viral and was covered by Ben Lee
Miles Phillips’ hit has been viewed 1.5m times and played on the radio. The seven-year-old was inspired after feeding birds and realising one ‘main bird stood out’
Pass the pit diapers! Why are fans wetting themselves to stand front row at concerts?
Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan and Morgan Wallen have all dealt with audience effluence in recent weeks – but that’s only one part of a fearsome subculture that has built up around fandom, endurance and ‘getting barrier’