CULTURE NEWS
Cultural news, data reports and industry updates across culture, arts, politics, music and the creative sectors.
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The top Irish comedians join We Don’t Talk About That on Monday for a frank, funny conversation about women’s bodies, silenced grief, industry gatekeepers and refusing to dance for approval. What happens when women stop approaching the difficult parts of life sideways and begin speaking about them plainly? On Monday, 27 July, comedians Anne Gildea…
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On her exhilarating second album, Nia Archives tears down the walls between jungle, indie-pop and confessional songwriting, proving that emotional vulnerability and ferocious breakbeats belong in the same room. Artist: Nia ArchivesAlbum: Emotional JunglistLabel: Hijinxx/Island RecordsRating: ★★★★½ The music industry is fond of celebrating women who break through barriers, provided they remain grateful, marketable and…
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The Belfast musician and visual artist discusses growing up during the Troubles, the radical power of empathy and the city of warmth, wit and creativity at the heart of his new single, ‘Belfast (Place of My Soul)’. For Paul Archer, Belfast is more than a birthplace. It is a creative force, a spiritual anchor and…
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For years, the debate around gender representation in Irish and British music has been marked by a familiar frustration. Artists raised concerns. Campaigners published reports. Broadcasters defended their decisions. Industry bodies launched initiatives. Yet despite the conversations, progress often felt difficult to quantify. Even when representation reached parliamentary agendas and policy discussions, a fundamental question…
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For centuries, the sound of Ireland’s original brass-wire-strung harp was lost to history. This July, audiences in Kilkenny will have a rare opportunity to hear the instrument that shaped Ireland’s musical identity and inspired the national emblem brought back to life by pioneering musicians and researchers. When most people think of the Irish harp, they…
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Amanda Stanhope and Jenn Green on coercive control, recovery, consent and the realities of rebuilding after abuse. Words: Kieran O’Brien Amanda Stanhope thought she might have Alzheimer’s. Jenn Green (also known as Jenn Wilenta) thought she was losing time. Neither woman initially suspected the men closest to them. That was one of the many striking moments…
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From boardrooms to grassroots activism, these are the women helping redefine power across the modern music business. When Billboard unveiled its 2026 U.K. Power Players list, much of the conversation naturally centred on superstar artists, billion-stream campaigns and record-breaking tours. But underneath the headlines sits a different story. One that is arguably far more important.…
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There is an old rule in the music business. Whenever somebody starts talking about innovation, we must follow the money… Last month, Spotify and Universal Music Group announced a new licensing agreement that will allow Spotify Premium subscribers to create AI-generated covers and remixes using songs from participating Universal artists and songwriters. The announcement was…
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The Vatican officially entered the AI debate as Pope Leo compares AI threat to Biblical ‘Tower of Babel’. By now, most people have become accustomed to hearing artificial intelligence discussed through the language of markets, productivity, disruption and innovation. Billionaires speak of acceleration, governments don’t know what to do, and the titan tech company CEO’s…
The Industry Review 