ThePensmith

Out next Friday! InstagramOlly Murs on Instagram: "Can’t wait for ‘Save Me’ to be a...4,679 likes, 221 comments - ollymurs on July 18, 2025: "Can’t wait for ‘Save Me’ to be all yours - out 25th July 😎 Been playing this one live for you guys on tour and the energy’s been 🔥🙌🏻 Pres...

The date for Ja Rule - Wonderful is incorrect (or rather the year is). That was 2004, not 2006.

When it comes right down to it, there's a number of factors at play as to the lack of massively successful bands. Dwindling number of grassroots music venues is one thing (you can't let a week go by these days without news of another one hitting the wall, and that has wider implications than just for regional and local scenes). The industry's apparently undying obsession with internet virality, and expecting artists to be everything that artists expected to have done for them when being signed to a major ten or fifteen years ago i.e. marketing, social media manager / content creator. What major label deals there are these days are mostly but not all 360° deals, meaning the artist sees even less revenue from outside of music sales. Then you've got touring costs getting so astronomical these days, making it almost impossible for up and coming bands to make any money at all from gigging and playing live, some barely breaking even in some cases. Whilst not all of these factors are totally insurmountable, is it any wonder there's very few bands making it truly big these days?

I actually have a playlist on my Spotify for such occasions:

"Life is a Rollercoaster" single now on DSPs:

Tinie's first single in two years is dropping next week! https://ffm.to/tinieeatitup

Ronan's self titled debut album is being reissued on CD and coloured vinyl as "Ronan25" in September to mark its 25th anniversary: SOURCE The video for "Life Is A Rollercoaster" (released 25 years ago today!) has also just been officially uploaded in 4K on his YouTube as well:

He was just on Scott Mills on Radio 2 this morning as he's been announced for their Radio 2 In The Park event at Hylands Park in Chelmsford on Sunday 7th September. He's also advised the single is out in a couple of weeks!

I was going to come in here and say basically the same thing. People forget that that's what the whole model of the Official Charts was in the first place, as a promotional tool for the music business. Yes, the meaning and significance has changed so that's it more than that down the years, but that's what it has always been at heart. I may not follow the charts on a weekly basis as closely as I did ten years ago, or even longer ago than that. But this idea that the chart is "overstuffed" with rules is not something exclusive to 2025. It's always been complex. It's always had instances of rules set out by the OCC getting introduced or being breached. Go look at any James Masterton chart columns from the late 90s or early 00s and you'll find them easily enough.

Just saw on her Stories that apparently Melanie C gave her a little pep talk before her set at Glastonbury. Bless her 😍❤️ Girl power to another that!

This country's appetite for beige never ceases to infuriate me. It's like turkeys voting for Christmas.

Just catching up with sets I wanted to see. Alanis Morissette and Jade were awesome. Watching Scissor Sisters now!

Jesus the fawning / heaping on of this and Glastonbury as the second coming on social media is giving me the ick. What for?!

I was about to say the same thing 🤣

Looks as if they're doing a signing for this at HMV Vault in Birmingham on release week! Instagramhmv on Instagram: "JUST ANNOUNCED! Meet @dearaliceoffici...132 likes, 4 comments - hmvinstagram on June 26, 2025: "JUST ANNOUNCED! Meet @dearaliceofficial at @hmvvault / @hmvkpopshop as they celebrate the release of bitterSWEETsummer! Pre-order from 9:00...

Did wonder why this video of mine had taken a spike in views 🤣 It's been in my head since I went to the tour last month, easily a return to form from "Marry Me". I'd hazard a guess he's probably going for the "first single in the summer, second in the autumn then the album" route and a Q4 release.

Did post about this in the All Saints topic last week. But it would appear there is something new on its way soon from Nat and Nic Appleton! InstagramNatalie Appleton on Instagram: "#Appleton"2,164 likes, 246 comments - natappleton on June 19, 2025: "#Appleton".

Honest to God, the actual screams that went up (myself included) when KT bought her on stage were unmatched. And then just as we were barely recovering from that - Natalie Imbruglia 🤣

I missed Rick and Roger as I had to dash to get my tube back to Liverpool Street for my connecting train home! But yeah, bloody amazing gig. She does indeed have an extensive contacts book 🤣 Here's my videos from last night:

Just on my way home from seeing KT Tunstall at Royal Albert Hall tonight. Mel came on as a surprise guest and did "When You're Gone" and "I've Had The Time Of My Life" (off Dirty Dancing) with her! Natalie Imbruglia also came on and did "Torn" 😍

Nat and Nic have just posted this 😍😍😍 InstagramNatalie Appleton on Instagram: "#Appleton"551 likes, 105 comments - natappleton on June 19, 2025: "#Appleton". 14 year old me is fanboying so hard!

It's been mentioned on the thread for it but they were the surprise "Out of the Blue" guests at Capital Summertime Ball today! They did "She Makes Me Wanna" as seen here but also "The Club Is Alive", "Beat Again" and "Everybody In Love".

Saints & Sinners is coming out on red and black marble vinyl on 19th September for its 25th anniversary! https://hmv.com/store/music/vinyl/saints-and-sinners-(25th-anniversary-edition)

Incredible... they came on stage as surprise guests at Robbie Williams' Emirates Stadium show tonight! InstagramHeart on Instagram: "What a moment of 90s boyband heaven!...1,285 likes, 64 comments - thisisheart on June 6, 2025: "What a moment of 90s boyband heaven! #robbiewilliams #five #90s".

HMV Vinyl Week releases are confirmed - and again, my wallet is safe 🤣 https://hmv.com/Store/Music/Vinyl-Weekend Not even one token pop release!