This is Beirut

Justin Bieber Unveils Surprise Album 'Swag' After Three-Year Break

This is Beirut, 11/07 12:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Music Singer Album Justin Bieber Culture Art

Canadian superstar Justin Bieber released his seventh album, Swag, on Friday, just hours after sharing a sneak peek of it on social media. Comprising 21 tracks totaling 54 minutes, the project marks the return of the 31-year-old singer more than three years after his last single, Honest, a duet with Don Toliver. His previous album, Justice, was ...

Ed Sheeran Swaps Stage for Canvas in Colorful Debut

This is Beirut, 10/07 17:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Culture Art Music Painting Culture Art

British pop star Ed Sheeran has swapped a microphone for paint brushes, with the fruits of his endeavors to go on display later this week, the London gallery exhibiting his works confirmed Wednesday. The abstract pieces — colorful Jackson Pollock-esque paintings and prints — will be available to buy, with part of the proceeds going to the Ed ...

Diddy Faces Sentencing After Shocking Split Jury Verdict

This is Beirut, 09/07 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Music Justice Culture Art

Sean "Diddy" Combs will be sentenced on October 3 for his conviction on prostitution-related charges, following a split verdict that saw him acquitted for crimes that carried more serious punishment. The music mogul was found not guilty of sweeping racketeering and sex trafficking charges after the marathon trial in which he was accused of ...

AI-Generated Rock Band With Over 1 Million Spotify Fans Admits Truth

This is Beirut, 09/07 11:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

AI Music Art Culture Spotify

The Velvet Sundown, a fast-rising rock band that gained over 1.1 million followers on Spotify in just a few weeks, has admitted it was generated using artificial intelligence. The revelation confirms growing suspicions surrounding the band’s meteoric rise and retro aesthetic. In an updated bio on Spotify viewed by AFP, the group confesses to ...

Inside JAH Art Gallery with Dr. Ayman Badreddine — Yasmina Sabbah & the USJ Choir Redefine Choral Music

Lea Mehanna, 05/07 17:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Culture Lebanon Arts Music Gallery Painting

In this episode, we explore JAH Art Gallery, Beirut’s vibrant contemporary art space founded by Dr. Ayman Badreddine. Discover how the gallery amplifies voices from the Middle East and beyond, creating a home for stories, memory, and dialogue. We also dive into the USJ Choir’s latest project, “Symphonic Electro-Dance.” Led by conductor ...

Ozzy Osbourne Bows Out with Black Sabbath

This is Beirut, 05/07 13:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Concert Culture Art Show Music

Birmingham braced Saturday for wildman rocker Ozzy Osbourne's final-ever gig as Black Sabbath's frontman, with thousands flocking to his UK hometown for a celebration of the heavy metal genre he helped create. Millions are also expected to follow online after fans snapped up tickets for the show — starring the original line-up — in just 16 ...

From Benin to Hollywood: Singer Angélique Kidjo Makes Walk of Fame History

This is Beirut, 05/07 10:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Music Angélique Kidjo Walk of Fame France Benin Culture

Franco-Beninese artist Angélique Kidjo expressed her "joy" on Friday at becoming the first African female singer to receive a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. The five-time Grammy Award winner, who recently concluded an international tour celebrating her 40-year career, was named Wednesday among the 35 new honorees selected to ...

Oasis Reunion Tour Ignites Cardiff With Britpop Thunder

This is Beirut, 04/07 10:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Oasis Concert Tour UK Music Culture

Tens of thousands of ecstatic Oasis fans descended Friday on Cardiff as the legendary Britpop band kicked off a highly anticipated reunion tour nearly 16 years after last performing together. The concert at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital was the first of a 41-date run of gigs spanning the world, including the United States, Japan, ...

Sean "Diddy" Combs Acquitted of Sex Trafficking, Convicted on Lesser Charge

This is Beirut, 03/07 10:50 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Music US Trial Diddy Entertainment Culture

Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs was found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking Wednesday but convicted of a less serious prostitution charge after a high-profile marathon trial in New York. Combs was denied bail after the jury found him guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, each of which carries a maximum ...

BTS to Drop New Album and World Tour in 2026

This is Beirut, 02/07 14:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

BTS Korea Concert Music Culture Art

BTS agency HYBE confirmed Wednesday that the K-pop megastars would release a new album and go on tour in 2026, with the group's livestream announcement of their return attracting more than seven million views. The seven-member group had been on a self-described hiatus since 2022 while they undertook their mandatory military service — required ...

Record Year for UK Music Tourism Driven by Global Stars

This is Beirut, 02/07 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Music Economy Tourism Britain Culture

Music tourism contributed a record £10 billion ($13.8 billion) to the UK economy last year as fans flocked to live shows by Taylor Swift and other big acts, industry data from UK Music revealed Tuesday. "Charli XCX, Bruce Springsteen, Sam Fender and Dua Lipa helped lure a record 23.5 million music tourists to concerts and festivals," UK Music ...

Echoes of Iran: The Forgotten Golden Age of Persian Pop Music

Bélinda Ibrahim, 01/07 19:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Tehran Iran Music Golden Age

At the dawn of the 1960s and 1970s, Iran entered one of its most culturally vibrant eras. Amid rapid transformation, young Iranians eagerly embraced electric guitars and Western harmonies, seamlessly fusing them with the poetry and melodies of Persian tradition. Psychedelic rock bands thrived in Tehran’s underground clubs, drawing inspiration ...

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