ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus Talks Reunion, New Album, Writing ‘The Winner Takes It All’ and More

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorFive years after the release of the second chapter of his “BlackSummers’Night” trilogy, three-time Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter Maxwell has finally revealed plans to release the final installment, “blacksummers’NIGHT,” in the spring — and he’s leading with a new song, “Off,” and the announcement of a long tour, kicking off in TK, that will see fellow R&B vets Anthony Hamilton and Joe opening.The new single is another classic slice of Maxwell-flavored R&B, a

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJackson Browne and Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna cofounder Jorma Kaukonen will headline a star-packed lineup of artists at a benefit for the non-partisan voters’ rights non-profit Headcount, to be held at the historic Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAdele debuted three new songs from her upcoming album “30” during her CBS television special on Sunday night: “I Drink Wine,” “Hold On” and “Love Is a Game.”Adele has been teasing “Hold On” in a trailer for the special as well as an Amazon Christmas advertisement.The special, titled “Adele: One Night Only,” also included a new sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey, billed as her “first televised wide-ranging conversation about her new album, the stories behind the

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAs expected, Kanye West has released a deluxe version of his most recent album, “Donda,” that features more than 20 extra minutes of previously unreleased tracks and alternate versions, including “Life Of The Party” featuring Andre 3000, “Up From The Ashes,” “Never Abandon Your Family,” “Remote Control 2” with Young Thug and a new feature from Kid Cudi, and more.The new edition expands the already long album past the two-hour mark; it’s now 2:11.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorPeter Jackson’s reinterpretation of the film footage that became the Beatles’ swan-song film “Let It Be” has had a long road, even since it was first revealed a couple of years ago — first it was an Apple feature film for 2020, then it became a six-hour docuseries on Disney+ airing this coming Thanksgiving, and that’s on top of the 50-plus years that the footage has been sitting on shelves.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJack White has announced the upcoming release of two new albums next year —his first new full-length collections in over four years.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorHouston mayor Sylvester Turner has promised a “thorough review and investigation” of the tragedy at the Travis Scott-headlined festival in the city, where eight people died and more than 300 were injured as crowds surged and stampeded during Scott’s set.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAnticipating a long-awaited yet unexpected reunion is one of life’s more conflicted experiences. Will your old friend look good or awful? Will they be stuck in the past, or a 2.0 or 3.0 version of the person you remember? Most of all, will they still be themselves?It’s both corny and perfectly fitting to frame ABBA’s first album in nearly 40 years as a reunion with an old friend.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAhead of his “Astroworld” festival taking place in his Houston hometown this weekend, Travis Scott has dropped two new songs, “Escape Plan.”The songs are likely from his forthcoming album “Utopia,” which he and producer Mike Dean have teased on social media over the past few weeks.Although “Escape Plan” drew most of the initial attention upon the midnight drop — within the first 13 minutes, the audio of “Escape Plan” had 18,000 listens on YouTube and “Mafia” had

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorA murderer’s row of top hip-hop producers including DJ Premier, Swizz Beatz, Mustard, The-Dream, Mike Will Made It, No I.D, Hit-Boy, Take A Daytrip and Tainy will release EPs via Mass Appeal’s “Hip Hop 50 the Soundtrack,” as part of the company’s #HipHop50 campaign in celebration of the genre’s 50th year.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLos Angeles-based jazz saxophonist Terrace Martin, who first rose to prominence with his work on Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 album “To Pimp a Butterfly,” will release a new concept album titles “Drones” on Nov. 5 — this Friday.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorHarry Styles will finish his 2021 “Love on Tour” with the first concert at the new UBS Arena in Belmont Park, NY, on Sunday, November 28. Tickets for the newly announced show will go on sale starting Friday, November 5 at 12 p.m.The new arena is just outside New York city limits, on the border of Queens and Nassau Counties.Presale registration is available now via Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program now through Tuesday, November 2 at 12 p.m.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe legendary New York studio Power Station at BerkleeNYC, formerly known as Avatar Studios and the Power Station, officially reopened on Wednesday with a reception showcasing its $15 million renovation, which includes high-end video capture, professional lighting, 360 cinematic virtual reality, and spatial audio and broadcast live streaming capabilities.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Rolling Loud festival makes its New York debut this weekend, with a powerful lineup that includes some of the biggest names in hip-hop. The bill is topped by \headliners 50 Cent (whose first major performance in many months takes place tonight), J.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn an understated, very Swedish way, ABBA co-founder and CISAC president Bjorn Ulvaeus is apoplectic.We’re talking about the soaring value of song catalogs — a boom that has seen Bob Dylan sell his catalog for nearly $400 million, and Hipgnosis Songs spending more than $2 billion on acquisitions in just over three years, with another billion-plus on tap.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorTravis Scott has unveiled the lineup for his third annual Astroworld Festival, taking place in his Houston hometown on Nov. 5-6, and like the rapper himself, it’s far-reaching and full of surprises, ranging from Lil Baby and SZA to Bad Bunny and Tame Impala to Earth Wind & Fire.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn the five years since his death from cancer in January 2016, David Bowie’s estate has kept fans captivated with an extensive, tastefully curated series of reissues that have presented a vast amount of material in a non-overwhelming manner. Happily, that same approach is evident in the “Bowie 75” pop-up stores (so named for his 75th birthday in January of next year), which opened in London and New York on Monday.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBeyonce musical director/bassist Divinity Roxx (pictured above with Yani Marin), blind artist Lachi, deaf activist Mervin and more were winners at the first Wavy Awards, presented on Saturday by Blonde Music News and intended to celebrate “women, LGBTQ+, non-binary, artists of color, talent who identifies as having a disability and allies.”Sophia Chang gave a memorable speech at the event, which was supported by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorEd Sheeran has given fans a preview of each song on his forthcoming album, “=” (Equals) via 14 YouTube Shorts ahead of its official release this Friday.According to the announcement, the 14 Shorts “encapsulate the very personal journey of Sheeran’s album – four-years-in-the-making – with each one bringing to life the intimate and everyday moments that are reflected in the songs.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorMoon Kissed are an all-female New York trio whose music is equal parts pop, indie and attitude. It’s an angle they hit you with, straight off the bat and in no uncertain terms, on their sophomore album’s lead-off track, “Bubblegum,” which has a gritty synth-pop sound, an indelible hook and, well, “I know your tiny ego’s bruised/ Don’t try to blame me” singer Khaya Cohen sweetly snarls.