musicFriday, August 28, 2026

SoundCloud shifts to direct-to-fan sales

SoundCloud announced it will let artists sell music directly to fans with zero commission, a move that could reshape how independent musicians monetize. Meanwhile, J. Cole canceled a show after a crew member died, and new albums from Interpol and Alabama Shakes landed to strong reviews.

Sources

Platform shifts

SoundCloud's new sales model is the biggest structural news today, giving indie artists a rare no-cut revenue stream.

#01mixmag.asiaAug 28

SoundCloud to introduce direct-to-fan music sales

SoundCloud will let artists sell music directly to fans and take zero commission. That's a big deal for indie artists who lose 15-30% to other platforms.

Read original

Live and loss

J. Cole's cancellation and the ongoing Dolly Parton coverage show how personal tragedy continues to shape the music calendar.

#02www.rollingstone.comAug 28

J. Cole Cancels Concert After Touring Crew Member’s Death

J. Cole canceled his Sacramento show after a touring crew member died in a trucking accident. The venue announced it, and condolences are pouring in.

#03www.eonline.comAug 28

CNN Apologizes to Dolly Parton’s Family for Using Wrong Photo on Air

CNN apologized to Dolly Parton's family after airing the wrong photo following her death. It's a small but messy footnote in a week of tributes.

New releases

Two major albums dropped today, each staying firmly in their lane.

#04pitchfork.comAug 28

Interpol: This Mirror Weighs a Ton

Interpol's new album is being called consistent and reliable, no experimental detours, just polished post-punk with brooding hooks. Fans will be happy.

#05femmusic.comAug 28

Alabama Shakes – I Must Be Dreaming

Alabama Shakes released their long-awaited third album 'I Must Be Dreaming' today. It's their first in years and arrives with serious anticipation.

Also today15

Hospital Job - 1000 Places To Die Before You Seewww.punkrocktheory.com
Hospital Job will return to Rad Girlfriend Records with 1000 Places To Die Before You See , due for release September 25. Hospital Job is the long-running project of Springfield, Illinois songwriter and musician Luke McNeill, who is also known for his work with The Copyrights. Mc
Sydney’s Staffy is bringing his high-BPM chaos to Nerve for one big Fridaybeat.com.au
Forget the slow build – Nerve doesn’t do subtle. Every Friday night, Brown Alley turns into Melbourne’s home for hard techno and hard bounce, and the 28 August edition comes stacked. Nerve runs at Brown Alley every Friday, and this week’s lineup is headlined by Staffy and Bambii.
Natalie Imbruglia: ‘Becoming a star is not going to feel the way you think it’s going to feel’www.bigissue.com
An early belief that stardom was imminent led to a role in Neighbours and a pop career, but self-confidence wasn’t easy to hold on to The post Natalie Imbruglia: ‘Becoming a star is not going to feel the way you think it’s going to feel’ appeared first on Big Issue .
Interview with Steve Wynnwww.elvis.com.au
Interview with Steve Wynn, bother of Kenny who we recently featured an interview with.
Kaminski, North Dakota unload early and cruise to 42-21 win over Long Island Universityjackfmfargo.com
GRAND FORKS, North Dakota (KNFL/KFGO/AP) - Jerry Kaminski threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns, Matt Lawson ran for two touchdowns, and North Dako...
September risks are stacking up hard and fast for world marketsjackfmfargo.com
By Sophie Kiderlin, Alun John and Samuel Indyk LONDON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Traders will return from their August breaks to a host of risks for markets,...
Anyx – Starlinkthequietus.com
Anyx Starlink A streak of hope threads through the sombre tones of this arresting solo debut by the former Anchoress singer Starlink by ANYX When Anna Lucia Nissen titled her debut album as Anyx Starlink, she knew it would elicit some reactive grimacing. Inspired by mistaking the
Riley Max – Year Onefemmusic.com
Riley Max is a 21-year-old singer-songwriter and multimedia artist from Colorado. Her debut album ROY G BIV – recorded at The post Riley Max – Year One appeared first on FEMMUSIC Magazine .
Adrian Belew: King Crimson’s Frontman and Guitar Innovatorclassicrockartists.com
Adrian Belew: King Crimson’s Frontman and Guitar Innovator Adrian Belew fronted King Crimson from 1981 to 2009, after playing guitar for Frank Zappa, David Bowie, and Talking Heads. <p>The post Adrian Belew: King Crimson’s Frontman and Guitar Innovator first appeared on Classic R