playlist
Beat's recommended playlist for all of your musical needs.
Tyla’s Chart-Topping Rise
Introduction When South African singer Tyla released her self-titled debut album in late 2023, few predicted it would ignite a global movement. But by 2025, her name was everywhere: on Billboard charts, Grammy stages, and playlists from Lagos to Los Angeles. Fueled by her breakout hit “Water”—a seductive fusion of amapiano, R&B, and pop—Tyla didn’t just enter the global music scene; she reshaped it.
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Beat
Grooves That Never Fade: The Essential Bands of 70s Funk, Soul & R&B
I am a crazy music freak. At the peak of my vinyl obsession, I owned somewhere around 15,000 to 20,000 albums and 10,000 to 13,000 singles (45s). That was a mountain of music. Later came CDs, and I ended up with another mountain — around 12,000 to 14,000.
By Rick Henry Christopher 2 months ago in Beat
Richard Smallwood
Introduction In recent months, false rumors have spread online with alarming speed: searches like “gospel singer Richard Smallwood died”, “Richard Smallwood passed away”, and “Richard Smallwood cause of death” have surged—despite having no basis in truth.
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Beat
Some Favourite Record Labels II
Introduction I thought I would put together some songs from my favourite record labels. Although my tastes tend to be rock-based, I am very eclectic and sometimes things do cross over. I love soul, classical, folk, but I am not enamoured by happy techno, the stuff that comes from commercialised talent shows, and Eurovision, although there are obvious exceptions.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 2 months ago in Beat
How to Build a Successful Music Career in the UK in 2026
The British music industry has always punched above its weight globally, but the pathway to success for independent artists has fundamentally changed. Gone are the days when talent scouts at London venues discovered the next big act, or when radio play on BBC Radio 1 guaranteed chart success. In 2026, UK musicians face a landscape where digital presence, strategic planning, and professional presentation matter as much as the music itself.
By Najeeb khan2 months ago in Beat
11 Indie Pop Songs That Dazzled the 2000s
After the grunge and nihilism of the 90s, the 2000s brought a wave of hopefulness with an edgy twist. People wanted bright colors, snarky humor and dance-pop anthems, and the music industry responded with catchy indie tunes that made people feel unique without diving too far into the counterculture. If you feel nostalgic for this time, these 11 tracks will take you back to the time when "'Rawr' means 'I love you' in dinosaur" was peak hilarity among junior high students.
By Kaitlin Shanks2 months ago in Beat
10 Emotionally Devastating Songs That You'll Never Forget
Have you ever been on the verge of tears and needed to listen to a sad song to unleash the waterworks? I've had moods like that, but corny, sentimental songs don't do it for me. Instead, I listen to the tracks on this list when I need to release some bottled-up emotions. These songs capture the depths of human grief without being cheesy--and they're also great tracks on top of that, so they deserve a spot on your regular playlists.
By Kaitlin Shanks2 months ago in Beat
Thirteen Ways To Kill A Poet
Introduction This was getting a few hits on my blog, and I like the title, but I can't remember where I got it from. Incidentally, I was listening to "Selling England By The Pound" today and thought I might write something inspired by it. Then I found this, which has a lot of what I was going to say, so I thought I would share it with a few of the songs from the album, but you already have one.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred - EBA3 months ago in Beat
