By Joy Young, Chapman University

The timeless superhero is coming out as bisexual — a refreshing twist that is equal parts heroic change and tangled conflict.

By Re’nesia Mills, University of Tampa

After a two-year wait, the American R&B singer is preparing to release her second album that is sure to have female fans in their feels and craving more.

By Tiffany Singh, University of Central Florida

By Joy Young, Chapman University

The powerful pop sensation’s debut album is a nod to the chaos and dreaminess of youth.

By Megan Heenan, Nevada State College

The release of ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ has left fans wanting a collaboration between Peter Parker’s and Eddie Brock’s super-selves, begging the question: Who should be the villain that faces off against this unlikely duo?

By Esha Shah, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Rumors have sparked about a new music project between these iconic pop artists, and it all leads back to … cheese and pepperoni?

By Jenna Amore, Oakland University

‘Palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy’ for the rap star’s fans who are anxiously waiting in line to grab a bite of homey-style pasta.

By Daniel Reed

They’re still one of the most popular bands in the world even decades after breaking up, but there was a time when their surroundings were much more humble.

By Mai Senser, Virginia Commonwealth University

Podcast hosts Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers offer a refreshing twist on the traditional award show format, boasting 100 categories and many unique nominees.

By Joy Young, Chapman University

In their new album, the band pushes against the boundaries of truth and emotion to craft nostalgic sounds for the modern listener.

By Esha Shah, New Jersey Institute of Technology

The artist has made a name for herself since 2015 with songs about introversion and the struggle of self-love; her new album goes even deeper.

By Xochitl Menjivar, San Francisco State University

The show’s producers are making drastic changes to the original story, and they’re being met with mixed criticisms.

By Jake Sanders, Rhodes College

The artist put up with years of slander due to his preference for autotune, but his charming personality and passion for music has kept his fans wanting for more.

By Mai Senser, Virginia Commonwealth University

In a film that chooses to make a manipulative and, at times even creepy, character its hero, Ben Platt’s age is the last thing you need to worry about.

By Daniela Saffran, Rollins College

Rather than focus on happier themes, popular music today seems to want to embrace the melancholy.

By Jenna Nelson, Scripps College

Korean pop groups are everywhere, but they wouldn’t dominate as much as they do without the hard work of the people who design their dance moves.

By Amy Harris, Utah State University

Writers have been bending expectations for years, but only recently has their creativity been given a new category.

By Lauren Koop, London School of Economics - Peking University

Listen to the talk-show host weekly with an open mind and self-reflective attitude for the best results.

By Elizabeth Dewit, University of Pittsburgh

After weeks of guilt trips and manipulation, fans have decided the artist’s new single isn’t worth all the trouble it caused online.

By Elliot Jackson-Ontkush, Skidmore College

The underground band creates meaningful connections with their fans while still producing quality music.

By Jenna Amore, Oakland University

The controversial musical artist has been showing off his baby bump to his TikTok viewers, which finally culminated in the ‘birth’ of his latest album in mid-September.

By Mai Senser, Virginia Commonwealth University

After a nearly two-year-long delay, the former One Direction singer is on the road thanks to multiple pandemic precautions — and it’s a show you won’t want to miss.

By Anna Hupp, University of Wyoming

The author’s slender book captures a daughter’s hopeless loss after the death of her father, as Adichie searches for both language and meaning but finds both ultimately inadequate.

By Niall Calvert, Wesleyan University

Two of the largest rappers have entered a new chapter in their long war of words, and while many fans are grabbing popcorn, the battle is already stagnating.

By Mariam Nasief, Columbia University

Her new hit solo single, which evokes the R&B sounds of the ’90s, shows off the singer’s prowess both as an artist and as an entertainer.

By Elizabeth Dewit, University of Pittsburgh

It started as a freestyle on his livestream — now, TikTokers are rapping the song about the Adult Swim cartoon in front of historical sites.

By Karen Lu, Yale University

Just because they’re not real doesn’t mean that they can’t be a source of consolation or contentment.

By Anna Hupp, University of Wyoming

On his first album, the singer-songwriter recklessly commits to music, helped by brutally honest lyrics, sonic sheen and a groundbreaking marketing strategy.

By Mariam Nasief, Columbia University

The English musician’s new pop-sound may have been nothing more than a failed experiment.

By L.R. Staples, Sarah Lawrence College

A cover by @mars_is_great is inspiring other users to include the song in videos of their own as they appreciate remarkable works.

By Jenna Nelson, Scripps College

The award-winning American singer has brought attention to his innate musical talent, making him a topic of conversation among musicians on YouTube.

By Lauren Sung, University of Georgia

Korean bands like H.O.T. and BTS have done a lot to normalize ‘soft masculinity,’ but South Korean culture as a whole remains patriarchal and heteronormative.

By Olivia Wisse, Hofstra University

This masterful modern historical fiction novel explores celebrity culture, family destiny and female strength — all on the glamorous surf of California.

By Alexandra Cortez, Trinity University

The debut novel twists ‘Romeo and Juliet’ into a story of high-stakes action with a cast of ruthless characters.

By Kelsi Karpinski, Michigan State University

In this artist’s fourth concept album, they take back ownership of their body as both sexual and ‘a gift to [their] child.’

By Natalie Gabor, Indiana University-Bloomington

The popular indie artist known for her dreamy music explores deeper and more intense topics in her sophomore release.

By Jenna Amore, Oakland University

YouTuber and ‘All Things Internet’ podcaster Rachel Ballinger no longer censors her language — or subject matter — in this deeply personal (and humourous!) offering.

By Mason Cannon, Columbia University

Someone new discovering old favorites doesn’t always water them down.

By Lauren Koop, London School of Economics - Peking University

Boycott Jeff Bezos’ reign over the reading world by switching from his book-based social media platform to an even better website instead!

By Brunella Tipismana, Smith College

The author’s latest release tackles a serious subject with a careful awareness of the book’s target audience.

By Anna Hupp, University of Wyoming

The artist, who rose to fame with albums that encapsulate the spirit of teen-hood, explores less dramatic — and arguably more important — themes in her latest album.

By Karen Lu, Yale University

The Korean indie music genre truly has something for all music enthusiasts, from R&B and hip-hop to rock and alternative.

By Mason Cannon, Columbia University

‘Although they may express it beautifully, sometimes what they have to express from within themselves doesn’t come from somewhere beautiful at all.’

By Kelsie Westmoreland, Washington and Lee University

This popular reading subscription service has come under fire following the decision to re-release their collection of Harry Potter memorabilia.

By Olivia Wisse, Hofstra University

The boyband announced they will be releasing new music. But will their previous personas as child actors prevent them from becoming mainstream artists?

By Alexandra Cortez, Trinity University

Your mind will thank you for picking up this habit as early in life as possible.

By Kelsi Karpinski, Michigan State University

Society tells us that the most beautiful art is born out of suffering — a potentially life-threatening lie.

By Ian Linn, Oberlin College

Frank Herbert’s seminal novel has influenced countless science fiction writers, even though it has remained a relatively niche series.

By Lauren Sung, University of Georgia

Batman’s most iconic sidekick recently came out as bisexual in an issue of ‘Batman Urban Legends.’ It’s a big step for representation, but queerness has a long history in DC comics.

By Mariam Nasief, Columbia University

His solo project, Bleachers, just released ‘Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night,’ and although he is a secret weapon of success for pop icons like Lorde, Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey, his own solo work often fails to get the same attention.

By Jenna Nelson, Scripps College

As the podcast approaches its 300th episode, it remains relevant due to its hosts’ emotional openness, trademark humor and fan connections.

By Alexandra Cortez, Trinity University

Though Amazon is dominating the sale of books, a few positive developments could mean good things for smaller sellers in the years ahead.

By Elizabeth Dewit, University of Pittsburgh

Although we mourn the infamous singer’s death, we don’t have to mourn the end of his singing and songwriting career.

By Jayni Nielsen, Pace University

By Zach Spangler, University of Michigan

Despite allowing unfinished projects to reach the fans who appreciated late musicians most in life, they remain a pressing gray area.

By Nathan Kolodney, Wesleyan University

From his generosity toward young hip-hop artists to his passionate performances, this rapper has proven that he deserves the title of hip-hop G.O.A.T.

By Beth Nipper, University of Iowa

Mariko Tamaki’s latest graphic novel is marked by a slew of both positive and negative reviews, leaving potential readers at a loss of what to do.

By Alexandra Cortez, Trinity University

Will the shows be any good? Or is Hollywood just running out of original ideas?

By Olivia Wisse, Hofstra University

Billie Eilish’s sophomore album ends critical whispers of her ‘flop era’ but is it possible to forgive her often problematic persona?

By L.R. Staples, Sarah Lawrence College

A true descendant of older forms of entertainment, this thought-provoking show is making viewers drastically rethink their relationship with technology.

By Natalie Gabor, Indiana University-Bloomington

Although the music festival updated its COVID-19 rules and regulations to ensure a safe event, not everything ran as smoothly as it could’ve.

By Mariam Nasief, Columbia University

Jojo Moyes’ most recent novel-to-film adaptation is not as perfect or heart-wrenching as its predecessor, ‘Me Before You.’

By Fatima Sani, Rollins College

Conan Gray’s newest single about yearning for companionship without being interested in a relationship is something that can resonate with single people everywhere.

By Savannah McCracken, University of Arizona

The rapper’s newest single is proof that he’s got what we’ve been waiting for — unapologetic and overt expressions of queerness in music.

By Zach Terrillion, Oberlin College

Though the saga has been the butt of many jokes throughout the last decade, the books and movies allow fans to escape from reality.

By Jayar Brenner, Michigan State University

The music is great, but a lot of rules imposed upon audiences and performers can hinder the enjoyment of live orchestra performances.

By Darby Williams, University of Michigan

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s magnum opus entered the public domain early this year, and spinoffs of all sorts have been appearing ever since.

By Niall Calvert, Wesleyan University

The 22-time Grammy winner is about to drop his 10th studio album, and the details surrounding it continue his long history of bizarre releases.

By Kelsi Karpinski, Michigan State University

From atmospheric soundscapes to carefully crafted storylines, playlists are becoming a new art form.

By Ian Linn, Oberlin College

The upcoming copyright release of these last mysteries may result in the famed sleuth taking on new dimensions in the future.

By Jael Davis, DePaul University

These books can create any world that they want — so why do so many go out of their way to recreate the same problematic assumptions found in the real world?

By Olivia Wisse, Hofstra University

The artist’s return to music has been met with criticism, but her recent single may be a winner with fans of her previous work.

By Amy Harris, Utah State University

The tale has persisted for more than a century, with two new adaptations coming in the near future.

By Mariam Nasief, Columbia University

The singer’s latest song returns to the lyrics and sounds that made his debut album, ‘Blue Neighborhood,’ such a long-lasting hit.

By Sydney Smith, University of Pittsburgh

With the singer’s recent release ‘Planet Her’ comes a renewed focus on captivating styles, something that has been lacking from mainstream pop as of late.

By Alexandra Cortez, Trinity University

The beloved website continues to provide its users with great potential but it is seriously weighed down by a long list of issues.

By Lauren Koop, London School of Economics - Peking University

Are the book recommendations on the app any good? Or is everything overhyped?

By Jenna Nelson, Scripps College

The Brooklyn-based performer first showed his narrative power in ‘The Good and the Bad,’ and his most recent album is no different.

By Mason Cannon, Columbia University

Research behind this auditory phenomenon has revealed that it is more common than you may think — though we still don’t fully understand why it occurs.

By Michelle Buckley, Chapman University

On her latest album, the young musician will hopefully put a stop to critics’ insistence that she’s entered a period of artistic stagnation.

By Karen Lu, Yale University

Can the genre function as a way to empower female readers and viewers, or is it doomed to merely satisfy a power fantasy?

By Zach Spangler, University of Michigan

The 24-year-old Mexican American pop sensation has released another hit single, cementing him as one of music’s most interesting up-and-coming artists.

By Nathan Kolodney, Wesleyan University

The British model-turned-rapper is an artist that constantly seeks perfection, and he’s hip-hop’s best-kept secret.

By Darby Williams, University of Michigan

Indie-pop sensation AJR’s newest EP explores self-reflection and what it means to be a grown-up — whatever that means.

By Niall Calvert, Wesleyan University

The long-awaited music event offers a star-studded musical roster and heralds a return to live festivals for New York City.

By Jayar Brenner, Michigan State University

College has been difficult for everyone over the last year, but restrictions made it nearly impossible to continue getting a quality musical education.

By Olivia Wisse, Hofstra University

On her recent record, indie-pop star Marina advocates for feminine power, non-conformity and a progressive future.

By Alexandra Cortez, Trinity University

It’s time for society to drop the idea that stories told with words and artwork are lesser than their more traditional counterparts.

By Mai Senser, Virginia Commonwealth University

The ‘Boss Whom Is Girl’ comedian has created three brilliant podcasts in the last year and a half, each of which features distinct, personal subject matters.

By Brunella Tipismana, Smith College

Ling Ma’s 2018 novel about a deadly pandemic parallels and almost predicts our own situation more closely than we realize.

By Natalie Gabor, Indiana University-Bloomington

After being canceled last year due to COVID-19, the major music festival has returned for in-person performances this year. Here’s what you need to know before you go.

By Nathan Kolodney, Wesleyan University

Siblings often make the most iconic musical duos, and the progeny of rapper Benzino are looking like they will continue this tradition.

By Niall Calvert, Wesleyan University

After being neglected for more than 50 years, unearthed footage from the Harlem Cultural Festival demonstrates the importance of honoring the music of Black artists.

By Ariana Quijano, Georgia State University

Elle Mills and Michelle Platti detail wild fangirl stories, debate pop culture minutiae, analyze celebrity news and so much more.

By Zach Terrillion, Oberlin College

While stars like Lady Gaga have supported the LGBT community through their music, ‘Sawayama’ focuses on what it means to actually be LGBT.

By Michelle Buckley, Chapman University

This promising indie music star’s latest EP tells a story about growth and demonstrates a positive turning point in the artist’s rising career.

By Jayni Nielsen, Pace University

Helena Fox’s debut tackles tough topics such as grief and mental health with immense grace and empathy.

By Olivia Wisse, Hofstra University

The author’s realistic fiction novel captures how easy it is to give up on lifelong dreams, among other conundrums that are all too familiar to writers.

By Alexandra Cortez, Trinity University

What started as a low-budget audio series is now developing into an entire world of young adult novels and spin-off shows.

By Anna Hupp, University of Wyoming

This indie rock album, released by a long-standing icon of the genre, explores the new world of semi-responsible adulthood through the lens of a lifelong feeling of insecurity.