Taylor's Artwork and Tracklist, Breaks Podcast Records, Lana and Ethel's Feud

Taylor Swift Unveils Artwork & Track Listing

Taylor Swift has officially announced her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, set for release on October 3rd. Along with the album's title, she has unveiled the cover artwork and a 12-track listing that includes the title song featuring Sabrina Carpenter, as well as tracks like “Elizabeth Taylor,” “Ruin the Friendship,” and “Cancelled!”. The project marks a significant reunion with producers Max Martin and Shellback, who last worked with Swift on her albums reputation and 1989, signifying a distinct sonic shift from her recent collaborations with Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner.

The album's concept, as detailed by Swift on the New Heights podcast, centers on her inner life during her latest tour. She explained that the cover artwork, which shows her in a bathtub rather than a performance dress, was a deliberate choice to "glamorise all the aspects of how the tour felt." The record itself is a vivid portrayal of her "exuberant and electric" experiences, capturing the "infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic place" she was in. Swift described her goal for the album’s sound as creating "melodies that were so infectious that you’re almost angry at it” alongside lyrics that are "vivid, crisp, focused, and completely intentional."

Taylor Swift’s 'New Heights' Appearance Crashes YouTube With Record-Breaking Viewership

Swift unintentionally caused a technical meltdown on YouTube when her appearance on the New Heights podcast, hosted by her partner Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce, drew a record-breaking 1.3 million concurrent viewers. The unprecedented surge in viewership proved too much for the live stream to handle, causing it to abruptly cut to black an hour and 44 minutes into the chat. The New Heights team quickly addressed the issue on social media, assuring fans that the episode would be back online shortly.

The live stream crash and explosive audience growth served as a powerful testament to Swift’s ability to drive engagement across digital platforms. In real time, the podcast’s YouTube channel saw its subscriber count jump by 60,000, from 2.85 million to 2.91 million. The remarkable uptick in viewership and subscriptions underscores Swift’s unparalleled influence, which was more than even one of the world's largest streaming platforms could handle.

ICYMI:

• The first trailer for Wednesday Season 2, Part 2, has been released and features the first tease of Lady Gaga’s role in the series.

• Beyonce’s Netflix Special, Beyonce Bowl, has won the Emmy Award for “Outstanding Costumes for Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Programming.” It’s her first-ever Emmy win, and it makes her halfway to EGOT status.

Lana Del Rey and Ethel Cain’s Feud

A public feud has erupted between Lana Del Rey and Ethel Cain, sparked by Del Rey's new song "All About Ethel." The lyrics directly reference their online interactions, including lines that call out Cain's behavior and touch on their shared history, such as working at Waffle House. After the song's debut, Cain responded by announcing on her Instagram story that she had blocked Del Rey, escalating the tension between the two artists.

In the wake of the feud gaining traction on social media, Del Rey took to the PopBase Instagram comments to provide further context. She explained that she only became aware of Cain a few years ago after being exposed to disturbing side-by-side images and comments about her weight. This clarification suggests that the song serves as a reaction to ongoing online harassment, framing the conflict as a public confrontation grounded in long-standing issues rather than a spontaneous dispute.

POP FACT: On this day in 1989, Joe Jonas was born.

New Era, New Color? Olivia Rodrigo’s Website Hints

Following the official end of her GUTS World Tour, Olivia Rodrigo has started dropping clear hints that her highly anticipated third album is on the way. In an email to her newsletter subscribers, she purposefully misspelt the word "yet" as "y3t," using the number three as a direct signal to fans. The clues continued with her official website, which now features a prominent pop of red, marking a significant departure from the dark purple and lavender color motifs of her previous albums, SOUR and GUTS. The new hue, along with a revised logo, suggests a new creative era is beginning, with a third album announcement seemingly just a matter of time.

ICYMI:

• The CEO of Valentino, Jacopo Venturini, has stepped down from the company for “personal reasons.”

• Olivia Rodrigo has announced the ‘GUTS’ tour book. Including never-before-seen images, an exclusive poster, a commemorative tour trading card, and more. 

• The poster for Season 5 of ‘ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING’ has been released. The new season is set to premiere on September 9 on Hulu.

• A new photo of Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo for ‘Wicked: For Good.’ has been released, featuring the pair in black and white in their costumes. 

• Angel Reese is set to release her first-ever signature sneaker with Reebok on September 18th.

• JADE has said that she would love to open for Taylor Swift on a ‘The Life of A Showgirl’ tour. 

Best New Track: Caramel by Conan Gray

Wishbone serves as the follow-up to Found Heaven and signals a reunion with past collaborator Dan Nigro (executive producer behind the singer’s albums Kid Krow and Superache). Heartbreak anthems were all but guaranteed.

There’s the opening song “Actor” which literally sets the stage for the album’s narrative arc. The lyrics here are strikingly specific it feels like a one-on-one conversation between you and Conan. “A friend of mine asked you / Have you talked to Conan / you didn’t react / you said I barely even f*cking know him,” he sings. “Romeo” is reminiscent of Superache and kicks off with a bright trumpet intro. “Nauseous” really drives home the idea of this ex-lover as a talented actor. (“You just wanna dance / it feels like our final act.”) Whoever the subject is they must have some theatrical skills down by now.

We think “Caramel” stands out most with its vibrant electric guitar and Gray’s soaring vocals towards the finale. It’s memories getting distorted. “The longer you burn / the sweeter you smell,” he sings. Amid the messiness, it all resolves into romance, somehow.

—Dawson Therre

— Katie MacBeth

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