Educate Your Earbuds

Rolling Stone has spoken, and the internet has THOUGHTS. The new Top 200 Rock Songs of the 21st Century list has sparked plenty of debate, but does it actually get rock music right?Before diving into Rolling Stone’s picks, it’s time for a little personal ranking: 10 essential 21st-century rock songs, plus 17 more that deserve a spot in the conversation. Then comes the real fun: breaking down Rolling Stone’s top 10, questioning some seriously unexpected picks, revisiting forgotten favorites, and calling out the songs that have absolutely no business being on this list.From questionable rankings to glaring omissions, this is a deep dive into the rock songs that defined the 2000s and beyond, and why music rankings will ALWAYS get people talking. Is Rolling Stone onto something, or did they completely miss the mark?Thanks for listening! Follow, rate, and review us! Instagram: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodThreads: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodTikTok: Educate.Your.EarbudsEmail: [email protected]:https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-rock-songs-of-the-21st-century-1235634033/https://www.reddit.com/r/popheads/comments/1xgwcjt/rolling_stone_the_200_greatest_rock_songs_of_the/https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6yf5RDVq1uRiqODOymJITp

From Harry Styles officially closing out his MSG residency to Aerosmith making their return to the stage, the live music landscape is serving up plenty of headlines. The Strokes are also making waves with their latest SNL appearance, while KATSEYE cancellations and GRiZ's Seven Stars festival relocation have fans keeping a close eye on what's happening next.On the new music front, Olivia Rodrigo is bringing some holiday cheer with her first-ever Christmas release, while Justice continues to prove they don't miss with another collaboration tied to the GTA VI soundtrack. There's also new Cage the Elephant music on the horizon, another update in Macklemore's Free Palestine tour story, and a moment to recognize the legacy of techno pioneer Juan Atkins following his passing.It's your quick hit of live music news, new music releases, and the music industry stories worth talking about.🎧 New mini episodes drop every other Wednesday—don’t forget to follow, rate, and share if you’re loving the pod.Thanks for listening! Follow, rate, and review us! Instagram: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodThreads: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodTikTok: Educate.Your.EarbudsEmail: [email protected]:https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/katseye-postpones-shows-illness-1236375208/https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-strokes-lonely-in-the-future-going-shopping-walton-goggins-snl-3975379https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-strokes-wrap-up-european-tour-as-nick-valensi-joins-duran-duran-in-paris-3974601https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-harry-styles-cover-talking-heads-psycho-killer-and-dress-as-nyc-pizza-rat-at-final-night-of-msg-residency-3974850https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-aerosmith-return-for-first-show-in-three-years-with-dave-grohl-on-drums-3974899https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/griz-seven-stars-festival-plantation-virginia-1236371234/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/olivia-rodrigo-new-song-take-me-home-4-christmas-video-1236375403/https://www.nme.com/news/music/cage-the-elephant-announce-new-album-dying-in-reverse-with-guitar-heavy-single-make-it-easy-3975154https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/justice-gesaffelstein-pusher-gta-6-score-1236370392/https://www.nme.com/news/music/macklemore-nine-us-arenas-rejected-free-palestine-tour-3975343https://www.nme.com/news/music/u2-ed-sheeran-macklemore-no-billionaire-promoter-owner-has-right-censor-anybody-3975357https://www.thefader.com/2026/11/02/juan-atkins-passed-away-64-legacy-detroit-techno

BTS didn't just build a fanbase. They built an army. 💜 But what makes BTS ARMY one of the most dedicated, influential, and sometimes downright intimidating fandoms in music history?This week on Educate Your Earbuds, it's all about BTS, the global phenomenon behind the BTS ARMY, and the fan culture that has taken over the music industry. From the deep emotional connection between BTS and their fans to the online mobilization, fan projects, and relentless dedication that have made ARMY a force to be reckoned with, what exactly makes this fandom tick? And is BTS ARMY really the craziest fandom in music history? A look at some of music's most legendary fanbases puts that question to the test.Thanks for listening! Follow, rate, and review us! Instagram: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodThreads: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodTikTok: Educate.Your.EarbudsEmail: [email protected]:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BTShttps://www.grammy.com/news/bts-facts-proof-k-pop-butter-dynamite-records-collaborations-songwriters/https://time.com/5912998/bts-army/https://www.reddit.com/r/BTSnark/comments/1m9hjfe/army_and_their_cultish_behavior_an_analysis_on/https://www.stonecoldcountry.net/post/extreme-fandom-insane-fan-stories

Concert tickets shouldn’t feel like a full-time job, yet here we are. Welcome to the Ticketmaster Wars: presale codes, virtual queues, sky-high ticket prices, and the emotional damage of watching your dream seats disappear before you can even check out.On this episode of Educate Your Earbuds, it’s time to break down why buying concert tickets has become an all-out battle, why fans are willing to go to war for a spot on the barricade, and how artists are fighting back against the systems making live music increasingly frustrating and expensive. Plus, what are the Ticketmaster Wars actually doing to concert culture, and is there a way to come out victorious?And because no Ticketmaster battle is complete without a personal casualty, the latest Calvin Harris presale experience proves that even the most devoted fans aren’t guaranteed a win. (Let’s just say those code blessings never came.)Tune in for the concert ticket drama, the fight for affordable live music, and practical tips to give yourself a better shot at scoring tickets before they’re gone.Thanks for listening! Follow, rate, and review us! Instagram: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodThreads: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodTikTok: Educate.Your.EarbudsEmail: [email protected]:https://www.ypulse.com/article/2026/06/30/ypulse-explains-gen-zs-ticketmaster-wars/https://medium.com/@chiara.lostimolo/the-ticketmaster-war-fan-or-reseller-a5665f087548https://www.hercampus.com/school/buffalo/the-great-ticketmaster-wars-of-the-2020s/https://thewellesleynews.com/24079/opinions/why-people-fight-the-ticketmaster-war/https://lsureveille.com/271932/articles/how-musicians-are-fighting-back-against-ticketmaster/https://ca.billboard.com/business/touring/ticketing-letter-fans-first-acthttps://berkleyspectator.com/8252/news/how-the-biggest-artists-fight-back-againsts-unfair-ticket-resale-prices/https://rolloutroundup.substack.com/p/ticketmaster-wars-are-making-casualhttps://www.hercampus.com/school/northeastern/surviving-the-ticketmaster-war-a-guide-to-buying-concert-tickets/https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mje/2026/01/05/op-ed-how-can-we-win-the-ticketmaster-war/

The music news is BUSY. 👀 From Jay-Z’s big Super Bowl announcement and Turnstile’s free benefit show to Spotify cracking down on AI-generated music, this week’s mini episode of Educate Your Earbuds covers the headlines shaking up the music industry. Plus, Kacey Musgraves puts a new spin on Middle of Nowhere, Justice enters the Grand Theft Auto VI universe, and The Weeknd is back with new music. And to close it out, RAYE takes home the 2026 Mercury Prize.Hit play for your biweekly dose of music news, new releases, festival updates, and the pop culture moments worth talking about.🎧 New mini episodes drop every other Wednesday—don’t forget to follow, rate, and share if you’re loving the pod.Thanks for listening! Follow, rate, and review us! Instagram: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodThreads: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodTikTok: Educate.Your.EarbudsEmail: [email protected]:https://www.fox5dc.com/news/turnstile-draws-60k-free-benefit-concert-near-washington-monumenthttps://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/macklemore-hozier-kneecap-free-palestine-benefit-concert-dublin-1236368558/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ultra-music-festival-miami-2027-phase-1-lineup-calvin-harris-1236360564/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2026/10/25/jay-z-too-short-snoop-dogg-dr-dre/92424283007/https://hypebeast.com/2026/10/jay-z-headline-super-bowl-lxi-halftime-show-official-announcementhttps://variety.com/2026/music/news/kacey-musgraves-middle-of-nowhere-vol-2-tex-mex-tapes-1236921504/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/grand-theft-auto-vi-score-justice-1236361230/https://hypebeast.com/2026/10/the-weeknd-debuts-new-single-hong-konghttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/25/elvis-presley-anthropic-lawsuit-ai-models-musichttps://variety.com/2026/music/news/spotify-removes-50-million-ai-slop-tracks-recommendations-1236917108/https://pitchfork.com/story/raye-wins-2026-mercury-prize/

Has live music culture become a little too demanding? 🎤Miley Cyrus’ recent Hollywood Bowl performance sparked plenty of fan backlash, raising a bigger question about concert culture: when does valid criticism turn into entitlement?From Miley’s Friday night setlist to the moments that had fans talking, this episode of Educate Your Earbuds breaks down the controversy and challenges the expectations we bring to live music. What does a concert ticket actually entitle you to? Are fans justified in expecting a flawless show, or have social media and sky-high ticket prices changed what we consider a good concert experience?It’s time to unpack the difference between reasonable criticism and fan entitlement—and ask whether the expectations surrounding live music have gone too far.Thanks for listening! Follow, rate, and review us! Instagram: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodThreads: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodTikTok: Educate.Your.EarbudsEmail: [email protected]:https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/chappell-roan-super-graphic-spectacular-lineup-block-party-1235640489/https://www.billboard.com/lists/miley-hollywood-bowl-live-return-recap/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/miley-cyrus-hollywood-bowl-show-criticism-response-1235644514/https://variety.com/2026/music/news/miley-cyrus-setlist-hollywood-bowl-los-angeles-123691449https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/miley/2026/hollywood-bowl-los-angeles-ca-3b7e9c8c.htmlhttps://jlkc.com/what-to-expect-at-a-live-concert-event/https://www.reddit.com/r/LetsTalkMusic/comments/wy8me/lets_talk_about_our_expectations_for_live_shows/https://nypost.com/2025/07/24/entertainment/justin-timberlake-slammed-for-barely-singing-during-romania-concert/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/59974/1/are-fans-becoming-more-entitled-jenna-ortega-taylor-swift-matty-healyhttps://www.vice.com/en/article/why-do-live-music-audiences-suck-right-now/

A stacked EDM lineup, a major weather curveball, and a festival weekend that took a turn nobody saw coming. Did Head Trip accidentally deliver one of the greatest days in dance music history?This week on **Educate Your Earbuds**, a special guest and friend of the show joins for a Head Trip Music Festival recap featuring massive moments from Skrillex, Swedish House Mafia, and Calvin Harris, plus B2B sets that made an already wild weekend even more unforgettable. But when the weather threw a wrench into the plans, the festival took an unexpected turn that changed everything.From camping lessons to the sets that made it all worth it, find out how a weekend of festival chaos may have turned into an all-time EDM experience.Thanks for listening! Follow, rate, and review us! Instagram: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodThreads: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodTikTok: Educate.Your.EarbudsEmail: [email protected]:https://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2026/10/07/head-trip-promises-a-festival-experience-you-can-catch-just-this-once/https://www.billboard.com/lists/head-trip-festival-recap-skrillex-calvin-harris-coachella/https://edm.com/events/head-trip-festival-review/

Live music chaos, surprise collabs, new music chart drama, and artists getting political. 🎤 This week on Educate Your Earbuds, the music news is covering ALL the bases.From Shakira bringing Dua Lipa onstage to Charli XCX’s star-studded ACL headlining sets and Skrillex addressing the issues surrounding his Head Trip performance, live music is delivering plenty to talk about. Plus, Miley Cyrus is facing a major chart shake-up with Bass Persuades, Chappell Roan joins Olivia Rodrigo for a remix of “Expectations,” and new music rumors have Eminem and The Rolling Stones back in the conversation.Then, things get political. Kacey Musgraves, James Talarico, and Kristi Noem spark discussion, while Harry Styles, Hayley Williams, and Zach Bryan make their voices heard onstage. From Turnstile’s free benefit show to Metallica’s take on keeping politics out of music, we’re getting into the ongoing debate over where music, activism, and artists’ personal beliefs intersect.🎧 New mini episodes drop every other Wednesday—don’t forget to follow, rate, and share if you’re loving the pod.Thanks for listening! Follow, rate, and review us! Instagram: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodThreads: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodTikTok: Educate.Your.EarbudsEmail: [email protected]:https://edmhousenetwork.com/skrillex-apologises-after-sound-issues-during-head-trip-festival-set/https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-dua-lipa-join-shakira-on-stage-in-madrid-for-antologia-3972200https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/charli-xcx-tinashe-2026-austin-city-limits-festival-1236358595/https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-the-raconteurs-reunite-at-jack-whites-nashville-gig-3972890https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-lana-del-rey-debut-white-feather-hawk-tail-deer-hunter-from-stove-at-singapore-grand-prix-3973041https://www.nme.com/news/music/miley-cyrus-bass-persuades-chart-history-biggest-drop-number-one-3972705https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/olivia-rodrigo-chappell-roan-expectations-remix-video-1236359831/https://pitchfork.com/story/megan-thee-stallion-revives-tina-snow-on-new-single/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1012915-eminem-50-cent-new-album-street-fighter-soundtrackhttps://www.nme.com/news/music/the-rolling-stones-are-back-in-the-studio-again-3972859https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/11/politics/video/james-talarico-kacey-musgraves-concert-digvid-vrtchttps://www.nme.com/news/music/kacey-musgraves-brutally-hits-back-at-kristi-noems-criticism-3973060https://www.nme.com/news/music/turnstile-announce-huge-free-show-at-washington-monument-to-raise-money-for-palestine-sudan-and-lebanon-3972691https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/hayley-williams-dhs-response-ice-concert-1236354758/https://www.nme.com/news/music/zach-bryan-wears-free-palestine-shirt-at-gillette-stadium-following-robert-kraft-macklemore-row-3972037https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-bernie-sanders-aoc-introduce-the-strokes-nyc-3972046https://www.nme.com/news/music/harry-styles-pays-tribute-to-oscar-belgal-after-ice-shooting-look-after-each-other-3973044https://www.nme.com/news/music/ed-sheeran-didnt-want-to-get-into-politics-on-u2-collab-yours-eternally-claims-bono-3971733https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/james-hetfield-explains-why-wont-110000443.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABbr5bvpgK3a8JXT4sgHrLJ8Oea_ARbq4biJYzanSx7iKCXZC7mrYXKyGZx_29Ox64NfnPEjZPIzQ4kh17DkuPYLXUJVC0-6xGj762Hal08UCRek3-HtTZTalkHl9o40o80ovYD8WWn1EjwGzO98Rlx2BIuVQ_uV08SQkLL2uU7x

Austin City Limits Festival (ACL) is one of the biggest music festivals in the U.S.—but what is it actually like to experience ACL?The fourth episode of the Educate Your Earbuds Festival Series dives into the history, music, and overall experience of Austin City Limits, from its Austin roots and essential festival facts to what it’s really like navigating the festival grounds, crowds, stages, and lineup. Get the inside scoop on the different ways to experience ACL, whether you’re there in person or tuning in from home.Plus: practical ACL tips and tricks for making the most of your festival weekend, along with recommendations on which artists are worth adding to your must-see list if you’re heading to Austin this year.Whether ACL is already on the calendar or you’re considering it for a future festival trip, this episode is packed with everything to know before heading to Austin City Limits.Thanks for listening! Follow, rate, and review us! Instagram: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodThreads: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodTikTok: Educate.Your.EarbudsEmail: [email protected]:https://www.aclfestival.com/25yearshttps://www.aclfestival.com/ticketshttps://thedailytexan.com/2024/09/30/history-of-austin-city-limits-music-festival/https://www.aclfestival.com/community-impacthttps://www.aclfestival.com/livestreamhttps://www.aclfestival.com/lineuphttps://www.aclfestival.com/schedule

The 2026 MTV VMAs had Madonna, Taylor Swift, huge performances, major wins—and somehow still left people asking: where’s the chaos?This week on Educate Your Earbuds, it’s a deep dive into the 2026 VMAs recap, from Madonna opening the show with a star-studded performance to Taylor Swift making VMA history, the biggest on-air winners, and the awards handed out off-air. But beyond the winners and performances, there’s a bigger question: can the VMAs ever feel as unpredictable, outrageous, and genuinely unmissable as they did in the ’90s and early 2000s?The VMAs have always been about more than Moon Persons and music videos—they were pop culture events where anything could happen. So what changed? And does the 2026 show signal a comeback, or is the VMA magic of the past impossible to recreate in today’s music landscape?If you’re looking for a 2026 MTV VMAs recap, the biggest VMA winners, performances, Taylor Swift and Madonna moments, plus a little ’90s and 2000s VMAs nostalgia, this episode has you covered.Thanks for listening! Follow, rate, and review us! Instagram: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodThreads: Educate.Your.Earbuds.PodTikTok: Educate.Your.EarbudsEmail: [email protected]:https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/a73793108/vmas-performers-2026/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_cos_md_pmx_prog_org_us_18419138764&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23699138372&gbraid=0AAAAAC5jt3O0mmRhQIKk5l9ZIqjBPe9BJ&gclid=CjwKCAjw_eLVBhBEEiwAeaYZfCRMFUZmcodXKUoOyn7n98jzNxb9SrFFcDQ5YR8RI96lkKbaayB8KhoCrDkQAvD_BwEhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbenjamin/2026/09/27/2026-vmas-madonna-lisa-tyla-lead-full-performer-presenter-list/https://vote.mtv.com