Music

Ronald LaPread, seen here on left with Kara Rickard, Mark Williams and Soraya LaPread, spent the last 40 years of his life living in NZ after falling in love with a Kiwi woman.

Ronald LaPread, former Commodores bass player, dies in Auckland aged 75

LaPread – who played on 11 Commodores albums – spent the last 40 years of his life living in NZ after falling in love with a Kiwi woman.

Sunday 5:36pm

'Same old cliche': Goldsmith brushes off Dame Lynda Topp's criticism

At the Aotearoa Music Awards last night, Dame Topp called out the lack of funding for music in the budget unveiled yesterday.

Fri, May 29

The planned attack was set to occur two years ago.

Taylor Swift Austrian concert attack plot suspect found guilty

The concert plot was thwarted, but Austrian authorities still cancelled Swift's three performances in August 2024.

Fri, May 29

Dame Lynda Topp at the Aotearoa Music Awards.

Dame Lynda Topp blasts Government in awards show speech

The surviving Topp Twin spoke through tears about the recent death of her sister, while also blasting the Government's "lousy" arts funding.

Fri, May 29

Kylie Minogue, who turns 58 this week, has been world famous since her teens.

'What if it was your daughter?': Kylie Minogue slams brutal critics of her teen era

In the new documentary about her life, Kylie, the enduringly famous Australian popstar reveals the impact of the ruthless 1980s press.

Tue, May 26

Ronald LaPread, former Commodores bass player, dies in Auckland aged 75

LaPread – who played on 11 Commodores albums – spent the last 40 years of his life living in NZ after falling in love with a Kiwi woman.

Sunday 5:36pm

'Same old cliche': Goldsmith brushes off Dame Lynda Topp's criticism

At the Aotearoa Music Awards last night, Dame Topp called out the lack of funding for music in the budget unveiled yesterday.

Fri, May 29

Taylor Swift Austrian concert attack plot suspect found guilty

The concert plot was thwarted, but Austrian authorities still cancelled Swift's three performances in August 2024.

Fri, May 29

Dame Lynda Topp blasts Government in awards show speech

The surviving Topp Twin spoke through tears about the recent death of her sister, while also blasting the Government's "lousy" arts funding.

Fri, May 29

'What if it was your daughter?': Kylie Minogue slams brutal critics of her teen era

In the new documentary about her life, Kylie, the enduringly famous Australian popstar reveals the impact of the ruthless 1980s press.

Tue, May 26

Musician Atena Kharyaband plays the oud during a performance dubbed Sounds of the South, featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026.

Live music returns to Tehran amidst fragile ceasefire

Even before the war began, concerts had become scarce in Iran after anti-government protests that started in December were met with a harsh crackdown by Iranian security forces.

Sat, May 23

Spears put her level of drunkness at "zero".

Britney Spears offered to make lasagne for officers during DUI stop

The singer said she had a pool and her voiced changed in and out of a British accent during the arrest on a California highway.

Sat, May 23

Post Malone announces one-off Auckland show

Post Malone is bringing his Big Ass World Tour to Auckland, and will be joined by Don Toliver.

Thu, May 21

Director Steven Soderbergh poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'John Lennon: The Last Interview' during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 16, 2026

Director defends AI usage in John Lennon documentary

Steven Soderbergh's documentary John Lennon: The Last Interview uses artificial intelligence to visualise a conversation between Lennon and Yoko Ono.

Mon, May 18

Dara from Bulgaria performs the song "Bangaranga" during the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026.

Bulgaria wins Eurovision song contest, Australia comes fourth

Bulgarian Dara beat out 24 other competitors, including Australia's Delta Goodrem, during the grand final in Vienna.

Sun, May 17

After several sell-out Super Rugby games, Christchurch’s new stadium is preparing for its first major music concert this weekend.

Te Kaha stadium to get a soundcheck with major concert

After several sell-out Super Rugby games, Christchurch's new stadium is preparing to host a different event this weekend.

Fri, May 15

View of Mt Wilson and the Deukmejian Wilderness Park East of Los Angeles, and inset image of Mark Smythe.

NZ-born composer, 53, dies after collapsing on LA hiking trail

Mark Smythe collapsed on a trail in the hills east of Los Angeles on Saturday.

Wed, May 13

An artist performs at the 2024 edition of The Others Way.

'None sadder than us': The Others Way music festival ends after decade

Organisers say mounting financial pressure and a struggling live music landscape have forced the central Auckland festival to call time.

Wed, May 13

Artists fear their work isn’t being protected enough from the fast-emerging technology.

AI songs top music charts – NZ creatives fear losing control

With tracks created by artificial intelligence topping the charts here and overseas, New Zealand artists are concerned their work isn’t being protected.

Wed, May 13

The group told Breakfast they were "so excited to be finally coming back" ahead of their 25th anniversary world tour.

Westlife returning to New Zealand for first time in 20 years

The Irish boyband are bringing their 25th anniversary tour to Auckland and Christchurch in July.

Mon, May 11

Neil Finn, Tim Finn and Nigel Griggs of Split Enz perform on stage at the Rod Laver Arena in 2006.

Enz forever? Kiwi legends tease new album ahead of tour

Today, they'll play their home town of Auckland (which saw the beginning of the Enz in 1972) before kicking off a run of Australian concerts next week.

Sat, May 9