How one of Madonna’s most iconic hits grew from cheap filler to international chart-topper
It might seem an obvious winner now, but Madonna’s Vogue was at first the speedily and cheaply-built flip side to an entirely different single
Artists
How one of Madonna’s most iconic hits grew from cheap filler to international chart-topper
It might seem an obvious winner now, but Madonna’s Vogue was at first the speedily and cheaply-built flip side to an entirely different single
“We never became so famous that we hated each other”: Saint Etienne on longevity and their final album
The alt-pop icons delve into the making of their final record and explain why now is the moment to call time on their career after 35 years of music making
PinkPantheress : “People are less willing to listen to electronic music made by a Black woman”
The breakout UK star also says being British is a strength
Spinal Tap to release fourth album, The End Continues, in September
But apparently it’s not a soundtrack to the new film...
Enigmatic producer Burial releases a new 23 minute EP, Comafields and Imaginary Festival
But is he still producing all his tracks in Sony Sound Forge?
Brian Eno announces Wembley benefit concert for Palestine
Together For Palestine is at Wembley Arena on September 17
“Heavy rock and metal are bigger than ever in live music”: Rock is here to stay, reports Live Nation
Stats show number of heavy rock shows up 14%
Music Tech
“We never became so famous that we hated each other”: Saint Etienne on longevity and their final album
The alt-pop icons delve into the making of their final record and explain why now is the moment to call time on their career after 35 years of music making
6 ways to bring your tracks to life with Ableton Live’s revamped Auto Filter
Let’s explore some sound design tricks and tips using the highlight of Live 12.2 update
Enigmatic producer Burial releases a new 23 minute EP, Comafields and Imaginary Festival
But is he still producing all his tracks in Sony Sound Forge?
IK Multimedia launches new reverb plugin module
Offers more nuance and shape to reverb, IK claims
Why listeners now have to upload biometric data to access certain Spotify songs
It’s one of the unintended consequences of the UK's Online Safety Act
“Rigidity breaks; flexibility endures”: How Nick Cave came to have a more rounded view on AI
Andrew Dominik’s extraordinary new video for Tupelo was the key
“Channel the aura of busted pedal delays, dusty tapes, and otherworldly echoes” with Brainworx new bx_pulsar
WIth five unique delay modes and a set of easy-to-implement further features and filters, it looks like it's got every base covered
“There’s joy in doing something again and again”: Hot Chip show how one of their best loved tracks was created
Direct from Joe Goddard’s bedroom sometime in the mid-00s
Best earplugs for musicians 2025: protect your hearing with these essential audio attenuators, for the practice room to your next gig
I road-tested six sets of the best musician-friendly earplugs, from Alpine, ACS, Minuendo and more - recommended options from budget to moulded
Massive X Player is a free plugin that lets users morph presets from Native Instruments’ wavetable powerhouse
With its new freebie, Native Instruments aims to bring its next-gen Massive to the masses
Guitars
Tone Master Blonde Deluxe Reverb and IR Manager review
Already known to be a great direct-to-desk solution, we now have extra tweakability within the Tone Master series via an IR manager that could make this Blonde Tone Master Deluxe Reverb the perfect gigging machine
"If you're seeking a polished, smooth, modern distortion, this is most definitely not the stomp box for you": Peavey Decade preamp pedal review
Peavey’s latest pedal is rated-R, for riffage
“If you’re looking for something to use for home practice, then it’s an invaluable tool”: Mooer SD30i Intelligent Amp review
There’s everything from US-style clean combos to high-gain metal heads alongside a healthy range of effects
How a Mike Inez bassline kick-started Ozzy classic No More Tears – but he wasn't there to record it
Ozzy's top-tier guitarists get all the glory but on No More Tears you've got to give the bass player his dues. Make that bass players, plural
“I’m not a collector. I get guitars, but I give them away”: Why John McLaughlin regrets gifting a '67 Strat to Jeff Beck
Plus: why he loves his latest PRS
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score $110 off one of the best Fender Strats on the market, $150 off a Roland piano, and so much more
We've uncovered the very best offers on a range of music-making gear from the likes of Roland, Fender, Gretsch, Casio and more
Laney expands Devin Townsend and Guthrie Govan-approved FRFR speaker range with compact 1x10
The LFR-110 promises “studio-quality” sound and portability – and it will make your amp modelling rig easier to carry around
“We were doing that riff and cracking up laughing the whole time”: Zakk Wylde on how a “joke” riff won Ozzy Osbourne his first ever Grammy
The No More Tears sessions found the Ozzy camp in high spirits and ready to lay down a record that would take the Prince of Darkness' solo career to new heights
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
Ignite your inner guitar god for just 27 cents a day with TrueFire’s July 4th sale - save 60% on online lessons
With over 84,000 lessons at your disposal, this is one of the best value guitar tuition subscriptions online right now
Can you fix your guitar's frets yourself? We try three innovative approaches from MusicNomad to investigate how they might conquer a major cause of fret buzz
Uneven frets are a common issue with our guitars, but MusicNomad has come up with different ways to empower players to deal with it themselves
How to play like George Harrison on The Beatles' Abbey Road
Learn the guitar style of the most expressive and accomplished playing The Beatle would ever commit to tape
How to play guitar like David Gilmour: Bluesy diads, slides, quarter-tone blues curls and more
Tackle the expressive phrasing and minor pentatonic tricks of one of rock's finest guitarists, David Gilmour
30 essential acoustic guitar chords, with charts
Massively expand your musical vocabulary and songwriting options with these beautiful acoustic guitar chords
"You owe your guitar the chance to be its best": How to clean and polish your guitar frets a better way
We take a look at two different products that can help you get your frets gleaming and your guitar back to its best for smoother bends and clearer vibrato
Play like Jimmy Page! Exclusive video lesson
Key techniques guitar players can learn from the Led Zeppelin legend
How learning and understanding chord symbols can prove a major benefit for sharing your musical ideas
Chord hieroglyphics can take several forms. We unravel the mysteries of one of the most symbolic and common examples
What are the best online guitar lessons in 2025? I review guitar gear for a living and these are my favourite lessons platforms
My pick of the best online guitar courses will get your playing up to speed from the comfort of your own home, whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player
Latest Tuition
6 ways to bring your tracks to life with Ableton Live’s revamped Auto Filter
Let’s explore some sound design tricks and tips using the highlight of Live 12.2 update
How to get famous sounds and effects using only Logic’s stock plugins
If you’ve got Logic, you’re already more than capable of recreating Skrillex’s manipulated reverb, Billie Eilish’s formant shifting and much more…
How to emulate a classic analogue recording system entirely with plugins
It’s entirely likely that you could recreate many legacy analogue set-ups with just a few chained plugins. Here, we’ll show you how to get started
How to use reverb to build impressive-sounding filters, reverses, risers and pads
Create your own reverb effects with our step-by-step tutorial
“Learning how to mix is almost as important as hitting on your original musical idea”: New to the mixing process? Start here
Don't let a brilliant song be swallowed up in a bad mix by following our guide to the central principles of the process
How to master virtually any software synth
Don't let your software arsenal overwhelm you - sometimes the best route to creative success is to mine just one instrument
How to record virtual and live instruments more smoothly by taking stock of your sample buffer
Latency on your plugins and audio recordings can derail a developing musical idea - but if you get a handle on managing your sample buffer you’ll have a much smoother ride
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: The Wave Warden Odin 2
Hybrid synths offer a wealth of synthesis options and this one is absolutely free. What are you waiting for?
Don't know where to start with virtual instruments? We're here to help
Because there's never been a better, easier, more affordable time to make great music on your computer
8 things you can do with Ableton Live's updated Auto Filter device
Given a major overhaul in Live 12.2, Auto Filter features a variety of creative filter types, new modulation options and real-time visualization
The ultimate compression cheat sheet – go-to settings to help you make better music
Confused about where to start with compressors and dynamics effects? We'll guide you through the essential features and settings
Piano basics: the black notes - what are they for and how do you use them?
Fear of a black key?… Don't be afraid. Adding flats and sharps to your music will give it a new lease of life.
From Parlour to Jumbo: The beginner's guide to acoustic guitar body shapes (and which one is right for you)
There are key variables that affect how an acoustic guitar will sound - its projection and tonal characteristics in particular
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: TDR Nova
If regular EQ and compression aren’t delivering, then dynamic EQ might be the answer – and we have the perfect free plugin
The head of Audacity shares his top 5 tips for beginner podcasters
The man who leads development of the world’s most popular free and open-source audio editor offers his advice
The ultimate guide to pedal board essentials (and what order to put them in)
Here's what you need on board and where they all sit best for maximum effect
Can you fix your guitar's frets yourself? We try three innovative approaches from MusicNomad to investigate how they might conquer a major cause of fret buzz
Uneven frets are a common issue with our guitars, but MusicNomad has come up with different ways to empower players to deal with it themselves
10 music theory tricks every producer and songwriter should know
Spruce up your chords and snazz up those scales with our simple but powerful techniques
Latest reviews
Tone Master Blonde Deluxe Reverb and IR Manager review
Already known to be a great direct-to-desk solution, we now have extra tweakability within the Tone Master series via an IR manager that could make this Blonde Tone Master Deluxe Reverb the perfect gigging machine
"If you're seeking a polished, smooth, modern distortion, this is most definitely not the stomp box for you": Peavey Decade preamp pedal review
Peavey’s latest pedal is rated-R, for riffage
“If you’re looking for something to use for home practice, then it’s an invaluable tool”: Mooer SD30i Intelligent Amp review
There’s everything from US-style clean combos to high-gain metal heads alongside a healthy range of effects
"A very capable package that will give beginners the tools they need to make good quality recordings": M-Audio M-Track Duo HD Producer Pack review
This recording studio in a box from M-Audio looks to give beginners a complete home studio setup for below $/£200
“A bubbling cauldron full of ancient sounds, but confusing to learn and lacking in space”: Teenage Engineering EP-1320 Medieval review
Hear ye! Beholdeth “the world’s first medieval electronic instrument”. But is it formius o’er functionus?
“Provides a quick solution for a wide range of vocal processing and beyond”: Neural DSP Mantra review
Vocal processing often deploys a complex blend of tools and this plugin aims to provide them all. Let’s see if it succeeds
“Simply a killer fuzz pedal”: EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter – Rancho de la Luna Ltd Ed review
An EarthQuaker Devices fan-favourite makes a return, with the backing of a famed studio
“Still the synth and keyboard collection to beat”: Arturia V Collection 11 Pro review
If you thought this classic synth collection had peaked, think again – it’s time to welcome the 1990s!
