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Beyoncé and Taylor Swift may have just dropped behemoth projects, but a spate of new releases suggests that albums are getting more concise. BY DAVID BROWNE New projects by Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish suggest that albums are, finally, getting shorter in tracks and run times. KEVIN WINTER/GETTY IMAGES/THE RECORDING ACADEMY; RODIN ECKENROTH/GETTY IMAGES IF THIS STORY were a hard-boiled detective novel, the title might be The Case of the Mysteriously Shrinking Album. Over the past few weeks, both Beyoncé and Taylor Swift unveiled projects that seemed to include every piece of music they had ever recorded for their respective albums: Cowboy Carter stretched out to 27 tracks, the complete version of The Tortured Poets Department to 31. But while critics and some fans grapple with that overload of material, another diametrically opposed trend is shaping up. For some modern pop artists, and a few veterans, nothing beats an album that can be digested during lunch hour. Dua Lipa's new Radical Optimism, the latest example, clocks in at 11 songs and joins a list of relatively concise recent releases: Olivia Rodrigo's Guts (12 songs); Maggie Rogers' Don't Forget Me (10); 4batz's debut, u made me st4r (11); veteran Sheryl Crow's Evolution (10); and even country songwriter Tyler Childers' Rustin' in the Rain (7). Billie Eilish's upcoming Hit Me Hard and Soft, out next week, will be limited to 10 new tracks, while the new record by the Avett Brothers tops out at nine. One could easily listen to three of those in the same amount of time it would take to digest most of The Tortured Poets Department. Of course, most classic albums from the Sixties through the Eighties stuck to those lengths because of the limitations of the LP format. To this day, record executives cite Michael Jackson's Thriller and Marvin Gaye's What's Going on (nine songs each) as examples of perfect records that didn't overstay their welcomes. Those restrictions flew out the studio window when the compact disc arrived in the Eighties. With running times that could extend to 80 minutes — twice the length of a typical vinyl album — the CD allowed artists to jam as many songs as they wanted onto a new album. If said artists wrote or co-wrote their own material, it could also result in a windfall of publishing income, which only encouraged self-indulgence. And in the streaming era, the more songs there are for fans to stream, the better an artist's chart placement and revenue. So, why are albums suddenly drawing the short end of a stick? The trend could have something to do with the ongoing revival of the LP, a physical format that generally can't hold more than a half dozen or more songs per side; last year, 43 million LPs were sold, up 14 percent from the year before. Joe Kentish, the Warner Brothers U.K. head who has been Dua Lipa's A&R executive since her first album, says he and Lipa always aim for a tighter statement, from her 12-song debut up to Radical Optimism. "With this album, she felt like she was there, conceptually and musically, really in the pocket," he says. "She only wanted to have the songs she felt made a great record." Retaining listeners' attention — with so many other distractions vying for time — may also be playing into the trend, according to one senior major-label A&R executive. "For this generation, the album experience is much different," the executive says. "In the past you'd put on Dark Side of the Moon, turn off the lights, and listen. It was an immersive experience. Now albums are just one part of their menu." Kentish agrees that more succinct albums are a way of combatting the behavior of some music listeners to bounce around streaming services, from one artist or album to another. "When you put music on a streaming service, there's a lower chance they'll be listening to it in that order," he says. "In that environment, it makes people want shorter records. You're trying to keep people's attention. You own the environment of what someone is listening to, to some extent." The other label executive thinks that the ease with which new music can be recorded and released is also a factor: Lipa and Rodrigo, for instance, rolled out expanded editions of Future Nostalgia and Guts, respectively, with additional songs. "Everyone is recording a lot of music, and they're not calling a 10-song album 'chapter 1,' but it probably is," says the executive. "You think it's the whole meal but there's another entrée after that. I don't know if that's cynical, but it's the reality." The move comes with some risks. When Guts arrived last summer, some Rodrigo fans, accustomed to long records, groused online about how supposedly little they were getting: "They really be calling anything an 'album' nowadays," wrote one. "So, basically an EP," posted another. But fans may simply have to adjust. "There's a real desire to keep creative consistency and only have the best songs," says Kentish. "As they say, 'All killer, no filler.'"

The Art Deco chanteuse just sold out her first US stadium date. What went right for her? Talent? Hard work? Tik Tok?

Lana performed for 130,000 people at two solo stadium shows in Mexico City last year. People really want to see her, and there seems to be a high demand, so should Lana announce a proper stadium tour in the US and Europe?

Ask an interesting pop culture question to chatgpt and post the answer here. How could you define Radical Optimism by Dua Lipa ? Chatgpt : Radical Optimism" by Dua Lipa can be defined as an approach or philosophy that emphasizes a deeply positive outlook, even in the face of significant challenges or adversity. While Dua Lipa herself is primarily known as a pop artist and not specifically for promoting any philosophical movement, if she were to speak or write about "Radical Optimism," it might involve advocating for hope, resilience, and the belief in positive outcomes regardless of the circumstances. This concept could be reflected in her music, public statements, or personal ideology, encouraging individuals to maintain an optimistic attitude and strive for positive change no matter how difficult the situation may appear. Do you know about MoonGoodandHappy on ATRL ? Yes, I found some information about MoonGoodandHappy on ATRL. This user is known for posting in various threads related to music and pop culture, often expressing a vibrant and optimistically radical perspective. MoonGoodandHappy engages in discussions ranging from opinions on specific songs or albums, to broader cultural topics, and personal anecdotes about life and relationships. The username frequently appears in threads where there's active participation and lively debate among members. MoonGoodandHappy often highlights a strong affinity for pop music and occasionally provides detailed comments on various subjects like character powers in TV series or their own life experiences, such as receiving gifts or personal interactions (ATRL) (ATRL) (ATRL). For more specific insights or to follow their contributions, you might want to visit ATRL and search for MoonGoodandHappy directly on the site.

DSAM + WWAFA...= 31M CSPC HTE=8M CSPC Now that various industry observers predict that HMHAS is going to be Billie's biggest era to date, could she surpass Gaga with this album cycle?

x -Also well known within the fashion industry that Anna Wintour has been pulling strings as much as possible to revive his career/reputation after he did this Inside the secret plan to bring back John Galliano – fashion's most controversial designer

Which one of these Dua Lipa's looks is your favorite ? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 She's stunning every time

What are your 5 favs songs of Dua Lipa ? Mines are : 1 : Houdini 2 : Levitating 3 : These Walls 4 : French Exit 5 : Illusion And obviously Radical Optimism is my fav album.

Maybe she didn't write them, but the performer is also key for a song. With "Sooner Or Later" and "You Must Love Me" winning Best Original Song in 1991 and 1996, respectively, Madonna counts with TWO Oscar winning songs in her catalog. A moment of appreciation for these excellencies, please.

One of the most important songs in her discography me thinks Released as the 2nd single of her In the Zone era, it peaked at #15 in the US and went top 10 in 20+ countries including #1 in the UK, Australia and Ireland and #2 in Europe. In select European countries such as Austria and Germany, it ended up bigger than "Toxic" Some say it was a response to "Cry Me a River" by Justin, specifically referencing "I may have made it rain, please forgive me. And my weakness caused you pain, and this song's my sorry"

What's your favorite transition between 2 songs on Confessions On a Dance Floor ?

Who is beat the best?

Guilty, Ball and Chain, Cherry, Firestarter, Jealousy > the vast majority of her officially released songs. Why?

An Aussie musician has lifted the lid on Pink's private frustration while her tour Down Under overlapped with Taylor Swift's earlier this year. During an interview with Nova's Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel on Wednesday, singer Sam Fischer revealed that the American star was "p***ed off" after being overshadowed in local media coverage by Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour. Both artists sold out both their respective tours, Pink's 16 dates to Swift's 7, but the Cruel Summer singer's Aussie leg was the clear winner when it came to dominating headlines, rightly or wrongly. Afterwards host Tim Blackwell admitted he'd "felt sorry" for Pink amid all the attention Swift received, joking: "Pink is out here riding her bike around the Opera House saying, 'I'm here too!'." Fischer revealed that the star had been genuinely frustrated by the situation. "I have a friend who's Pink's background singer, and [she] said [Pink's] really just pi**ed off no one's talking about the fact that she's also selling out stadiums," he claimed. The 18 Wheeler singer performed her Summer Carnival tour to almost one million Aussies across February and March, marking the biggest-selling tour ever for a female artist in the region.

I didn't like Ballad-Ney back then, but now I appreciate it even more. The coming of age song... It's emotion, smooth and her voice is sweet... A live render to this song is a moment, her vocal of 3:20 is heaven.

The country sound route a la his debut song instead of the religious satanic one J Christ?

If you haven't watched it yet I urge you to go do so! The quality of this recording is outstanding. The sound and instrumentation for each and every performance is SO freaking good. And there's just something so magical about her buttery voice and the simplicity of her lyrics that tell a deeper story. The whole thing is amazing but I would say Moving Out, Giver/Taker and Dinner With Friends were clear standouts. I've had a bit of a rough time in my personal life lately and I basically sobbed my way throughout this. It's so beautiful. I hope it brings the same healing to others as it did for me.

Introducing Apple Pencil Pro variants. Surprised?

This is a better track than any of the new girlies ever made. World needs to bow down to the goddess Iggy Iggs

NEED SOMEONE TO HOLD ME CLOSE DEEPER THAN I'VE EVER KNOWN WHO'S HEART FEELS LIKE A RODEO KNOWS JUST HOW TO TAKE CONTROL BEST SONG ON THE ALBUM AND BEST SONG OF THE YEAR MS. LIPA WILL PREVAIL!