Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81

Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now

‘The world is such a nice thing!’: Matt Maltese, the songwriter for pop’s A-list … and Shakespeare

After getting dropped by a major label, the Leonard Cohen-influenced south Londoner kept going, and has now won fans in Rosalía, Sabrina Carpenter and more. But writing for the Bard is best of all, he says

Netflix’s Selena doc sensitively focuses on her incredible life over her tragic death

The 23-year-old ‘Queen of Tejano music’ was murdered just as her music was set to cross over, and revealing new film Selena y Los Dinos: A Family’s Legacy finds new ways to celebrate her

Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield obituary

Charismatic Stone Roses and Primal Scream musician acclaimed for some of the most memorable bass lines in indie music

Inseparable, sensuous and confident, the Kessler twins were pioneers of variety show culture

Alice and Ellen Kessler, who died by joint assisted suicide this week, entertained – and occasionally scandalised – Europe with their glitzy and subversive pop music and classically informed dance

‘Justin Bieber is an insanely courageous artist’: Tobias Jesso Jr on how he became the songwriter to the stars

He has penned hits for Adele, Dua Lipa and Bieber, but the sought-after Canadian pop songwriter has only ever released one album himself. Now, 10 years on, comes a second –and it’s a scorching account of a breakup

‘We’ve got to release the dead hand of the past’: how Ireland created the world’s best alternative music scene

Irish indie acts used to be ignored, even on Irish radio. But songs confronting the Troubles, poverty and oppression are now going global – and changing how Ireland sees itself

Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, the Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist, dies aged 63

Ian Brown and Tim Burgess were among those to pay tribute to Mani, whose death was announced by his brother and nephew

Mani’s writhing, relentless bass was the Stone Roses’ secret sauce – it taught indie kids how to dance

His love of ‘good northern soul and funk’ was always in evidence and had a lasting impact on alternative music

Stevie Nicks review – rock legend dazzles Brooklyn with anecdotes and classic hits

A rescheduled date, after an accident earlier this year, sees the 77-year-old take on sparkling form, regaling fans with tales and fan favourite anthems

Brat pack: Charli xcx’s 20 best songs – ranked!

As she releases music from her upcoming soundtrack to Wuthering Heights, we count down the best of her frank, futurist tracks

Charli xcx plays version of herself in teaser for mockumentary The Moment

The ‘2024 period piece’ stars the Grammy-winning musician with Kylie Jenner, Rachel Sennott and Alexander Skarsgård

Male and female former employees of Smokey Robinson accuse him of sexual assault

Motown star denies allegations, in addition to four existing sets of allegations against him

Not Mariah again! New music playlists for the Christmas party season

Whether it’s vibe-setting dance and rap for house parties or soothing dream-pop for when you’re contemplating the clear-up, reach for these ready-made playlists

Harold Offeh: Mmm Gotta Try a Little Harder, It Could Be Sweet review – desire, despondency and disco divas

Offeh’s show blares and jostles with life as he mimics Mammy, listens to self-help advice and gets naked for Grace Jones’s anatomically impossible Island Life pose