| | | BMF was founded in music. Before social media, before we even had a word for “experiential,” and before those disciplines entered the modern marketing mix, BMF got its start launching new music with Madonna’s Maverick Records, and creating music lounges—a novel idea at the time, twenty-something years ago. The brand budgets followed. |
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| Since then, we’ve had both a front-row seat and a hand in shaping brand programs that tap into the power of music—from artist partnerships to festival activations, performances, and more. |
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| Right now, music is having a rare moment. From the new pop divas (you know who they are) to the blurring of genres, you’d have to have earplugs in not to notice that something extraordinary is happening. |
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| Music has always been the soundtrack to the times. In an era of uncertainty, it acts as both mirror and constant—a reflection of culture and a rhythm to move with, unmistakably now. It mobilizes communities in ways that are visceral, powerful, and capable of driving real impact. |
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| As festival season kicks off, this issue of The Pulse explores the intersection of music and marketing—and how brands, artists, and the industry are partnering to tell stories in new ways, forging deeper connections and meeting culture where it lives. |
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| Photo via Unsplash | Yvette de Wit |
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| Pulse Check: Emerging Artists Shaping The Sound of Today |
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| Today's emerging artists build identities, aesthetics, and communities that travel across platforms into real-world behavior faster than ever. For brands, engaging early matters. Across genres, markets, and scenes, we’re highlighting those shaping that momentum now. ➔ |
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| BMF Connects With Andrew Klein, President of Global Partnerships, AEG Presents |
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| Few people have spent as long at the intersection of brands and live entertainment as Andrew Klein, shaping how the world's biggest brands show up across tentpoles like Coachella and Stagecoach. With festival season in full swing, BMF Founding Partner Brian Feit caught up with Klein on the evolving partnership landscape and what keeps him coming back year after year. ➔ |
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| | The New + The NoteworthyEverything Worth Doing/Seeing/Getting/Booking |
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| Photo via Hard Rock Hotel Malta |
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| In one of Europe's fastest-growing nightlife scenes, BMF client Hard Rock Hotels is betting the island's next chapter sounds even better with the opening of their new Malta property this July in St. George's Bay. Spanning 397 rooms, offerings include the Sound of Your Stay program, with guitar rental room delivery, in-room record players, and curated playlists alongside 300+ days of Mediterranean sun, a rooftop cantilever pool (the only one on the island), and over 10 dining concepts. Accepting reservations now, follow along @hardrockhotelmalta. ➔ |
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| Photo via AEG Global Partnerships |
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| | Classy, bougie...Broadway? Megan Thee Stallion made her debut last week as Zidler in Moulin Rouge! The Musical—the first woman to play the role in any production worldwide. Now in its seventh year, the jukebox musical is no stranger to stunt casting, but Meg’s eight-week run has driven ticket sales up 3.4x. overnight. Closing each performance with a medley of her own songs, you won’t want to miss this season’s standout Broadway debut. Until May 17, buy tickets here. ➔ |
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| | For 50 years, NBC’s SNL has platformed artists with performances in each episode, drawing virality from career-defining debuts to sound mixing so bad it becomes the story. With the premiere of SNL UK last month, the question wasn't just whether the comedy would translate, but whether the music would too. Two episodes in, with live performances by Wet Leg and Wolf Alice, viewers noted the live audio sounded noticeably better than its American counterpart's famously inconsistent mix, but we'll let you be the judge. Stream now on Peacock and SkyTV. ➔ |
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| | Kid Cudi has never stayed in one lane. Rapper, actor, filmmaker, author, visual artist, and now, podcast host, he’s trading his stage name for his real one in Big Bro With Kid Cudi. Assuming the role of “Big Bro Scott,” he’ll soon sit down with friends, collaborators, and cultural figures to talk through the sparks and shifts that shaped their paths. In partnership with Adobe Acrobat and Wave Sports & Entertainment, the series just premiered its first episode on YouTube, with Cudi having designed the set, produced the theme song, and landed Kylie Jenner as his debut guest. Watch here. ➔ |
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| | Harry Styles’s 2026 comeback has taken on many forms. Shortly after dropping his long-awaited album on March 6, his upcoming 30-night MSG residency, with presale access through American Express, generated 11.5MM presale registrations—the most recorded in a single market. Meanwhile, his 2017 debut single "Sign of the Times" is on its second life as the emotional centerpiece of newly-released film Project Hail Mary. Catch him in 67 cities while you still can, here. ➔ |
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| Photos via Apple Music, Spotify & FX |
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| If you've been living under a rock, BMF client FX’s Love Story has taken culture by storm. Despite varied opinions, one thing agreed across the board: the music was perfect. Deep cuts alongside '90s staples, from Pulp to The Velvet Underground to Nina Simone, the 77-track soundtrack reads like a mixtape right on your phone. Stream the official playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. |
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| | The FrequencyWhat We’re Listening To Now. |
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| | Eleven years between albums is a long time to stay silent. Jill Scott broke it with To Whom This May Concern, a 19-track project that spans trip-hop, New Orleans brass, DJ Premier production, and features from JID, Tierra Whack, and Too $hort. Critics are calling it an instant classic. Metacritic has it at 82, her highest-rated project to date. Jilly from Philly came back on her own time, and every second of the wait shows. Listen here. ➔ |
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| Photo via Atlantic Records |
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| Hilary Duff is back and better than ever with her new album Luck... or Something. Her first release in over a decade, the album seamlessly blends her past pop hits with a more mature and reflective sound. Accompanied by the announcement of the The Lucky Me Tour, this album offers fans a chance to experience the pop icon’s music live alongside fellow fans, in a celebration of her talents and unforgettable legacy. Listen to the album here. ➔ |
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| | For a change of pace, LA-based producer and DJ Mia Moretti joins forces with Grammy-nominated producer Sam i for their single "Shades On.” The track that opens with a synthy brass hook and grabs you within seconds. Built on a sample of the James Bond theme, the beat carries every bit of confidence that title implies—slick, danceable, and impossible to sit still through. Whether it's a slight head nod or a full fist in the air, this one gets you going. Listen here. ➔ |
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| | After her debut swept six BRITs in a single night and earned four Grammy nods, RAYE followed up with something even more ambitious. THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. is a 17-track, 73-minute concept album divided into four seasonal acts—à la Vivaldi—featuring Hans Zimmer, a duet with Al Green, and a closing track where she reads the full production credits aloud for four minutes. This is RAYE circling back to her classical roots and daring the pop landscape to keep up. Listen here. ➔ |
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| BMF has partnered with Flash GEA (jē), NYC’s hottest up-and-coming DJ and genre-blending producer known for having his finger on the pulse of the city’s vibrant music scene. From his electrifying sets at the hottest venues to his signature mix of big room techno and acid house, Flash Gea is the sound selector that major brands and tastemakers are turning to. For this issue of The Pulse, Flash has curated a playlist with his top picks—listen here. ➔ |
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| | That’s Fire By Sir Candle Man 🔥 |
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| | Music moves us to dance, to feel, and to express. Wild in Hollywood by Nomad Noé captures that energy in a porcelain vessel, with notes of tobacco, oud, and something a little boozy that feels like a night out listening to great music in a dimly lit space. Dark, smoky, and moody—the kind of scent that makes people ask what you're burning. Purchase here. ➔ |
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| | The DestinationNow Departing: Los Angeles |
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| Photo via Unsplash | Robert Nickson |
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| California's largest city stretches from the Pacific coast to the edge of the desert, with mountains framing its basin like a natural amphitheater. Whether you're chasing a scene or just chasing the sun, we've rounded up top picks for our refreshed city guide to LA. Read here. ➔ |
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| | | | Let’s chat about how we can keep your brand in tune with the pulse of culture. |
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| | The SublimeCreators, Innovators, And Cool $#!+ You Should Know About. |
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| | BMF client Marriott Bonvoy continues to find ways to reward loyalty beyond the stay itself. Through its Marriott Bonvoy Moments program, five members were selected for a meet & greet with TWICE during their This Is For world tour. Voting has closed, but the activation is a sharp example of how hospitality brands can activate with intention across broader audiences and leave a lasting impact, no matter the industry. Find out more and sign up here. ➔ |
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| | Joining LinkedIn in mid-March after growing frustrated with X, Grammy-nominated rapper Meek Mill is clearly not just lurking. Listing skills in music composition and production, social media marketing, and criminal justice reform, he actively posts about industry connections, gaming ventures, and his label Dreamchasers. Aside from thought leadership, he also pitches himself, claiming he can attract a million subscribers to a game. Whether you take the pivot seriously or not, a rapper using LinkedIn for business development is worth exploring. Connect with him here. ➔ |
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| Photo via JustJared | IMDB |
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| With Coachella around the corner, we’re reminiscing on 2019, when Donald Glover turned his headlining weekend into a film premiere. Guava Island, the 55-minute tropical thriller starring Glover and Rihanna, screened on-site at Coachella the night of his set before dropping on Amazon Prime for free at midnight. Shot in Cuba and scored with then-unreleased Childish Gambino tracks like "Feels Like Summer" and "This Is America," it blurred visual album, short film, and cultural critique into a format the festival had never seen. Watch the trailer here. ➔ |
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| Photos via X | Bebe Rexha |
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| Khia Asylum (noun): the internet's term for the purgatory of famous-adjacent artists, named after Khia, who never quite recaptured the moment after the unforgettable "My Neck, My Back." Now, one more is set for parole. Bebe Rexha's "New Religion" landed her first UK #1, a milestone for an artist whose songwriting credits (Eminem and Rihanna’s "The Monster," anyone?) have long outpaced her own chart recognition. She leaned into the bit, owned the meme, and hustled. Now gearing up to release her visual album Dirty Blonde this June, she’s building a new chapter on her own terms. Listen here. ➔ |
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| | Sweet nibblits! Hannah Montana turned 20 this past week with a Disney+ special that brought in 6.3 million views in three days. After performing "This Is the Life" and "Best of Both Worlds" for the first time in nearly two decades, Spotify streams surged up to 747%. Good thing talent runs in the family, because Brandi Cyrus and producer Logan Garrett dropped an EDM remix of "This Is the Life" on SoundCloud for free, bridging nostalgia with modern palettes one 808 at a time. Listen here. ➔ |
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| Photos via JC Olivera | WireImage | Instagram |
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| Justin Bieber played a surprise 25-song set for fans at The Roxy in LA last Sunday that hardly anyone knew about until it was over. The marquee read "Justin Bieber: Tonight Only” as he skipped his Hot 100 hits entirely, performing deep cuts and live debuts from both Swag albums to an intimate crowd. With his first-ever Coachella headline slot just weeks away alongside Sabrina Carpenter and Karol G, consider this the warmup. Watch here. ➔ |
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| Photo via Instagram | @yeat |
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| Photos via Milian Records | Warner Bros. |
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| Ludwig Göransson wrote the Sinners score on a 1932 Dobro guitar—the same instrument played on screen—and built a soundtrack that traces Black music from its African roots through blues, funk, jazz, and hip-hop in a single surreal dancefloor sequence. Recorded over three months in New Orleans at Royal Studios in Memphis, the score swept both soundtrack Grammys and took home the Oscar, making Göransson the only composer this century to win three in the category. Listen here. ➔ |
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| | If you're still at the cottage, we get it. With the rise of physical media, now you can crystallize that obsession with Heated Rivalry's soundtrack, available for pre-order on vinyl and CD via Milan Records. The show's techno-inflected score by Peter Peter alongside tracks from Feist, Wet Leg, t.A.T.u., and Wolf Parade already soundtracked one of the most talked-about television series. For those looking to relive every locker room scene, pre-order here. ➔ |
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| | The Week in ReviewICYMI... |
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| Travel Fans Are Traveling More Than Ever For Concerts In 2026 ➔ Coachella 2026: Headliners, Side Trips, What To Pack And What To Avoid ➔ Two Years From Trending: Travel Destinations Ready To Break Out ➔ How Eva Longoria Makes A Travel Show ➔ The Ultimate Travel Guide For The 2026 World Cup ➔
Fashion & Beauty These Rising Stars Have Talent & Style You Need To Watch Out For ➔ The Best Red Carpet Looks From The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards ➔ Celebrities And Designers Agree: Cobalt Blue Is the New ‘It’ Color ➔ Festival Beauty: Hair Trends, Makeup Inspiration And More Ahead Of The 2026 Season ➔ 2026 Proves Body Care Is Having Its Skin-Care Moment ➔
Entertainment The New ‘Musician to Actor’ Pipeline ➔ Inside The ‘Hannah Montana’ Anniversary Concert Taping: Y2K Fashion, Confetti And Miley Cyrus Superfans ➔ How ‘Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette’ Built Its Viral, ’90s-Driven Soundtrack ➔ Global Star Lisa Sets Solo Las Vegas Residency ➔ The BTS Machine Lurches Back To Life ➔
Technology Inside The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Era Of AI In Music ➔ Google Embeds Lyria 3 Pro AI Music into Pro Workflows ➔ Samsung Sets BTS ‘Arirang’ Tour Partnership With Exclusive ‘Experiences’ And Merch Drop ➔ 24 Technology Trends To Watch This Year ➔
Media Billboard And Fuse Media Launch Billboard Español TV, Covering Spanish-Language Music And Culture ➔ What Is ‘Clipping,’ The Viral Marketing Strategy That’s Taking Over The Music Biz? ➔ The Most Innovative Companies In Media And News For 2026 ➔
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