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Time Out
17 hours ago
- Time Out
The Culture Edit: Africa is the Future. Why are we still trying to leave?
This is the Culture Edit: A Time Out Cape Town Series showcasing stories at the intersection of travel, heritage, identity and place - from Cape Town and rediscover parts of our culture that don't always make the brochure, as told from the inside, out. Cape Town's creative talent has long looked outward for validation — but with global labels hiring in Africa, streaming surging, and homegrown stars shaping the global soundscape, it's time to flip the script. The city doesn't need to be a springboard. It can be the scene. At least that's the premise of this edition of the Culture Edit penned by the team over at Let's Get Local, a Cape-Town based Gig Guide publisher of events across the country. Enjoy the read - and if you have a story to share? Drop us a mail at hello@ Let's Get Local: " Right now, somewhere in Lagos, Johannesburg, or Nairobi, a kid is uploading a beat that could blow up in Berlin, London, or Paris. Meanwhile, Cape Town artists are still asking if they need to leave home to be heard. Here's the thing: they don't. The African music industry isn't just having a moment – it is the moment. "Sub-Saharan Africa was the fastest-growing music region in the world in 2024, with revenues jumping 22.6% – driven largely by streaming. Spotify's payouts alone to Nigerian and South African artists totalled about $59 million last year. Amapiano is exploding globally, Afrobeats is topping charts, and African artists are showing up on Coachella stages and Grammy ballots. What happened to K-pop for South Korea and reggaeton for Latin America is now happening here. But if we're not careful, we'll let the wave lift everyone but the local scenes it comes from. "You've heard the narrative before: 'make it out of Africa.' It's the same thing every kid in Cape Town hears. 'If you're serious, move to Joburg. If you're really serious, move to London or L.A.' It's not hard to see why. The international co-signs are pouring in. Tyla has become a chart-topping global phenomenon. Burna Boy and Tems are selling out arenas. Rema's 'Calm Down' crossed a billion Spotify streams. Even the Grammys added a 'Best African Music Performance' category in 2024. So yeah, the attention feels like it's there – not here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tyla (@tyla) "But here's what that story misses: Africa isn't just exporting talent. It's becoming the centre of the global industry. While the rest of the world tightens belts, Africa is being treated as the next frontier. Universal Music Group announced early last year that it would cut costs by €250 million, starting with layoffs across its global recorded music division. Warner Music Group raised its job cuts to around 750 staff – 13% of its workforce. Spotify laid off 1 500 employees – 17% of its team. Even Apple, usually a model of employment stability, trimmed jobs in its digital services division. "Yet, as these companies shrink in Europe and the U.S., they're hiring in Africa. UMG has expanded its Def Jam Africa division, Sony and Warner are posting roles from Johannesburg to Nairobi, and Spotify is recruiting across marketing and artist development in South Africa. Danilo Queiros, founder of Quiet Life Co and one of Cape Town's most forward-facing music thinkers, summed it up perfectly on a CAYACast episode last year: 'Africa is the fastest-growing music industry in the world right now. For a long time, I was like, 'How do I get out of Africa and into the international scene?' Now I'm like, 'Africa is the place'. People overseas – Spotify, the major labels – they're laying off teams all around the world; they're hiring in Africa.' And it's not just for the big-name genres. His business's motto – 'ARTLAB: a rising tide lifts all boats' – sums it up. Afrobeats and Amapiano may be the headlines, but they're opening doors for every artist across the continent, from R&B to jazz to hyperpop. "Just look at the South African landscape. While Amapiano is our biggest cultural export right now, it's only one face of our artistic identity. Artists like Maglera Doe Boy and Ziggy 4x are pushing rap into new territory, mixing language and swagger with surgical precision. Filah Lah Lah 's lush R&B is world-class, intimate and sharp. In the experimental scenes, Internet Girl is blowing open hyperpop. On the soul, jazz, and folk side, Zoë Modiga, Jabulile Majola, and Internet Athi are making music that's spiritual, visceral, and deeply South African. And let's not forget the veterans pushing genre boundaries – BCUC, Moonchild Sanelly, and of course, Black Coffee, who now sells out Cape Town venues as effortlessly as he packs clubs in Ibiza. "So the question becomes: if Africa is rising, why do we still measure success by leaving? "Part of the problem is infrastructure. For all our talent, the local industry still doesn't always support artists the way it should. There's limited touring circuits, inconsistent funding, and radio still plays it safe. But that's changing – slowly. Platforms like Spotify are building African-specific teams and investing in visibility. Initiatives like Spotify's Greasy Tunes, a pop-up celebrating South African music and food, and Mother of Music (MOM), a four-day Cape Town festival spotlighting local talent, are creating spaces for artists to thrive at home. "But if we want to future-proof this moment, we have to shift our own mentality. Building a local base isn't a compromise – it's a foundation. We need more grassroots festivals, more independent collectives, more venues that believe in homegrown scenes. Cape Town can't just be a 'launchpad' or a 'stepping stone' – it should be a destination. Because when artists stay local, they don't shrink. They root. And that makes everything else grow. "Africa isn't waiting for a seat at the table. We've already built our own. But to keep eating, we need to make sure the kitchen – local venues, crews, collectives – is still running. So yes, dream global. But start here. Build here. Cape Town isn't the prequel. It's chapter one." * You've just read an instalment of The Culture Edit, a Time Out Cape Town series that digs deeper into the stories behind the streets, symbols, and experiences that shape how we travel - and how we live. This isn't your standard city guide. Each edition of The Culture Edit will explore cultural tension points that sit just below the surface of our daily lives: What does 'local' actually mean in a place with as many-layered identities as Cape Town? We'll look at everything from fashion to food, language to landmarks, sacred practices to public parties - asking not just where to go, but how to go there with respect, curiosity and context.
Scotsman
18 hours ago
- Scotsman
Oasis in Cardiff: What are the top 12 songs on streaming platforms ahead of first show?
As the great reunion of 2025 is set to commence, what have Oasis fans been binging on streaming services? Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The great reunion of 2025 finally has arrived, as Noel and Liam Gallagher take over the Principality Stadium for their first reunion show. No doubt a sing-a-long will be taking place throughout their set - but what have fans been listening to the most to ahead of the shows? Here's what music fans have been consuming plentifully on streaming services ahead of Oasis' first reunion show in Cardiff later today. The sound checks have been completed, we know who will be joining Liam and Noel Gallagher during their reunion shows throughout the remainder of the year – all that's left is for thousands to make the journey to Cardiff later today for one of the biggest reunions in British music history. As many are packing their bags and making their way to Principality Stadium later today, what could be more fitting than having a range of Oasis songs on your playlist for the drive, or the train journey, ahead of this evening's historic event – an event that looks to have proven some of the bookmakers wrong... Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ahead of their first reunion show taking place July 4 2025, what have been the most streamed Oasis songs on Spotify and YouTube? | Canva/Getty Images But what songs on streaming services have elicited the most plays since the band announced they were getting back together? Betfair Casino took a look through both Spotify and YouTube data to pull their list of the top 12 Oasis songs on streaming services today – and while the top spot might come as no surprise, some of the band's hallowed works from Definitely Maybe and (What's The Story) Morning Glory? surprisingly find themselves lower on the list than anticipated." The science part (methodology) The list was compiled by cross-referencing Oasis's greatest songs as selected by The Guardian with the Official Top 20 Biggest Selling Oasis Songs from the Official Charts, with each song receiving an index score ranked from 1 to 50, where 1 denotes the highest position. All data for this ranking was collected on June 30, 2025. What are the top-rated Oasis songs on streaming services before their Cardiff show? No surprises that the most streamed song based on the methodology Betfair Casino happens to be the old karaoke and acoustic guitar favourite, Wonderwall, with 2,383,226,332 plays on Spotify and 488,927,580 views on YouTube. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Interestingly, one of the band's favourite songs to perform live, Live Forever, is only sixth on the list, with a 341,160,435 plays on Spotify and 55,411,383 views on YouTube - despite, for many, the song being one of the group's signature anthems. However, when just focusing on Spotify plays alone, the list tells a different story. The top 13 most streamed Oasis songs on Spotify All information correct as of writing and specifically only for the streaming platform. Wonderwall (Spotify Streams: 488,927,580) (Peak Chart Position: 1) Stop Crying Your Heart Out (Spotify Streams: 227,207,801) (Peak Chart Position: 2) Don't Look Back in Anger (Spotify Streams: 172,067,816) (Peak Chart Position: 1) Champagne Supernova (Spotify Streams: 147,828,364) (Peak Chart Position: 7) Stand By Me (Spotify Streams: 147,330,789) (Peak Chart Position: 2) Whatever (Spotify Streams: 98,813,522) (Peak Chart Position: 3) Supersonic (Spotify Streams: 77,735,148) (Peak Chart Position: 5) Live Forever (Spotify Streams: 55,411,383) (Peak Chart Position: 4) All Around the World (Spotify Streams: 38,416,332) (Peak Chart Position: 1) D'You Know What I Mean? (Spotify Streams: 22,931,578) (Peak Chart Position: 1) Half the World Away (Spotify Streams: 22,857,172) (Peak Chart Position: 6) Roll With It (Spotify Streams: 12,038,730) (Peak Chart Position: 2) Some Might Say (Spotify Streams: 10,257,527) (Peak Chart Position: 1) Were you surprised to see some of the band's earlier works so far down the list, or do you think that Be Here Now and Heathen Chemistry are getting the reappraisal they deserve in 2025? Let us know your thoughts ahead of Oasis' first show in Cardiff later today.
NBC News
18 hours ago
- NBC News
The messiest drama on 'Love Island USA' isn't in the villa, it's online
Inside the villa, the contestants on 'Love Island USA' unplug from the real world as they try to find their match in Fiji. But outside the walls of Casa Amor, the people who are vying for romance are being harassed online by the very fans who watch them obsessively on their televisions. Each season of the dating show follows a group of singles over the course of six weeks as they race to couple up and form romantic connections, or risk getting dumped from the island. Throughout the show, the entry of new 'bombshell' Islanders (what the contestants are often called) creates tension as the producers continue to insert psychological games and plot twists. The American version, which airs on Peacock, is relatively newer compared to its U.K. counterpart — and has only recently seen a surge in popularity after last season's standout contestants gained virality online. (NBCUniversal is the parent company of Peacock and NBC News.) The fervent fan base has brought more viewership — but it has also unearthed the darker reality that plagues many franchise contestants when they achieve notoriety: It can come with a price. Fans have put the Islanders' behaviors, physical appearances and political backgrounds under a microscope — leading to intensified harassment online. This year, multiple contestants have been the target of criticism as viewers called out behaviors they described as 'toxic,' 'abusive' or 'fake.' The cyberbullying toward contestants has become so rampant that the show has had to address it head-on. In a recent episode of season seven, which kicked off in June and drops new episodes nearly every night, the show aired a message urging fans to be kinder with their commentary. Similar messages were shared on the show's social media accounts. ''Love Island' is about reacting to how people behave, but they deserve to be called out for their behavior as a contestant on a reality TV show, not as a human being and as a person,' comedian Iain Stirling, narrator of the 'Love Island' franchise, told NBC News in a recent Zoom interview. Still, viewers have continued to cyberbully contestants online. Cierra Ortega, Olandria Carthen and Chelley Bissainthe, once fan favorites, became the latest targets of heated criticism this week after former fans said they now feel these were actually the 'mean girls' on the show. Their Instagram accounts quickly shut down their comment sections. (Contestants' accounts are typically run by family or friends while they are in the villa.) Ortega's profile lost hundreds of thousands of followers within days. Bissainthe's account shared a lengthy post Wednesday calling out viewers who are 'coming on her page to tear her down.' 'That level of hostility, especially toward someone isolated from the outside world, is disturbing,' the post read, adding that the behavior is 'not just unfair, it's borderline dangerous if we want to keep it a stack. Think about what you're doing. This behavior isn't normal. It's actually kind of mentally unwell.' Harassment is not an unfamiliar problem for the franchise, which launched in the United Kingdom in 2005 as 'Celebrity Love Island' and ran for two seasons before being canceled and eventually rebooted in 2015 as 'Love Island' on ITV4. As social media has become a more ingrained part of the viewer experience, Islanders — like other reality TV stars — are often launched into overnight fame, which at times has been coupled with feelings of depression and anxiety amid heightened fan scrutiny. While on the show, contestants remain secluded from the outside world and cannot access social media until after they exit — at which point they get to see all the viewer reactions that accumulated online during their time in the villa. Those returning to the online world are often greeted by a massive new fan base, along with a buildup of harsh comments about expressions they made, lines they uttered or the way they looked from unflattering angles. Three people associated with the franchise — two former contestants and former host Caroline Flack — died by suicide, which prompted a British parliamentary committee inquiry in 2019 into reality TV. The show, in recent years especially, has ramped up its efforts to help contestants navigate the mental health highs and lows of their experiences. In 2022, ITV said contestants on the U.K. show will receive improved mental health and race training, which included having islanders 'watch a video with interviews of former participants sharing their experiences on the show, including how to cope with being filmed 24/7 and dealing with social media trolling after leaving the villa,' The Guardian reported. Longtime reality TV star Ariana Madix, now in her second year of hosting 'Love Island USA,' said the "USA" contestants also receive support. 'We have amazing mental health professionals who are here on set,' Madix told NBC News in a recent Zoom interview. 'So when the Islanders are in the hotels, before they go in, they work with them. They work with them while they're on the show, and they work with them after the show as well. So they definitely have a lot of support here.' Still, Madix, who rose to fame on Bravo's 'Vanderpump Rules,' said she worries about the contestants having to navigate the newfound spotlight. 'When you have an amount of time in the industry, you're able to handle those things,' she said. 'I think that for these Islanders, it's their first six weeks... I feel like it's new, and it's even more difficult to deal with.' Early on in the season, contestant Huda Mustafa emerged as a polarizing figure on the show, with thousands online analyzing her communication habits and criticizing her onscreen behavior. The vitriol grew so loud — with some commenters also taking aim at her friends and family members — that her ex-partner Noah Sheline posted a statement to his Instagram story in her defense. Sheline, who co-parents a child with Mustafa, urged viewers to 'remember she's still human, she has a daughter, and a life.' Viewers also became fixated on the appearance of contestant Vanna Einerson during her brief time on the show, prompting one of her friends to speak out. 'Watching her get dragged on the internet is the worst thing ever,' content creator Lucy Clawson said in a TikTok video supporting Einerson. 'This woman has a heart of gold and it's so crazy to me that going on reality TV or having a following just validates people to bully them.' And while the franchise presents as apolitical, political polarization in the U.S. has permeated fan discussions around 'Love Island USA' this season. Internet sleuths have taken to investigating each Islander for signs of their political beliefs, often calling on others to vote off certain contestants based on theories about their politics. It's one thing to yell at your TV, and then it's another thing to go into somebody's mentions on social media. … People have lost the plot on that. -Mel Stanfill, author of 'Fandom Is Ugly: Networked Harassment in Participatory Culture' In episode two, contestant Yulissa Escobar abruptly exited the series after video clips surfaced online that appear to show her using racist language while on a podcast. Some outrage also erupted online after Mustafa, who is of Palestinian descent, kissed contestant Elan Bibas, who is Jewish Canadian. Some fans noticed his social media profile appeared to follow at least one pro-Israel account, which people suggested meant he was anti-Palestinian. Media studies scholar Mel Stanfill, author of 'Fandom Is Ugly: Networked Harassment in Participatory Culture,' said the illusion of 'reality' in reality TV invites the kind of sleuthing that encourages viewers to form their own theories about what the truth is, even when they know contestants are selectively edited. The group mentality facilitated by social media also makes it easier to be swayed into a strong stance by others online, Stanfill said. 'It's one thing to yell at your TV, and then it's another thing to go into somebody's mentions on social media … people have lost the plot on that,' Stanfill said. 'The people who are doing it think about it as a game. They think about it as entertainment. They don't think that there's a person on the other end. It's easy to have that distance from the human cost, and there is a real human cost.' The show continues to generate massive buzz online. But since the PSA aired, many fans appear to have rejected the anti-bullying plea, with some also suggesting that the producers should take their own message to heart. A publicist for Peacock did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Madix said that while fans of the show should enjoy the discourse around it, viewers can often cross a line when that enthusiasm bleeds into hate or harassment. 'I feel like there is a beautiful way to engage with the 'Love Island' fan community without doxing and harassing cast members, their families, things like that,' Madix said. 'That is, to me, not a true fan of the show. I think if you are a fan of the show, you would never behave that way.'
