The Music Issue

K-pop’s biggest act. An avant-pop icon. The hottest songwriter of a generation … Cover stars Rosé, FKA Twigs and Justin Tranter are remaking the fast-changing industry in their image. As Grammy season approaches, The Hollywood Reporter goes deep on the trailblazers, the trends and the $10,000 T-shirts (!) defining a transformative year in music.

FKA Twigs photographed by Emma Summerton • Rosé photographed by Sinae Kim • Justin Tranter photographed by Beau Grealy
designed by clare ramirez • visual media direction by Ash barhamand • artistic & fashion direction by alison edmond
Videos edited by Kyle Desiderio • Videography by Harry Buerkle and Kyle Desiderio • Produced by Neha Joy and Tiffany Taylor

The Music Issue

FKA Twigs photographed by Emma Summerton
Rosé photographed by Sinae Kim
Justin Tranter photographed by Beau Grealy

designed by clare ramirez
visual media direction by Ash barhamand
artistic & fashion direction by alison edmond

Videos edited by Kyle Desiderio
Videography by Harry Buerkle and Kyle Desiderio
Produced by Neha Joy and Tiffany Taylor

On the Covers

Red Hot Rosé

How FKA Twigs Came Back From the Brink

Music’s Hottest Hitmaker Hits Back

features

David Bowie, As I Saw Him

Grammys: The Race for Best New Artist

Running for Cover(s): The Grammys’ Newest Category

Anatomy of a Hit Song: Lola Young’s “Messy”

Bad Bunny Makes Salsa Hot Again

Sombr Won’t Stop: ‘I Still Have the Muse in Me’

columns

State of the Grammy Race

How the Grammys’ New “Beyonce Rule” Is Polarizing Country Music

Report

10 Questions With Columbia Records’ CEO

NEZZA Wants to Be Your Spanglish Pop Princess

Rock Music Is Thriving in the Streaming Era

about town

Leon Thomas Finally Finds His Voice

Would You Pay $27,000 for a Used Concert T-Shirt?

The One Place Records Still Matter? On the Wall

insider

Behind the Music: These 57 Top Power Lawyers

OutKast Found a Breath of Fresh Air With Stankonia

State of the Grammy Race

With fewer megastars dominating the charts, the industry confronts a crossroads: less spectacle, more substance and maybe — just maybe — a little more soul.

By alan light • illustration by Ana Miminoshvili

By alan light
illustration by Ana Miminoshvili

cover story

Red Hot Rosé

She’s one of the most famous women in the world. But behind all the choreographed chaos, the Blackpink star is chasing something far harder to capture: authenticity.

by Nicole Fell
photographed by sinae kim

behind the scenes

Inside THR’s Cover Shoots: Rosé, FKA Twigs and Justin Tranter

grammys

The Race for Best New Artist

Last year’s lineup was stacked with heavy hitters. This year’s field? Leaner on marquee names but packed with a slew of buzzy upstarts and industry darlings who promise to make this the Grammys’ most unpredictable horse race.

By Lori Majewski

Sombr Won’t Stop: ‘I Still Have the Muse in Me’

The 20-year-old pop rock star opens up about writing in solitude and what drives his music: “My life is so romantic and inspiring right now.”

By ethan millman

Anatomy of a Hit Song: Lola Young’s “Messy”

Producers Carter Lang and Jared Solomon break down the making of one of this year’s most viral tracks — with 800 million streams and counting.

By lily ford

Sombr Won’t Stop:
‘I Still Have the Muse in Me’

The 20-year-old pop rock star opens up about writing in solitude and what drives his music: “My life is so romantic and inspiring right now.”

By ethan millman

Anatomy of a Hit Song: Lola Young’s “Messy”

Producers Carter Lang and Jared Solomon break down the making of one of this year’s most viral tracks — with 800 million streams and counting.

By lily ford

Sombr Won’t Stop:
‘I Still Have the Muse in Me’

The 20-year-old pop rock star opens up about writing in solitude and what drives his music: “My life is so romantic and inspiring right now.”

By ethan millman

cover story

How FKA Twigs Came Back From the Brink

Music’s perennial provocateur opens up about her settlement with Shia LaBeouf — “I wouldn’t say I feel safe” — and reveals how a pivot from that Coachella debacle could lead to Grammy glory.

by shirley halperin
photographed by emma summerton

video

FKA Twigs Shares Her Top 3 Artists, Films and Iconic Red Carpet Looks

video

Behind the Scenes at FKA Twigs’ THR Cover Shoot

grammys

Bad Bunny Makes Salsa Hot Again

The soon-to-be Super Bowl headliner, along with Rauw Alejandro and Karol G, are re-energizing the genre for a brand new generation.

By cata balzano

Running for Cover(s): A Look at the Grammys’ Newest Category

For the first time in 50 years, the awards are honoring outstanding album art.

By lina lecaro

PLUS THR Picks the Albums That Would Have — and Should Have — Been Winners

Bad Bunny Makes Salsa Hot Again

The soon-to-be Super Bowl headliner, along with Rauw Alejandro and Karol G, are re-energizing the genre for a brand new generation.

By cata balzano

Glory, by Perfume Genius; Man’s Best Friend, by Sabrina Carpenter; Private Music, by Deftones; From Zero, by Linkin Park; and Mayhem, by Lady Gaga.

Running for Cover(s): A Look at the Grammys’ Newest Category

For the first time in 50 years, the awards are honoring outstanding album art.

By lina lecaro

PLUS THR Picks the Albums That Would Have — and Should Have — Been Winners

cover story

Music’s Hottest Hitmaker Hits Back

Justin Tranter wrote the soundtrack to the last decade, penning multi-platinum anthems for Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber and Chappell Roan. But pop’s ultimate secret weapon is sounding an alarm: Without better pay, the next generation of songwriters may never arrive.

by Ethan Millman
photographed by Beau Grealy

video

Justin Tranter on the Art of Songwriting, Working With Chappell Roan, Selena Gomez and More

video

Behind the Scenes at Justin Tranter’s THR Cover Shoot

column

How the Grammys’ New “Beyonce Rule” Is Polarizing Country Music

A year after the superstar’s historic Cowboy Carter win, the addition of a controversial category is shaking up the genre — and raising eyebrows.

By kevin dolak • Illustration by Miguel Davilla

the report

David Bowie, As I Saw Him

Between 1991 and his death in 2016, the rock god posed regularly for Frank Ockenfels 3. An exclusive portfolio from the photographer’s new book.

by gary baum • photographed by frank ockenfels 3

by gary baum
photographed by frank ockenfels 3

First shoot in Los Angeles for a cover of Creem magazine in 1991 with Tin Machine.

David wanted a close-up of his eyes for the packaging for Earthling in 1996, Ockenfels explains.

about town

Leon Thomas Finally Finds His Voice

With Mutt, the Grammy-winning writer-producer behind Ariana Grande, Drake and SZA steps out from behind the soundboard and takes center stage.

by brande victorian • photographed by austin hargrave

Leon Thomas Finally Finds His Voice

With Mutt, the Grammy-winning writer-producer behind Ariana Grande, Drake and SZA steps out from behind the soundboard and takes center stage.

by brande victorian
photographed by austin hargrave

Would You Pay $27,000 for a Used Concert T-Shirt?

This old thing? It’s having a moment. Vintage music T-shirts are a shortcut to cool — which means big business.

By chris gardner

The One Place Records Still Matter? On the Wall

Even in the age of streaming, Jewel Box Platinum remains the go-to purveyor of the music business’ self-congratulatory plaques.

By carly thomas

Would You Pay $27,000 for a Used Concert T-Shirt?

This old thing? It’s having a moment. Vintage music tees are a shortcut to cool — which means big business.

By chris gardner

The One Place Records Still Matter? On the Wall

Even in the age of streaming, Jewel Box Platinum remains the go-to purveyor of the music business’ ubiquitous self-congratulatory plaques.

By carly thomas
photographed by Maggie Shannon

insider

Behind the Music: These 57 Top Power Lawyers

Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Jay-Z rely on these dealmakers to protect their rights, riches and reputations.

By claudia rosenbaum
illustration by tael gomes

Behind the Music: These 57 Top Power Lawyers

Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Jay-Z rely on these dealmakers to protect their rights, riches and reputations.

By claudia rosenbaum
illustration by tael gomes

hollywood flashback

OutKast Found a Breath of Fresh Air With Stankonia

André 3000 and Big Boi proved they were for real 25 years ago when their fourth album became a sensation, spawning hits like “Ms. Jackson” and winning two Grammys.

By ryan gajewski

Artistic & Fashion Director: Alison Edmond • Visual Media Director: Ash Barhamand • Associate Photo Producer: Naomy Pedroza

Rosé was photographed by Sinae Kim on Sept. 3 in Seoul, Korea.

On Rosé, orange look: Orange Pink Banana vintage jacket; Atlein bodysuit, pants; Rosé’s own jewelry; Maison Ernest shoes. Red look: Dilara Findikoglu jacket; vintage skirt; Rosé’s own jewelry. Animal print look: Coach faux jacket; Vet Women bra; Diesel shorts; vintage bandeau, belt; Rosé’s own jewelry. Silver look: Marine Serre dress; Orsia tiara; Repossi silver ring; Rosé’s own jewelry; Amiri shoes. In video: Amiri gown; Rosé’s own jewelry.

Styling: Aeri Yun; Hair: Seonyeong Lee; Makeup: Jungyo Won; Nails: Unistella.

FKA Twigs was photographed by Emma Summerton on Sept. 10 at Ballet Hispánico in New York.

On FKA Twigs, beige look: Valentino bra, shorts; Hugo Kreit necklace; FKA Twigs’ own earrings; Dsquared2 shoes. Black look: Dolce & Gabbana bra; Dsquared2 tank; Better Jewelry bracelets; FKA Twigs’ own earrings, nose ring; Commando underwear; Falke tights; Rick Owens shoes. White look: Miu Miu bra, tank; CDP tee; stylist’s own turtleneck; Dsquared2 underwear; Falke tights; FKA Twigs’ own jewelry; Buﬀalo shoes. Fringe look: Blumarine cardigan; Willy Chavarria pants; Miu Miu socks; FKA Twigs’ own jewelry, vintage YSL shoes. Corset look: J Phoenix corset; Lady Grey large earrings; FKA Twigs’ own smaller earrings, bracelets; Falke tights; vintage YSL shoes.

Styling: Billy Lobos; Hair: Louis Souvestre; Makeup: Catalina Sartor; Set Design: Viki Rutsch.

Justin Tranter was photographed by Beau Grealy on Aug. 27 at Quixote Studios, West Hollywood.

On Justin Tranter, beige look: Kilian Kerner suit; vintage Saint Laurent shirt, vintage Roberto Cavalli ring, both from Paumé Los Angeles; Christian Louboutin boots. Black suit look: Saint Laurent suit, shirt, tie, stole, gloves, vintage boots; vintage ring from Paumé Los Angeles. White shirt look: Vintage Comme des Garcons shirt, vintage Roberto Cavalli ring, both from Paumé Los Angeles; Capezio tights; David Yurman skull ring; Comme des Garcons boots. Red look: Namilia leather suit; vintage Roberto Cavalli rings from Paumé Los Angeles; Christian Louboutin boots. Black top look: Vintage Rick Owens top, vintage Roberto Cavalli ring from Paumé Los Angeles.