It’s good to witness the current flourishing of what we might call Green Pop – though others may prefer Eco-Pop, Eco-Rock, etc... - challenging the current state of our environment - PopMatters writes proudly about the new wave of music dealing with climate change, and nature protection. PM presents American folk musicians that preceded them - Woody Guthrie, Neil Young, Chris Webby, Joan Baez, Phil Ochs, Malvina Reynolds, Tom Paxton, Pete Seeger, and Don Maclean.

Singer-songwriter-guitarist David Crosby, a founding member of two popular and influential ’60s rock units, the Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, has died aged 81, The New York Times reports. Alexis Petridis points out that "Crosby genuinely was brilliant. He was blessed with a beautiful voice and an uncanny gift for harmony... a fantastic, forward-thinking songwriter". Rolling Stone picks out 20 essential songs by the folk-rock legend. The New Cue revisits an interview from a few years ago with the witty guy.

US rapper Flo Rida has won a lawsuit against US energy drink company, Celsius, with the jury awarding the rapper $82.6 million, CBS Miami reports. Flo Rida was a brand ambassador for Celsius from 2014 to 2018. During that time, Dillard played an instrumental role in launching a new era for the company's brand development, growth and expansion, introducing Celsius to millions around the world, the complaint said.

"I must disclose that my mental health has rapidly deteriorated over the past several years. So, to avoid fading away and never returning, I will be taking a break from work which regrettably includes stepping away from Fall Out Boy for a spell" - Fall Out Boy guitarist Joe Trohman posted on his Instagram. Just a few hours earlier the band announced their first new album since 2018, titled 'So Much (for) Stardust'.

Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, Sade, Jeff Lynne, Glen Ballard, Teddy Riley and Liz Rose have been chosen to join the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Snoop Dogg, whose hits include 'Drop It Like It’s Hot' and 'Gin & Juice', is one of the icons of hip-hop. Soul-jazz vocalist Sade's 1980s soft rock hits include 'Smooth Operator' and 'The Sweetest Taboo'. Lynne, of ELO, penned 'Mr. Blue Sky' and 'Evil Woman'. Estefan is credited for popularizing Latin rhythms with such crossover smashes as 'Rhythm Is Gonna Get You' and 'Let’s Get Loud'. Ballard helped write Alanis Morissette’s monster 1995 album 'Jagged Little Pill' and was involved in the recording and writing of several Michael Jackson albums, including 'Thriller', 'Bad' and 'Dangerous'. Riley, the singer, songwriter and producer, is credited with creating New Jack Swing and its top anthems like Bobby Brown’s 'My Prerogative' and Keith Sweat’s 'I Want Her'. Rose co-wrote many songs with Taylor Swift, including 'You Belong with Me', 'Teardrops on My Guitar' and 'White Horse'. The seven songwriters from the class of 2023 will be inducted at a gala June 15 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

The Quietus' dance music columnist Jaša Bužinel sheds light on the "small Slovenian electronic music scene and shares his favourite recent releases from the likes of Vid Vai, POUCH ENVY, dvidevat and Black Dot". "By including mainly names which you may never have heard of before," the writer says he hopes "to shed some light on all the talented Slovenian producers and artists who really deserve to be heard abroad".

Duo Molly from Innsbruck, Austria play an especially majestic style of dream-pop with a post-rock approach to structure and scope - Stereogum points out about their latest Album of the Week choice. It is "a chance to be overwhelmed by elegance and power and an otherworldly glow". 

Pitchfork tells the story of "slack key—a distinctly Hawaiian sound with complex patterns of rhythm, bass, and a leading melody all handled by one player on an acoustic guitar. It would become synonymous with the identity of the islands". The P also chooses nine releases through which "a story emerges of how a little-known indigenous folk music transformed into an empowering voice for the revitalization of an endangered culture".

Japanese musician Yukihiro Takahashi, best known as the influential drummer and vocalist for electronic act Yellow Magic Orchestra, has died aged 70, Japan Times reports. Yellow Magic Orchestra drew significant influence from Isao Tomita and Kraftwerk, Japanese traditional music, arcade games, funk, and disco pioneer Giorgio Moroder, becoming renowned for their use of synths, samplers, sequencers, and drum machines. Numerous musicians, including Junior Boys, Sparks, Akiko Yano, Erol Alkan, Mouse on Mars, and Good Willsmith paid tribute to Takahashi.

A great article in the New York Times about the case brought against Young Thug and his rap label YSL, accused of conspiracy to commit racketeering, gang statute violations and more. Slimelife Shawty, Unfoonk, Lil Duke, the chart-topper Gunna, and four other men associated with YSL, all pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge, some to other crimes. Each agreed that the famed Atlanta rap crew they were associated with — YSL, headed by the enigmatic star Jeffery Williams, or Young Thug — was not only a renowned hip-hop collective, but also a criminal street gang. The trial is expected to last for nine months, as Young Thug is facing a possibility of a maximum 120-year prison sentence.