IJR News

Music Features Explore Artists, Scenes, LegaciesMusic — 3dMississippi’s Hattiesburg music scene remains active, while Haruki Murakami’s jazz roots and Frank Zappa’s genre-defying work show how musical traditions and influences shape artists across generations. A film revisits Madness’s gritty early years as the band rose from struggling north London musicians to pop stars.

0

Georgia unveils new 'I Voted' sticker by metro Atlanta artist — Sep 29, 2026

+2

Tom Gallagher The new design really captures Georgia's spirit better than the old ones did.

Pope Leo defends human art against machine calculation — 3dIn the Consistory Hall on October 2, Leo told artists the Church needs them, drew an ontological line against AI output, and renewed a call to safeguard what no algorithm carries.

+1

Tom Gallagher It's refreshing to hear a clear stand against reducing art to calculations, since human work carries meaning algorithms simply lack.

Netflix Releases Jessica Chastain’s Heartland Trailer — 1dNetflix has released a trailer for Heartland, a mystery thriller starring Jessica Chastain as a reclusive country music legend who returns to Nashville to find her missing niece and confront the city’s seedy underbelly. The film, directed by Shana Feste, also features Garrett Hedlund, Jennifer Nettles and Ross Lynch, with original music from the cast and other country artists.

0

Film initiatives spotlight emerging filmmakers, build communityGood News — 2dFilm communities are creating opportunities for emerging artists through a Kansas City festival showcasing local and international work, a new fellowship supporting U.S. Muslim storytellers, and an Amarillo collective that trains filmmakers through productions. At UMass, a student club is building community through group screenings and discussions, underscoring cinema’s role as both a creative platform and a shared experience.

0

Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Shanghai Brings China-US Cultural Exchange to Washington — 3dOct. 3, 2026: Future Resonance — ShanghaiEye Night put Chinese and American artists on the National Mall; Xie Feng cited a pledge to invite 100,000 young Americans to China.

+3

Maya Lindstrom It's nice to see Shanghai musicians and performers sharing their culture right on the National Mall with American audiences.

October Events Span Houston, Arkansas, ConnecticutLifestyle — 3dHouston offers a packed October calendar, from concerts by Sara Bareilles, wave to earth and other artists to theater, opera, dance and other cultural events. Seasonal options also include family-friendly fall activities and Halloween attractions, giving residents a range of ways to spend the month.

0

Seven Tiffany Angel Windows Find Dallas HomePolitics — Sep 28, 2026Christian scripture depicts angels as powerful messengers, ranging from awe-inspiring celestial beings to humanlike guides and protectors, posing a challenge for artists seeking to portray them. Louis Comfort Tiffany’s stained-glass work, including a series depicting the seven angels in Revelation, offered a vivid artistic interpretation of these sacred figures.

0

Taylor Swift Becomes VMAs’ Most-Awarded Artist — Sep 24, 2026Taylor Swift is expected to attend the Sept. 27 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles rather than the Chiefs’ game against the Dolphins in Miami. She is scheduled to debut a new music video and receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors.

0

Pope Leo XIV Distinguishes Human Art From AI — 5dPope Leo XIV says human art differs fundamentally from AI-generated work, arguing that algorithms lack the human experience and creative spark that give art meaning. He called on the Catholic Church to renew its partnership with artists and cultural institutions amid AI’s growing influence.

+1

Chris Dalton I agree the Church should back actual artists more actively since AI lacks any personal faith or inspiration behind its outputs.

Snoop Dogg Jokes About Madonna at 2026 VMAs — Sep 28, 2026Snoop Dogg opened the 2026 VMAs joking Madonna "ain’t a virgin no more" after her set; she won Artist of the Year in the show’s L.A. return.

0

Elena Vasquez Her advice to younger artists about believing in themselves came across as genuine and encouraging.

New York Pizza vs Chicago Deep DishYourlist — VS BattleThe foldable slice versus the fork-and-knife casserole — America's longest-running food fight.

Maryland Protest Festival Spotlights Voter Turnout — 5dBruce Springsteen headlined the inaugural Power to the People protest festival in Maryland, joining Joan Baez, Tom Morello and other artists for politically charged performances criticizing government actions. Organized by Morello to promote civic engagement and voter turnout, the sold-out event also featured nonprofits and directed some ticket proceeds to voter-support groups.

0

Art Miami Plans 36th Fair With 130 GalleriesEntertainment — 5dArt exhibitions are drawing attention across several cities: Ho Chi Minh City is hosting a fine-arts and ceramics show, while San Francisco’s SFMOMA is presenting BTS member RM’s personal art collection in a co-curated exhibition. Miami’s Art Miami returns in December with galleries from 25 countries and will honor artist Shepard Fairey with its Lifetime Visionary Award.

0

Miranda Lambert Debuts at Truth With Sold-Out Show — 5dMiranda Lambert celebrated her new album, Crisco, with a sold-out opening-night performance at Nashville’s The Truth, featuring new songs and a duet with Chris Stapleton. The album draws on Dolly Parton’s influence, while Lambert’s collaborations with Ella Langley—including co-writing and producing the hit “Choosin’ Texas”—reflect her support for women in country music and the next generation of artists.

0

Psychedelic Pop Artist Peter Max Dies at 88 — Sep 16, 2026Peter Max, psychedelic pop artist of the 1994 World Cup poster and the man who saved the runaway cow Cincinnati Freedom, died Sept. 14 at 88.

0

Can you actually read a map?Quizie — QuizFifteen world-geography questions. Most people miss at least three — the AI grades you and names your traveler rank.

Power to People Festival Plans Free Online Livestream — Sep 28, 2026Tom Morello’s Power to the People festival will stream free on YouTube on October 3 from Maryland’s Merriweather Post Pavilion, featuring artists including Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews and Public Enemy. The event pairs performances with civic-engagement activities, and proceeds will support VoteRiders and HeadCount.

0

Doha plans millennium-spanning Chinese ceramics exhibitionLifestyle — Sep 30, 2026Ceramics are presented as enduring links between cultural heritage and exchange: Bien Hoa pottery connects Dong Nai with Hanoi, while Korean artist Young Shin Kim combines traditional techniques with Hangul in a California exhibition. In Qatar, an upcoming show traces more than a millennium of Chinese ceramics and maritime trade, echoing scholars’ view of porcelain as tangible evidence of ancient global connections.

0

MacArthur names 20 fellows, awards $800,000 each — Sep 29, 2026The MacArthur Foundation named 20 artists, scientists and scholars to its 2026 fellowship class, each receiving $800,000 in unrestricted support over five years. The honorees include Black creatives and researchers, Illinois scientists Kaiyu Guan and Vincenzo Vitelli, cognitive scientist Felipe De Brigard and forensic anthropologist Kate Spradley, whose work spans the arts, climate and agriculture, memory, and migrant identification.

0

Taylor Swift Set for Inaugural VMA Director Honor — Sep 21, 2026One report lists Taylor Swift at 30 VMA awards, already the most in history, as she takes the first Artist Director Honors on Sept. 27.

+2

Rachel Meyers The VMAs ceremony looks strong with Swift nominated across categories and Madonna back to perform on the same night.

Beijing Canal Arts Fest opens with global performancesTravel — Sep 25, 2026The fourth Beijing International Canal Arts Fest opened in Tongzhou on Sept. 24, bringing artists from 13 countries together for performances, cultural activities and canal-themed tours. Organizers cast the festival as a way to promote international exchange and tourism while preserving the Grand Canal as living heritage.

0

Sheeran Addresses Macklemore Tour Dispute in Philadelphia — Sep 17, 2026An Irish radio station, Classic Hits Radio, has removed Ed Sheeran’s music from its playlists for the foreseeable future after listener feedback amid the controversy over Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s US tour following his Gaza remarks, with Irish artists Aaron Rowe and Beoga also leaving the tour in protest. The station said the decision reflects listening to its audience and supporting Irish artists, and it stressed the move is not a personal judgment on Sheeran and is under review.

0

Bald Eagles Rebound to Hundreds of Louisiana NestsEnvironment — Sep 22, 2026Bald eagles have rebounded in Louisiana after DDT-related declines, aided by legal protections and conservation efforts. Separately, a large marble eagle sculpture by the late artist Rollie A. Grandbois has returned to New Mexico and was installed at the Belen Community Center.

0

September 19: Global Milestones, Cultural HistoryEntertainment — Sep 16, 2026Sept. 19 is highlighted in country music history with Miranda Lambert’s artist-in-residency at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, certification milestones for stars like Morgan Wallen and Thomas Rhett, and ongoing legacy moments such as the Oak Ridge Boys’ farewell tour; the date also features charitable performances tied to artists like Dan + Shay and Carrie Underwood. In world history, Sept. 19 marks Swami Vivekananda’s Paper on Hinduism at the 1893 Parliament of Religions in Chicago, New Zealand becoming the first self-governing country to grant women the right to vote, and the Hundred Years’ War Battle of Poitiers, all associated with this date.

0

Sheeran Addresses Macklemore Dispute at Philadelphia Concert — Sep 17, 2026Ed Sheeran's Philadelphia show will feature a substantial police presence and heightened security after Macklemore was dropped from the Loop Tour, with both pro-Palestinian demonstrations and artist solidarity walkouts prompting precautions. The controversy has transformed the event into a high-stakes security incident with ongoing industry fallout and expectations of protests outside Lincoln Financial Field.

0