Music News Today — September 29, 2026
Watch Gracie Abrams Perform ‘Look at My Life’ on ‘Fallon’ and more — today's music signal.
The music world is buzzing today with a mix of performances, controversies, and chart-topping successes. Gracie Abrams recently took to the stage on 'Fallon' to perform her hit song 'Look at My Life', giving fans a chance to experience her captivating live show. Meanwhile, in a lighthearted yet notable moment, Los Angeles Mayor Zohran Mamdani made headlines for refusing Jimmy Kimmel's request to send a selfie with him to former President Trump, adding a dash of humor to the celebrity news cycle.
In a stark contrast, musician Todd Rundgren sparked controversy with his comments about Taylor Swift, criticizing her impact on the music industry and labeling her as "the apotheosis of mediocrity." On a more positive note, Miley Cyrus achieved a significant milestone with her album 'Bass Persuades' hitting number one on the albums chart. The success of artists and music events continues to draw in large audiences, as evidenced by the recent CBS and MTV VMAs, which saw a combined 8.4 million viewers tune in, marking a 51% increase from last year and the most-watched VMAs since 2015.
Today's signal:
• Watch Gracie Abrams Perform ‘Look at My Life’ on ‘Fallon’ (rollingstone.com)
• Zohran Mamdani Refuses to Text Trump a Selfie of Him and Jimmy Kimmel (rollingstone.com)
• Mayor Zohran Mamdani Refuses Jimmy Kimmel’s Request to Text Trump a Selfie of Them (variety.com)
• Todd Rundgren Slams Taylor Swift, Says She ‘Ruined Music’ and Is ‘the Apotheosis of Mediocrity’ (variety.com)
• Miley Hits Number One on Albums Chart With ‘Bass Persuades’ (rollingstone.com)
• CBS and MTV VMAs Attract a Combined 8.4 Million Viewers, Making it the Most-Watched Since 2015 and Up 51% From Last Year (variety.com)