Author: Essentially Pop

There’s a lot of music out there - good music. At Essentially Pop our remit is that we cover music that deserves to be heard, with a particular focus on independent artists. That doesn't mean we won't cover your old favourites - rather we hope to give you some new favourites as well. We no longer accept unpaid PR agency work. We believe the creative arts have value, and this includes writing. As always, we will write about artists who contact us - or who we contact - for free - but we can no longer work free of charge for PR agencies. We work hard, we put in a lot of hours writing, and we ask that you respect that. Contact us for our very reasonable rates. Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Threads, Spotify, and YouTube. Drop us an email on hello@essesntiallypop.com

If Streaming Platforms, Festivals and Digital Games Were at a Dinner Party, Who Would Win the Room?

June 12, 2026

Imagine the ultimate dinner party.

Not one filled with actual people, but with the entertainment giants that dominate our free time. Streaming platforms arrive fashionably late carrying an expensive bottle of wine. Music festivals burst through the door wearing glitter and sunglasses despite it being indoors. Digital games arrive with an interesting backstory, a loyal fanbase, and enough energy to keep the conversation going until sunrise.

The question is simple: if these entertainment powerhouses were guests at the same dinner table, who would walk away as the most popular person in the room?

Why ‘REDRED’ Signals a Strong New Direction for CORTIS

May 12, 2026

CORTIS’ track, ‘REDRED’, from their second EP, ‘GREENGREEN’ had already begun gaining attention on TikTok even before its official release, signaling strong anticipation for the group’s latest musical direction. While pre-release snippets and viral moments have become common in K-pop, ‘REDRED’ stood out because it didn’t rely only on hype. It created curiosity around CORTIS’ evolving sound and hinted at a more defined artistic identity.