Lorde Is Back, Katy Perry's Still Struggling, and Touring in a Post-Eras Tour World

This week on Live From Mars, we’re breaking down Lorde’s long-awaited return with her new single What Was That — how it fits into her discography, its early success, and why it has fans divided. Plus, I’m sharing quick reactions to other New Music Friday standouts including Benson Boone, Samia, and Joe Jonas.

Then for our deep dive, we explore how the touring landscape has shifted post-Eras Tour, including the early controversy around Katy Perry’s Lifetimes Tour, Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa’s evolving strategies, and a critical look at Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour launch.

Where do pop concerts go from here — and is Beyoncé too legendary to be relatable?

Topics covered in this episode:

• Lorde's What Was That review + lead single ranking
• Streaming performance of Lorde’s new single so far
• New Music Friday picks: Benson Boone’s Mystical Magical, Samia’s Carousel, Joe Jonas’ Heart by Heart
• The Katy Perry Lifetimes Tour controversy and execution critiques
• Sabrina Carpenter’s mini-Eras energy on tour
• Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour: what low ticket sales tell us about the future of pop icons
• The future of live touring after the Eras Tour phenomenon

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + Personal Intro (100K celebration)

01:30 – New Music Friday Intro

02:00 – Lorde’s What Was That Review

09:00 – Ranking Lorde’s Lead Singles

12:30 – New Music Friday Highlights (Joe Jonas, Benson Boone, Samia)

17:30 – Deep Dive: Touring After the Eras Tour

19:30 – Katy Perry’s Lifetimes Tour Critiques

22:00 – Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa Touring Strategies

25:00 – Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour and Touring Reflection

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