Turkish rapper Motive continues to dominate music charts, recently becoming the most-listened-to artist in Türkiye on Spotify.
His success goes beyond his latest achievement. Motive has appeared on Spotify's weekly chart for 1,789 days, or 255 weeks, marking an extraordinary run of consistency. He is also the only artist to have remained on the chart throughout that period.
With a string of recent releases and live performances, Motive continues to strengthen his position as one of the leading names in Turkish rap, while maintaining a strong presence across digital music platforms.
Some concert stories begin long before the stage lights come on. For Syrian singer Assala Nasri, her return to Damascus was 15 years in the making.
One of Syria's most prominent singers, Assala openly opposed Bashar Assad's government, supported protesters and refused to take part in events backing the regime. She was subsequently expelled from the Syrian Artists Syndicate and remained away from her home country. Her last concert in Syria was in 2010.
Following the fall of Assad's government in December 2024, the doors to Assala's homeland opened again.
On Sept. 17, Assala took the stage at Damascus' Al-Fayhaa Sports Hall for the first time in 15 years. Thousands filled the venue to see her perform as Assala grew emotional while recalling how long she had waited to return home
The concert also served as a major showcase for "The Syrian Album," a 14-song project drawing on the musical heritage of Syria's 14 provinces.
But Assala's return was not met solely with applause. Images shared on social media showed people tearing down Assala's concert posters in Damascus, while some called for the event to be canceled. The Syrian Ministry of Culture nevertheless stood by the concert and continued to support it.
One of the night's most symbolic moments came onstage, as Syrian Minister of Culture Mohammed Yasin Saleh welcomed Assala back and handed her a plaque representing the country's provinces.
On one side were torn-down posters in the streets; on the other, thousands of people filling a concert hall and the culture minister welcoming Assala back onstage. After 15 years, Assala's return to Damascus was more than a concert. It offered a musical snapshot of a Syria caught between its past and its new reality.
Turkish pop-punk veterans Second are hitting the road this fall for a November tour across Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir.
Known for their lively concerts and dedicated fan base, Second will visit three major Turkish cities in November. The tour opens with a sold-out show in Ankara on Nov. 1, followed by a concert at Zorlu PSM in Istanbul on Nov. 14. The band will close out the tour with another sold-out show in Izmir on Nov. 22.
The band is set to perform some of its best-known songs along with tracks from its wider repertoire, bringing its signature sound to audiences across the three cities.
Tickets for the Istanbul concert are available on digital ticketing platforms.
