The Milton Measure

Vol. CXXXII · October 10, 2026

“Free Palestine” Remarks Cost Macklemore Spot on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour

American rapper Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, better known as Macklemore, was removed from the remainder of English artist Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour on September 14, 2026, after saying “Free Palestine” onstage and performing the protest song “Hind’s Hall” at both of Sheeran’s New Jersey shows. The decision to remove Macklemore as Sheeran's opener sparked backlash and ongoing drama. In the first few days after Macklemore’s removal, it was unclear who made the decision, confusion that sparked even more public discussion.

By Thea Cammack '294 min read

Source: People Magazine

Sullivan ’28 Shares “Mo Knowledge” of His Hip-Hop Career

Curtis Sullivan ’28, a junior from Boston, is also known as the rapper Mo Knowledge. Many may know his music from performances here at Milton, including this year’s Transitions Beatnik and his Martin Luther King Day performance last year. Sullivan has integrated his art and sound into the Milton community, and recently released three singles on Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok.

By Ryan Xu '294 min read

Miley’s Bass Fails to Persuade

Miley Cyrus, an American artist known for her pop, rock, country pop, and hip hop songs, released her latest album, Bass Persuades, on September 18, 2026. Since her debut in 2007, she has brought many influential and memorable pieces of music to her listeners. From “Party in the U.S.A.” to “Wrecking Ball,” Miley Cyrus’s songs hold influence around the world. Her new album has become a No. 1 album once again, a feat which she hasn’t been able to accomplish since 2013. However, along with releasing the new album, she also made an interesting decision that caused some discussion on the internet. Miley Cyrus is now professionally going by “Miley,” a decision which sparked discussions about identity and family, especially concerning her relationship with her father, Billy Ray Cyrus.

By Charles Xie '293 min read

Source: Variety

MTV VMAs: Glory Days or Twilight Years?

On September 27, 2026, Music Television (MTV) held its 43rd annual Video Music Awards in the Peacock Theater in LA, hosted by Snoop Dogg and attended by hundreds of artists and celebrities. The Video Music Awards (VMAs) are an event hosted by the MTV channel that aims to celebrate the accomplishments of musical artists over the past year, similar to the Grammys.

By Benjamin Nass '292 min read

Source: Rolling Stone Magazine

Venice Film Festival Stirs Controversy

The selective, 83rd Venice Film Festival, the oldest in the world, sparked political debate as well as excitement this September. On the island of Lido di Venezia, professional directors and artists premiered their 21 movies to an audience and judges with the chance of winning one of the most prestigious trophies in the film industry, the Golden Lion.

By Thea Cammack '292 min read

Source: Business Insider

Wicked Sketchy Brings Laughter and Relevance to King Theater

From Thursday, May 14 to Saturday, May 16, 2026, student performers put on a vibrant performance of Wicked Sketchy, the annual sketch comedy performance held in King Theater. This year’s production—a program of 12 individual sketches by a cast of sixteen students—left members of the community hungry for more. The show has developed a reputation for finding humor in the things students and teachers love and care about, and this year was no different.

By Thea Cammack '293 min read

Source: @nictakesphotos

Drake’s Surprise Release Tests Expectations

When I came to school on May 15, I was surprised by how tired everyone around me looked. People drifted in silence, AirPods in, eyes half-open, as if they had stayed up far too early the night before. Many of them, I learned, had. The night before, popular Canadian music artist Aubrey Drake Graham, better known as Drake, released not just one but three separate albums: Iceman, Habibti, and Maid of Honour. Many of my classmates had stayed up until midnight to listen to the songs.

By Benjamin Nass '292 min read

Source: Spotify

The Devil Wears Prada 2 Trades Substance for Sentiment

Launching on May 1, 2026, The Devil Wears Prada 2 debuted in theaters with enormous anticipation and equally fierce criticism. With a current audience rating of 6.8/10 on Internet Movie Database (IMDb), this sequel to The Devil Wears Prada has been a massive box office hit, opening at $76 million domestically and grossing $430 million in its first twelve days in release. Twenty years ago, the original movie became a worldwide blockbuster, shaping fashion trends and redefining the fashion industry for an entire generation. Yet two decades later, despite the seemingly successful financials and audience expectations hoping to relive that magic, many left feeling conflicted, anxious, and disappointed.

By Iris Chen '285 min read

Source: Variety

The Humans “Reflects on what Modern Life is Like”

As the end of Milton’s performing arts season nears, The Humans, the last of the 1212 plays for the year, took place in the Black Box Theater from April 30 to May 2. The Humans, written by Stephen Karam, follows a modern-day family gathering for Thanksgiving while also offering a look into the family’s individual and collective struggles. The production was directed by Shane Fuller and featured a six-person cast consisting of Lyla Tanzi ’26, Davey Glazer ’28, Vivienne Mockenhaupt ’27, Phoebe Zhang ’26, Nora Jin ’28, and Arsen Shymon ’27. As a 1212 play, a series of productions named for their previous location in Warren 1212, The Humans had a very different style compared to many other Milton Academy productions, both in scale and in material. While The Humans’ setting, a family dinner, is definitely less grand compared to those of other productions this year such as Hadestown or Clue, it provides a much-needed change and voice in Milton Academy’s performing arts, one that reflects our own everyday lives.

By Iyore Ip '292 min read

Source: @miltonacademy

The Great Divide Peaked on Charts, Did It Pique Your Interest?

During the pandemic, Noah Kahan broke the charts with his album, Stick Season. It debuted at number fourteen on the Billboard 200 and helped him earn his first Grammy as Best New Artist. He gained commercial success, appearing on Saturday Night Live, and even having a documentary made about him this year. What made this avant-folk songwriter so alluring to many was the effortless blend of his intricate lyricism and the melancholic melodies of his acoustic guitar. His breakout album reached a wider audience beyond his hometown of New England; this year, the country was introduced to his highly anticipated first album following his rise to success, The Great Divide.

By Ryan Xu '294 min read

Source: Spotify

Met Gala Sparks Debate Over Fashion, Art, and Elitism

The 2026 Met Gala, hosted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4 in New York City, sparked widespread debate over elitism, the blurred boundaries between fashion and art, and the growing presence of high street brands on one of fashion’s most exclusive stages. Every year, the Met Gala dominates social media; celebrities, influencers, and billionaires wear outfits meant to be extravagant, artistic, shocking, and memorable. Even people who often don’t pay attention to fashion still end up encompassed by the Met Gala’s lure.

By Isabella Chen '293 min read

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Student Films Showcase Personal Stories

On Friday, May 8, the annual Student Film Showcase, held in Greeley Auditorium and featuring fourteen students’ films across a wide range of genres, showcased the dedication of the filmmakers, actors, and faculty involved. Performing and Visual Arts Teacher Shane Fuller created the festival about fifteen years ago, shortly after his arrival, to showcase his students’ work. Although the event has evolved, Fuller has had a concrete vision for the event since its inception. He hopes that filmmakers will feel the “joy of … see[ing] … other people watching their work” and of “getting … [an] audience response.” He also wants community members to “see some creative and interesting ideas brought to life … [and for the event to] create some excitement around [the Milton] film program.”

By Timothy Baelee '293 min read

Source: MA Film

The Romantic Sounds Too Familiar, Loses Touch With Fans

After a ten-year hiatus, the GOAT of love ballads has struck again with a solo studio album. But did he strike out? From the beginning of his relatively short album, Bruno Mars captures a highly Latin, Chicano sound, with trumpets and salsa rhythms in “Risk It All.” The album’s overall sound is not much like the 2010s “Bruno” sound we were anticipating. I remember Bruno Mars as a staple of my childhood, but after ten years, his sound has definitely changed—for better or for worse. Particularly, some songs sound very neo-soul and slow jam, much like his highly popular song “After Last Night,” featuring Anderson Paak. As usual, Mars’ vocals are on point and emotional, making the songs feel very polished. The happiness is overwhelming in this album–very cheerful and triumphant. But I wonder what his listeners truly expected. Did they want his “It Will Rain,” “Grenade,” “Locked Out of Heaven” style, yearnful music that marked Bruno Mars’ peak? Though The Romantic’s songs are somewhat nostalgic and reminiscent of the 2010s, Mars hasn’t quite matched his music from this earlier era.

By Tyla Tsang '28 & Ryan Xu '283 min read

A View “Inside” a Tortured Genius: Bo Burnham

Robert “Bo” Burnham is no ordinary guy. In fact, he’s probably one of the most talented people this world has seen. An actor, stand-up comedian, musician, director, and so much more, Burnham is one of the most prolific Bohemians of the modern era. His story is an interesting one too, with his comedic journey having started over 16 years ago, when he posted short, comedic songs about various topics and often made fun of how ridiculous some aspects of life were. In early YouTube, he was a massive success, with his channel quickly becoming one of the most popular on the platform and his videos receiving hundreds of thousands of views, numbers that were unheard of on the site at the time. He was so successful that he eventually started to go on tour, performing stand up comedy in front of a live audience and creating various songs in his unique style.

By Benjamin Nass '294 min read

Peek Behind the Scenes of Culturefest

On Tuesday, April 14, Milton held its biennial Culturefest, a half-day event that unfolded in several parts. Students attended morning classes before transitioning into two assigned workshops chosen from fourteen different options, each led by students and centered on cultural learning. After the workshops, the entire school gathered for a series of performances, followed by food stalls where students shared traditional dishes.

By Nora Lu '294 min read

Source: @miltonacademy

2026 Oscars Reflect a Shift in Hollywood

The 98th Academy Awards, or the Oscars, hosted by American comedian and television host Conan O’Brian, took place on March 15th, 2026. The Oscars recognize some of the best films released in the last year, serving as a reflection of Hollywood and the greater film industry throughout 2025. This year, the Oscars gave out awards in 24 categories recognizing multiple facets of filmmaking with awards ranging from Best Actor to Best Production Design, and even Best Costume Design. Some of the most anticipated awards of the night this year were dominated by Sinners and One Battle After Another, two of this season’s most acclaimed films. Besides this battle between the two films, particularly for the spot of Best Picture, the night also featured musical performances featuring the nominees, including performances from the cast of KPop Demon Hunters and Sinners.

By Iyore Ip '294 min read

Source: New York Daily News

World Cup 2026 Theme Song Struggles to Find a Balance

As sixteen cities across the United States, Mexico and Canada prepare to host the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup, the event globally recognized as the most prestigious football competition and most viewed sporting event in the world, FIFA released the first song in its 2026 World Cup album: “Lighter” by Tennessee singer Jelly Roll and Mexican singer Carín León. Containing both English and Spanish vocals, the song was intended to be FIFA’s first step to creating “one global rhythm” that encompasses many diverse musical styles. However, a quick skim of the comments section on the official YouTube video of “Lighter” reveals that FIFA failed to appease the “global” audience even before the song reached the global stage.

By Zifu Song '273 min read

Source: @JellyRoll

Taylor Frankie Paul Controversy Highlights Conflicts Between Entertainment and Personal Experience

Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives follows a group of Mormon influencers balancing family life, religion, and social media success. A star on the show and considered the leader of “MomTok,” which grew from the show, Taylor Frankie Paul, drew major attention after being cast as the lead on 2026 season of The Bachelorette. She had just previously left an unhealthy relationship with the father of her child, Dakota Mortenson. However, Paul was removed from The Bachelorette role in light of footage of Paul assaulting Mortenson in 2023, published by TMZ. Although the assault filmed had already been handled legally in 2023, many fans responded negatively to the contents of the video.

By Thea Cammack '293 min read

The Gospel of Wealth Teaches Us to Be Rich—Morally

In the United States, the top one percent by net worth holds 31.7% of the nation’s wealth, the highest share in almost four decades per Forbes. According to the 2025 “State of the Acad” by The Milton Paper, 43.8% of respondents’ families earn over $500,000, which sits between top 1% and 2% of household earnings.

By Isaac Wu '28 & Adair Johnson '274 min read