Role Model's Steady Rise With "Sally," The F1 Soundtrack, And Disney's Resurgence of Crossover TV

Howdy everyone, and happy Saturday!

I hope this week’s post finds you either with a coffee or tea in hand reading this week’s entertainment recap. In this week’s TFL, we’re covering:

• Role Model’s stead rise with the help of his girl(s), Sally

• The upcoming and stacked F1 soundtrack, its rollout, and the label behind it

• How Disney is superbly bringing back solid crossover TV

• An eclectic new “Good Noise” playlist featuring 30 new songs you need to hear from this week

• A round-up of this week’s new trailer drops

• Plenty of tidbits across the entertainment industry going on and in the works!

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Thank you for being here - now let’s get into it!

—Stephen Frost

🎵 A Look At Role Model’s Rise With The Help of His Girl(s), Sally

Singer-songwriter Role Model is in the middle of a true breakout moment—thanks in large part to his viral single “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out.” The catchy, Fleetwood Mac-tinged pop-rock track has been gaining momentum on TikTok and beyond, originally featured on the deluxe edition of his February album Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye).

As the song continues to climb, Role Model’s been taking full advantage of its momentum—most recently by giving the track a major spotlight during his Tonight Show debut this past week.

So, what (or who) is Sally? She’s a fictitious love interest at the heart of the song, best summed up in a sharp, spiraling bridge:

“Here we go again / I'm falling headfirst / Ankles hit the two-step / Sally makes my head hurt / Heard through the grapevine / She can be a diva / Cold like Minnesota / Hotter than a fever.”

At his live shows, Role Model brings that character to life by inviting a surprise “Sally” on stage—asking the crowd, “Where’s my Sally tonight?” Past shows have featured fans hopping up to dance and vibe during the song’s final chorus, creating memorable, viral-ready moments.

But this week’s Sally was next level. During his Tonight Show set, SNL and Wicked star Bowen Yang appeared on stage, playfully channeling his inner Sally and helping turn the performance into a hilarious and charming TV moment.

Main takeaway: With a fan-favorite song lending itself to personality, performance, and surprise guest moments, Role Model is building a live experience fans want to be a part of. As he gears up for a summer of festival stops—including Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza—don’t be surprised if you see a new Sally go viral each night.

🍿 The Summer Soundtrack Showdown Is Here—And F1 Is Taking the Lead

What do Barbie, Twisters, The Greatest Showman, and Suicide Squad all have in common? Each one turned up the volume on their box office campaigns with star-studded, era-defining soundtracks. But there’s one more thing they share—they were all powered by the same hit-making label: Atlantic Records.

And now, the Warner-owned label is back in the driver’s seat.

This week, Atlantic announced its latest soundtrack drop for one of the summer’s most anticipated blockbusters: F1, the upcoming racing drama starring Brad Pitt.

The rollout for F1 The Album kicked off with its first single, “Lose My Mind” by Don Toliver featuring Doja Cat. The track, co-written and produced by Ryan Tedder, features a sample of the F1 movie theme—composed by none other than Hans Zimmer.

The full lineup? Absolutely stacked. Expect appearances from Ed Sheeran, ROSÉ, Tate McRae, Burna Boy, RAYE, Roddy Ricch, Dom Dolla, Chris Stapleton, Tiësto, Sexyy Red, Myke Towers, Madison Beer, Peggy Gou, and more.

Longtime soundtrack mastermind Kevin Weaver (behind Barbie, The Greatest Showman, etc.) returns as executive producer, teaming with Atlantic’s EVP of Pop/Rock A&R Brandon Davis and SVP of A&R/Marketing Joseph Khoury.

With a global cast of artists and a film full of speed and spectacle, F1: The Album is shaping up to be the soundtrack of the summer—and maybe the next big moment in music x movie synergy. The album arrives in stores and at all online retailers on Friday, June 27th in conjunction with the theatrical release of the feature film.

📺 How Disney’s Superbly Brought Back Epic Crossover TV

One thing Disney’s always excelled at? Cross-promotion. But lately, they’ve taken it up a notch—reviving the lost art of the TV crossover in fresh, unexpected ways.

Earlier this year, Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia pulled off a solid crossover between ABC and FX, with a follow-up expected this summer. Meanwhile, Hulu’s new comedy banner “Hulu’s Laughing Now” has been giving its stand-up talent the full Disney treatment, pairing them with other arms of the empire—like Nat Geo—for quirky, cross-brand promos.

Now, Disney’s latest crossover moment came via Family Guy on FOX (also a Disney property). Sunday’s episode, titled “A Real Who’s Hulu,” spoofed three of Hulu’s biggest shows: Only Murders in the Building, The Bear, and The Dropout. Each segment reimagined one of the shows through Peter Griffin’s eyes, in classic Family Guy fourth-wall breaking style.

Here’s why it’s smart: all three shows are between seasons. By weaving them into Family Guy, Disney keeps them top-of-mind—sustaining hype and fan interest while the next seasons cook. It’s savvy marketing disguised as irreverent comedy.

But zoom out, and there’s something bigger happening. Across platforms and genres, Disney is slowly building a connected TV ecosystem. Not in the obvious “shared universe” sense—but through cross-channel synergy that feels clever, not corporate.

It’s a reminder, when done right, crossovers don’t just serve IP—they serve fans. And in 2025, that’s the kind of universe we’re happy to keep watching.

That’s it for this week folks. Let me know if you have any feedback or comments on what’d you like to see in this newsletter, feel free to reply to me on this email.

We’ll see you back again next Friday & have a great weekend!

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