Is hip-hop dying?
Earlier this fall, there were no rap songs in the Billboard Top 40 for the first time since 1990. Is this just a blip in commercial popularity, or is it...
How Spotify shapes how we listen to music
Spotify promised independent artists a new revenue stream, and listeners exposure to new music. In the new book 'Mood Machine,' music journalist Liz Pelly examines how the streaming giant has...
How Black Chicago has shaped American pop culture
From "Soul Train" and the "Oprah Winfrey Show" to the blues and Afro Sheen, for decades, Black Chicagoans have shaped culture in the U.S. and across the world.
Black Chicago’s influence on America
Soul Train. The Oprah Winfrey Show. The blues. For decades, Black Chicagoans have shaped American pop culture.
Week of wonder: The healing power of music
Many of us turn to music to feel better. But music can also help us physically heal. Studies show music can affect our blood pressure and our heart rate –...
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Musician Rhiannon Giddens digs into American roots music and finds connections to cultures around the world
Pulitzer Prize-winning musician Rhiannon Giddens challenges us to honestly answer the question, can any culture lay total claim to specific styles of music?
The man helping TikTok disrupt the music industry
TikTok is a driving force in the music industry. How does the platform identify snippets of music and turn artists into the next generation of global music stars? That's the...
What Ticketmaster's Taylor Swift debacle reveals about the music industry's monopoly problem
Congress has tried for years to reign in this ticketing monopoly. Will Taylor Swift Fans make all the difference?
Rebroadcast: The college educators behind the push to speak freely on campus
Steven Salaita was offered a position at the University of Illinois. Then, he lost everything. "I got an email out of the blue informing me that the job offer had...
'More Myself': Alicia Keys On Her Journey As Musician And Healer
Alicia Keys shares her path from girlhood in Hell's Kitchen to global pop superstar.
Yola's 'Walk Through Fire' — From England To Nashville
Yola was a young black British girl who grew up loving American country music. Now, she’s taking over Nashville, and singing at the Grand Ole Opry.
Leslie Odom Jr. Releases First Album Of Original Songs With 'Mr'
Leslie Odom Jr. played Aaron Burr in "Hamilton." Now’s he’s singing his own tunes on a new album of original songs.
These Creatives Work Together With Algorithms And Robots To Make Their Art
Art and artificial intelligence. How humans and machines are collaborating on paintings, music compositions and more.
Tegan And Sara Take It Back To Their Teens For New Album, Memoir
The musical duo Tegan and Sara return to high school. They join for a conversation about music — and growing up.
Los Lobos Welcome The Holiday Season With New Album 'Llegó Navidad'
The storied band Los Lobos is out with a new album, "Llegó Navidad," or, "Christmas is Here." They join us to celebrate.
Allow Us To Reintroduce Jay-Z: Rapper, Advocate, Poet And Hustler
Jay-Z at 50. We look at his evolution as a cultural icon.
Think Of Your Favorite Song. Got It? Here's Why It's Stuck With You
Music and the human brain. A neuroscientist and opera singer guides us through the science of how and why music moves us.
Leslie Odom Jr. Releases First Album Of Original Songs With 'Mr'
Leslie Odom Jr. played Aaron Burr in "Hamilton." Now’s he’s singing his own tunes on a new album of original songs.
Kanye's Christian Pilgrimage: From 'Jesus Walks' To 'Jesus Is King'
The gospel according to Kanye. He’s turned to God for inspiration and a new image. We take a listen.
Tegan And Sara Take It Back To Their Teens For New Album, Memoir
The musical duo Tegan and Sara return to high school. They join for a conversation about music — and growing up.