Music & Culture

Music & Culture

Some of the world's most popular musical artists may leave TikTok

7:32am February 01, 2024

If TikTok can't come to an agreement with Universal Music Group about licensing, music by some of the world's most popular artists will no longer be available to use in videos.

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Morning news brief

5:04am February 01, 2024

The House approves a three-year expansion of the Child Tax Credit. Ukraine's president and his military chief are at growing odds. Some of the world's most popular musical artists may leave TikTok.

Taylor Swift performs during her Eras Tour at Sofi stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Aug. 7, 2023.

Taylor Swift, Drake, BTS and more may have their music taken off TikTok — here's why

5:21pm January 31, 2024

by Neda Ulaby

Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company, has threatened to remove all of the music it owns from TikTok, unless the streaming platform agrees to more favorable terms.

Hurray for the Riff Raff's Alynda Segarra captures a complicated reality on their new song, "Colossus of Roads."

Music & Culture

8 Tracks: Hurray for the Riff Raff's twang is heart full, but heartbroken

1:58pm January 31, 2024

by Lars Gotrich

Alynda Segarra examines our frailty and resilience with an unsparing, yet tender cadence. This week on 8 Tracks, NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich looks at lyrics that stand on their own as poetry.

Timo Andres performs a Tiny Desk concert.

Music & Culture

Tiny Desk Premiere: Timo Andres

5:01am January 31, 2024

by Tom Huizenga

To mark Philip Glass' 87th birthday, the astute pianist Timo Andres stops by to play a contrasting pair of the composer's popular etudes.

Laufey performs during the December 2023 event A New York Evening With Laufey, at The Greene Space in downtown Manhattan.

Music & Culture

Laufey is a trad-pop superstar (and that's enough)

5:00am January 31, 2024

by Ann Powers

The young Icelandic-Chinese singer, now a Grammy nominee, has been pegged by some as her generation's jazz savior — a burdensome role that arguably misreads her talents.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift celebrate after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium in Maryland on Sunday.

Another Super Bowl bet emerges: Can Taylor Swift make it from her Tokyo show in time?

12:50pm January 30, 2024

by Rachel Treisman

The Kansas City Chiefs — including Travis Kelce — will play in the Super Bowl in Las Vegas on Feb. 11. Swift has a show in Tokyo the night before. Can she get there in time? The math says yes.

Elton John and Bernie Taupin promote the film Rocketman at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019.

Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin win the 2024 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

5:16am January 30, 2024

by Neda Ulaby

One of the most prestigious awards in American music, the Gershwin Prize recognizes musicians with a lifetime of contributions to popular songs. This year's winners are Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

Music & Culture

Explaining the war of words between Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion

5:44pm January 29, 2024

by Sidney Madden

The rappers Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion are trading barbs in their new songs. We break down what prompted this falling out between former collaborators.

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The impact of Taylor Swift being on the NFL bleachers

5:44pm January 29, 2024

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Nora Princiotti, a staff writer at The Ringer and a Swiftie, about Taylor Swift's cultural impact on the NFL.

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