In Memoriam 2018: The Musicians We Lost
A look back at the extraordinary creative souls we lost in 2018, from producer Richard Swift and opera singer Montserrat Caballé to rapper Mac Miller and Aretha Franklin.
Music Lists
10 Kings Of R&B For 2018
These are NPR Music's picks for the top 10 R&B projects — not restricted by gender — that are leading the vanguard. Remember their names and watch the throne.
A Portrait Of A Subtly Changing Nashville From 25 Angles
If you look at it broadly, the country music scene can appear frustratingly stagnant, with little growth for women and trailblazers. But from every corner, a rising generation is making progress.
'I Like It Best When It's A Little Loud': Ann Powers' Favorite Live Shows Of 2018
Live music awakens mind, body and soul — and that's what we need more than ever this year. Ann Powers' favorite concerts of 2018 helped create a shelter from everyday life's disorganized noise.
Bob Boilen's Top Albums And Songs Of 2018
All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares the albums and songs that stood out even if some were more peaceful than explosive.
Nate Chinen's Favorite Albums Of 2018
For NPR Music's jazz critic and the editorial director of WBGO, 2018 was a year that saw music — not just jazz — in the throes of a creative boom, rocketing in many directions.
World Cafe's Best Music Of 2018 Playlist
Enjoy listening to this mix of World Cafe's favorite sounds of the year, picked by the show's entire staff.
The Best Reissues Of 2018
This year, fueled by the vinyl resurgence and recent deaths of major stars, the field of archival music percolated with releases of music both well-known and relatively unknown.
Las Luces: Our Favorite Latin Songs This Week
This week's playlist features everything from Afro-Caribbean beats from ÌFÉ to Anuel AA & Haze's Latin trap to a statement against domestic violence from Bad Bunny.
NPR Music's Best Classical Albums Of 2018
The music on our list takes you to Tsarist Russia, the New Mexico desert, 18th century Spain, the austere landscapes of Iceland and Vienna, at the dawn of the 20th century. Happy travelling.