Music News

The exterior of Casa Verdi, founded by famed Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi in the late 1890s.

Music & Culture

For Opera Singers, Life After Retirement — At Least At One Very Special Rest Home

10:31pm January 10, 2019

by Rebecca Rosman

Founded by composer Giuseppe Verdi and funded by royalties from his popular operas, Casa Verdi in Milan opened a century ago as a home for opera musicians in their golden years.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

R. Kelly Gets His Day In Court Of Public Opinion After Years Of Sex Abuse Allegations

9:12pm January 10, 2019

Following the release of the docuseries Surviving R. Kelly, interest has renewed in the sexual abuse allegations against the R&B star. NPR's Audie Cornish talks with Sound Opinions host Jim DeRogatis.

Queue Listen Now

Lady Gaga and R. Kelly perform during the 2013 American Music Awards in Los Angeles.

Music & Culture

Lady Gaga Apologizes For R. Kelly Collaboration In Wake Of Lifetime Series

3:44pm January 10, 2019

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Days after a disturbing docuseries called Surviving R. Kelly debuted, Gaga vowed to remove their 2013 duet from streaming services. Activists have also been protesting outside Kelly's Chicago studio.

James Blake's new album, Assume Form, comes out Jan. 18.

Music & Culture

James Blake Announces 'Assume Form,' A New Album Due Out Next Week

11:29am January 10, 2019

by Stephen Thompson

The star singer and producer's new album will feature guest performances by Travis Scott, André 3000, Moses Sumney, Rosalía and more.

Watch Christine and the Queens' perform '5 Dollars' at KCRW.com

Music & Culture

Watch Christine And The Queens Perform '5 Dollars' Live In The Studio

10:51am January 10, 2019

by Anne Litt

With French flare, Chris performs this Chris highlight in the KCRW studio.

Music & Culture

Infectious Kids' Song, 'Baby Shark,' Hits The 'Billboard' Hot 100

6:54am January 10, 2019

"Baby Shark" — about a family of sharks scouring the seas for their next meal — charted at No. 32 for the week ending Jan. 12. It boasted 20.8 million streams last week, according to Nielsen Music.

Queue Listen Now

Decades after their original run in 1960s San Francisco, the members of Ace of Cups have finally released their first album.

Music & Culture

Ace Of Cups Gets A First Chance At An Overdue Debut

6:04pm January 09, 2019

by Allyson McCabe

An all-women rock band before Fanny or The Runaways, Ace of Cups shared the same San Francisco stages as Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead, but never made an album — until now.

Queue Listen Now

"Baby Shark," a song that has inspired a worldwide dance craze, entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 32 this week.

Music & Culture

'Baby Shark' Has Crashed Into the Pop Charts. How Did It Get There?

3:32pm January 09, 2019

by Joshua Bote

The uber-viral children's song "Baby Shark" landed in the top 40 of the Billboard charts this week, years after it debuted on YouTube.

A plaque marks the site of the original Woodstock festival in Bethel, N.Y.

Woodstock Will Return This Summer, For Its 50th Anniversary

1:37pm January 09, 2019

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Will peace, love and music be back? One of the original organizers of the iconic 1969 event is putting together a new three-day festival, which will take place in August in upstate New York.

Lin-Manual Miranda, shot at a press event for Mary Poppins Returns in Paris in December.

Lin-Manuel Miranda And 'Hamilton' Partners Save A Manhattan Theater Bookstore

3:53pm January 08, 2019

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The Drama Book Shop, a store and creative hub that has served the acting community for more than 100 years, was slated to close this month. But the Hamilton group has stepped in to purchase the shop.