Music News

Music & Culture

Irish Pub In Spain Bans Neil Diamond's 'Sweet Caroline'

6:56am August 04, 2020

That song can get an entire bar or stadium singing along. "Sweet Caroline" was banned because of fear aggressive singing creates droplets that linger in the air and help spread the coronavirus.

Queue Listen Now

Pianist Leon Fleisher eventually resumed playing with both hands after an injury sidelined him at age 36.

Music & Culture

Leon Fleisher, The Pianist Who Reinvented Himself, Dies At 92

10:58pm August 02, 2020

by Tom Huizenga

The beloved pianist was a young lion of his generation until a hand injury forced him to rethink his relationship to music.

The Psychedelic Furs' Richard Butler says the decision to make a new album was intuitive. "It just felt like 'Why don't we write a record? This band is as good as it ever sounded.' "

Music & Culture

The Psychedelic Furs' Richard Butler On The Band's First New Album In 29 Years

5:00pm July 31, 2020

Singer Richard Butler talks about the power of '80s nostalgia, the state of rock and roll today and the freedom of making the band's new record, Made of Rain, on its own terms.

Beyoncé, in a promotional still for her visual album Black Is King.

Beyonce's Visual Ode, 'Black Is King,' Arrives

7:27am July 31, 2020

by Emma Bowers

The project leapfrogged from last year's Bey-curated soundtrack to The Lion King to now arriving on Disney's new streaming service.

The NPR Ed team analyzed more than 100 pages of data from old issues of Dramatics magazine.

The Most Popular High School Plays And Musicals

12:47pm July 30, 2020

by Elissa Nadworny

Mary Poppins is out and Matilda is in, according to the new high school theater rankings from the Educational Theatre Association. The organization has been publishing its list since 1938.

Queue Listen Now

Makaya McCraven has a unique style where he makes improvised live recordings, then builds on them in the studio. His new album, which uses this method, is called Universal Beings E&F Sides.

Music & Culture

Drummer Makaya McCraven, The 'Beat Scientist,' Talks About His New Album

10:37am July 30, 2020

The jazz drummer records live performances and then manipulates those recordings in creative ways. His new album pulls from the pool of recordings that shaped his 2018 work, Universal Beings.

Queue Listen Now

From Organix until Things Fall Apart, Malik B. was a member of The Roots, making guest appearances on 2006's Game Theory.

Music & Culture

Malik B., Early Member Of The Roots, Dies At 47

4:42pm July 29, 2020

by Andrew Flanagan

The Philadelphia rapper was part of the band's first four albums.

Pianist Yuja Wang (pictured), violinist Leonidas Kavakos and several prominent academics have been accused this week of making anti-Black comments.

Music & Culture

Classical Music Tries To Reckon With Racism — On Social Media

1:53pm July 29, 2020

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Pianist Yuja Wang, violinist Leonidas Kavakos and several prominent academics have been accused this week of making anti-Black comments. Ensuing debates have been playing out on Twitter and Instagram.

A portrait of Peter Green, guitarist and co-founder of rock band Fleetwood Mac, c. 1968.

Remembering Fleetwood Mac Founder Peter Green, The Soulful Voice Of British Blues

11:38am July 29, 2020

by Tom Cole

The guitarist and singer, whose distinctive guitar and soulful voice propelled the band's early success, died over the weekend at the age of 73.

Eddie Stubbs has been the voice of the Grand Ole Opry for 25 years, but July 29 will be his final broadcast.

Music & Culture

Grand Ole Opry Announcer Eddie Stubbs To Retire

10:30am July 29, 2020

by Phil Harrell

After a 25-year career as the announcer of the Grand Ole Opry, Eddie Stubbs is leaving after Wednesday night's show. He says he has seen one amazing performance after another.

Queue Listen Now