Music

An oversized Grammy award on display backstage during the 62nd annual Grammy ceremony in January.

The Grammys Changed Some Categories. Will They Make Any Difference?

4:36pm June 10, 2020

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The Recording Academy has announced changes for the names and definitions of four categories traditionally associated with artists of color. What does that mean for systemic changes at the Grammys?

Queue Listen Now

Baby Rose plays a Tiny Desk (Home) Concert.

Music & Culture

Baby Rose: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

1:50pm June 10, 2020

by Sidney Madden

One of our favorite new artists of 2019 shares a new song as part of her Tiny Desk quarantine concert.

Music speaks truth to anger and frustration, but also provides a sense of hope and beauty.

Music & Culture

This Is How I Feel: A Playlist By Young Black Listeners

1:06pm June 10, 2020

by Suraya Mohamed

Music has always been a vital part of protest and social justice. We asked our young Black listeners: Is there one song that's helping you address your feelings right now?

Music & Culture

Our Daily Breather: Reading To Stay Present During The Pandemic

1:00pm June 10, 2020

by Cyrena Touros

In Our Daily Breather, we ask writers and artists to recommend ways to find calm in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. NPR Music assistant editor Cyrena Touros has been re-reading a beloved book.

Arts
Youth

COVID-19 Student Challenge: The Winner

11:49pm June 09, 2020

by WFDD Staff

When the coronavirus pandemic became real for most Americans, the news cycle was dominated by COVID-19 related stories. And rightly so.

Queue Listen Now

A crowd at the 2019 Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island. The festival is a member of NIVA, an advocacy association of independent music venues and presenters.

America's Independent Music Venues Could Close Soon Due To Coronavirus

6:46pm June 09, 2020

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

A newly released survey of nearly 2,000 music venue owners and promoters say that they anticipate closing within the next few months unless they can secure some governmental assistance.

A protest sign calling for the repeal of 50-A, photographed during a march in Brooklyn denouncing police brutality and systemic racism.

Music & Culture

Over 750 Artists, Companies Call For Repeal Of N.Y. Law Shielding Police Records

4:56pm June 09, 2020

by Andrew Flanagan

Rihanna, Meek Mill, Anderson .Paak and Irving Azoff are among many who signed the open letter. The statute, Section 50-a, prevents the personnel histories of police officers from being made public.

A woman jogging in New York City. NPR Music's Lyndsey McKenna has been running to relieve stress during the coronavirus pandemic.

Music & Culture

The Advice That Keeps One Runner 'Showing Up' During Uncertain Times

1:00pm June 09, 2020

by Lyndsey McKenna

In Our Daily Breather, we ask writers and artists to recommend ways to find calm in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. NPR Music audience strategist Lyndsey McKenna recommends running.

Music & Culture

Bonnie Pointer, Founding Member Of The Pointer Sisters, Dead At 69

12:21pm June 09, 2020

by Annie Zaleski

Bonnie, the "rebellious" one, began her career as a duo before being joined by another, then another, of her siblings, becoming one of the foremost vocal groups of the '70s.

Music & Culture

Meet The 2020 Tiny Desk Contest Community

12:01pm June 09, 2020

by Marissa Lorusso

To give you a sense of what our team saw in the thousands of Contest entries this year, we're counting down the 2020 Contest by the numbers. Plus, we have a supercut video of the Contest community.