Music

Music & Culture

Why Taylor Swift Is Calling The Sale Of Her Old Music Label Her Worst Case Scenario

5:55pm July 02, 2019

NPR's Audie Cornish talks with Jem Aswad of Variety about the controversy surrounding Taylor Swift's master recordings, which her old label just sold to a new owner.

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Music & Culture

Pianist George Cables Is Both Carefree And All Business On 'I'm All Smiles'

1:19pm July 02, 2019

by Kevin Whitehead

Cables, who's experienced severe health problems recently, makes a comeback on a new album with his trio. The pianist's solos on I'm All Smiles reveal a deep sense of groove — and a mind at work.

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Kali Malone on the cover of The Sacrificial Code, one of two organ drone albums on this week's Viking's Choice.

Music & Culture

Viking's Choice: Organ Drone, Purple Metal, Hypercolor Fusion

12:47pm July 02, 2019

by Lars Gotrich

This week's mix features drone music performed on a pipe organ, ridiculously over-the-top metal from Japan, a wild avant-pop collaboration between Nels Cline and Cibo Matto's Yuka C. Honda and more.

Music & Culture

Watch Lee Fields & The Expressions Perform 'It Rains Love' Live In Studio

10:54am July 02, 2019

by Tyler Hale

Soul legend Lee Fields turned in a groove-filled performance with fiery energy and toe-tapping swagger for Morning Becomes Eclectic.

Music & Culture

The Songs That Define Us, From NPR's 'American Anthem' Series

6:23am July 02, 2019

On this special episode of All Songs Considered we share highlights from NPR's American Anthem series, celebrating the songs that unite and inspire us.

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From left: Big Machine Label Group founder Scott Borchetta, Taylor Swift and Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge, photographed in 2016 in Los Angeles.

Music & Culture

Taylor Swift's Former Label Big Machine Is Sold, Rankling The Star

6:23pm July 01, 2019

by Andrew Flanagan

The sale, to the company of Justin Bieber manager Scooter Braun, was announced Sunday, and included control over all of Swift's previous albums.

NPR's Weekend Edition wants to talk with you about a piece of music that has a particularly special meaning for you. Fill out the form and we will be in touch.

Music & Culture

What's Your Signature Song? Tell Us What It Means To You

6:17pm July 01, 2019

by Ian Stewart

Do you have a song you keep coming back to year after year or a song you always play? NPR's Weekend Edition wants to hear about the piece of music that has a particularly special meaning for you.

Students of the Westminster Choir College, performing with the Vienna Philharmonic at New York's Carnegie Hall in 2015.

Music & Culture

Chinese Company Backs Out Of Controversial Choir College Purchase

3:49pm July 01, 2019

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Rider University had planned to sell Westminster Choir College to the China-based Kaiwen Education, but now says it will only move Westminster out of its valuable property in Princeton, N.J.

Music & Culture

Country Music Gets A Hip-Hop Infusion With 'Old Town Road' And 'The Git Up'

2:50pm July 01, 2019

by Ken Tucker

Two current country hits by black musicians are challenging traditional notions of the genre. Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" and Blanco Brown's "The Git Up" pulse with history and humor.

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Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney performs at the Primavera Sound Festival in 2015.

Music & Culture

Drummer Janet Weiss Leaves Sleater-Kinney

10:54am July 01, 2019

by Lars Gotrich

"The band is heading in a new direction and it is time for me to move on," she writes.