Music

Music & Culture

Artists File $100 Million Suit Against Universal Music Over 2008 Fire

1:13pm June 22, 2019

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

A group of bands, artists and estates — including the estates of Tupac Shakur and Tom Petty as well as Hole, Soundgarden and Steve Earle — are suing the world's biggest record company for damages.

"I am what I talk about in my music. I am Pinay, I'm powerful, I'm fearless, I'm unfiltered," Ruby Ibarra says.

Music & Culture

This Tiny Desk Contestant Rapped A Love Letter To Her Immigrant Mother

8:22am June 22, 2019

Ruby Ibarra describes her art as unfiltered, a quality that shines through in her band's 2019 Tiny Desk submission.

Jordan Weatherston Pitts (center) sings the role of Renata, the drag queen, with the company of New York City Opera's Stonewall.

'Stonewall' Opera Marks Uprising's 50th Anniversary

8:22am June 22, 2019

by Jeff Lunden

New York City Opera has commissioned Stonewall, a new opera premiering one week before the 50th anniversary of the riots that sparked the modern gay-rights movement.

Back in 1995, Pixar hired Newman because of his warm, Americana sound and his witty bite.

Music & Culture

Randy Newman, The Musical Voice Of 'Toy Story'

6:37pm June 21, 2019

by Tim Greiving

Randy Newman wrote the songs and scores for all of Pixar's Toy Story movies. As the fourth film opens on June 20, Newman reflects on his time with Woody, Buzz and friends.

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Tame Impala performs during Pitchfork at Union Park on July 20, 2018 in Chicago.

Music & Culture

14 Essential Summer Festivals And Concerts, As Chosen By NPR Music Stations

2:35pm June 21, 2019

Summer is here, and it's the perfect time to experience live music. If you're planning a road trip, make sure you hit these cities for some unforgettable events.

Music & Culture

John Prine On Music, Cancer And Why He Never Expected To Be A Recording Artist

1:23pm June 21, 2019

by Terry Gross

The singer, songwriter and guitarist was recently inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In '18 Prine described how his voice changed after surgery: "It dropped down lower and feels friendlier."

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Willie Nelson's Ride Me Back Home is out today.

Music & Culture

Willie Nelson On Cowboys, 'Crazy' and CBD-Infused Coffee

11:25am June 21, 2019

It's been about a year since World Cafe caught up with Willie, and he's been busy!

Lil Nas X. His debut EP 7 is on our shortlist for the best releases out on June 21.

Music & Culture

New Music Friday: Our Top 7 Albums For June 21

10:50am June 21, 2019

It's another packed release week; Lil Nas X's debut EP is finally here, along with a posthumous release from Prince, a solo album from producer Mark Ronson, the return of The Raconteurs and more.

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"We Bangles hovered around the cassette machine... and we were smitten with the song," Bangle Susanna Hoffs says of first hearing Prince's demo of "Manic Monday."

Music & Culture

How Prince Worked His Magic On The Bangles' 'Manic Monday'

10:46am June 21, 2019

by Samantha Balaban

In the 1980s, Prince wrote one of the Bangles' biggest hits, "Manic Monday." Now, The Prince Estate has released the demo version of the track as part of the artist's posthumous album, Originals.

A still from Nicki Minaj's "MEGATRON" video.

Music & Culture

Nicki Minaj Flips A Dancehall Classic For 'MEGATRON'

10:34am June 21, 2019

by Sidney Madden

It's no coincidence Nicki Minaj dropped this dancehall-inspired track and its accompanying visual on the first official day of summer.