Music

The Finnish composer and conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Music & Culture

San Francisco Symphony Names Esa-Pekka Salonen As Its Music Director

2:31pm December 05, 2018

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

In a surprise move, the orchestra announced Wednesday that it is bringing composer and conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen aboard as its music director, beginning in September 2020.

The Wu Tang Clan performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Nov. 1, 2018

Music & Culture

Wu-Tang Clan: Tiny Desk Concert

1:09pm December 05, 2018

by Abby O'Neill

The Clan celebrates its 25th anniversary with an old-school cipher at the Tiny Desk.

Hozier performing live during this World Cafe Session

Music & Culture

Hozier On World Cafe

12:21pm December 05, 2018

Hozier creates musical moments big enough to galvanize every molecule around them into action and tiny enough that they can burrow themselves in the hidden corners of your heart.

From left: Lizzette Martinez, Andrea Kelly, Lisa Van Allen, Tarana Burke, Kitti Jones, Jerhonda Pace, Asante McGee and Gretchen Carlson, photographed prior to a screening of the Lifetime series Surviving R. Kelly on Dec 4, 2018 in New York. The event was

Music & Culture

After Threats, R. Kelly Documentary Screening In Manhattan Is Evacuated

10:23am December 05, 2018

by Andrew Flanagan

A screening and discussion of the series Surviving R. Kelly in New York was canceled, following multiple threats that were called in to the venue hosting the event.

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock includes music by Brass Lassie.

Music & Culture

The Thistle & Shamrock: New Fall Sounds Part 2

9:50am December 05, 2018

Fiona Ritchie features new releases from Cherish the Ladies, Keith Murphy and Brass Lassie.

Music & Culture

The 100 Best Songs Of 2018

9:45am December 05, 2018

by NPR Staff

During a turbulent year rife with personal and political trauma, the most memorable songs pulled no punches in the pursuit of pop.

A still from Donald Glover's "This Is America" video.

Music & Culture

Stream NPR's 100 Best Songs Of 2018

9:27am December 05, 2018

by Lars Gotrich

Some taught us love, some taught us patience, some taught us pain. This seven-hour playlist begins with Donald Glover and ends with David Byrne.

Holly Herndon's new track was born out of an artificial neural network, her "AI baby" called Spawn.

Music & Culture

Holly Herndon's AI Baby Sings To Her 'Godmother'

6:39pm December 04, 2018

by Lars Gotrich

Herndon uses an artificial neural network called Spawn to reproduce voices, improvise new sounds and create unnervingly beautiful new pieces of music.

Swinging on a Star, written by jazz and film critic Gary Giddins, is out now.

New Biography Chronicles Bing Crosby's Most Beloved Years

5:06pm December 04, 2018

by Tom Vitale

Crosby set the mold for the multimedia star: on radio, on the big screen and on record. The 1940s was the period when his star shone brightest and Swinging on a Star by Gary Giddins tells that story.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

Talking Shop With Nashville Creators Natalie Hemby And Luke Dick

3:02pm December 04, 2018

by Jewly Hight

Over breakfast biscuits and coffee, the two Nashville artists talk about songwriting, filmmaking and how one medium informs the other.