Can You Have An Album On iTunes If You Don't Exist?
The strange story of a made-up pop star who managed to keep an album on iTunes for six weeks and get 64,000 followers on Twitter, without recording a note of new music.
Music & Culture
Popular Russian Balladeer Sang About Ordinary Life In The USSR
Vladimir Vysotsky, who died 35 years ago this month, was never given any recognition by the Soviet government. He became popular through bootlegged cassettes passed from hand-to-hand.
Don Henley's Releasing A Country Album — Hear Two New Songs
Eagles drummer, singer-songwriter and producer Don Henley is back with his first solo album in 15 years. Cass County is a country album featuring an all-star list of collaborators.
The Cruel Truth About Rock And Roll
Recent allegations that one of The Runaways was raped by the band's manager remind us that sexual exploitation is part of rock's foundation — and challenge the very idea that it is worth loving.
Songwriters And Streaming Services Battle Over Decades-Old Decree
The Department of Justice is exploring big changes to the music publishing business for the first time since World War II.
Is Transparency The Music Industry's Next Battle?
A report on the music industry from Berklee College of Music offers recommendations for ensuring that royalties make it to their rightful owners.
Jason Isbell's 'Something More Than Free' Rings With The Promise of Joy
The former member of the Drive-by Truckers unleashes his storytelling skills in his new album, Something More Than Free. Rock critic Ken Tucker says Isbell's lyrics reward a close listen.
LISTEN: El Chapo's Second Escape, As Told Through Mexican 'Corridos'
Singers of the ballads have for decades detailed the lifestyle of drug dealers in Mexico, so it was no surprise that when the country's most notorious kingpin escaped, it was memorialized in song.
Jon Vickers, Intense Canadian Tenor, Dies At 88
With his large, electrifying voice and his penetrating portrayals, Canadian tenor Jon Vickers thrilled opera lovers for more than 30 years.
In Palestine, A Child Of Violence Becomes A Music Educator
Children of the Stone tells the story of a rock-throwing Palestinian teen's journey to found a music school. NPR's Lynn Neary speaks with Ramzi Aburedwan and author Sandy Tolan.