Music & Culture

Music & Culture

Remembering Ryuichi Sakamoto, a godfather of electronic pop, who died at 71

5:13am April 03, 2023

Sakamoto, a trailblazing composer and producer who was one of the first musicians to incorporate electronic production into popular songcraft, died last month after a multi-year battle with cancer.

'Son of a Sinner' Jelly Roll reigns at the Country Music Television awards show

4:45am April 03, 2023

by The Associated Press

"Son of a Sinner" singer Jelly Roll got emotional during the show in Austin, Texas, as he thanked the country radio industry for its acceptance and shouted out to those who felt like him.

Seymour Stein accepts his award during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Monday, March 14, 2005, in New York.

Seymour Stein, the record executive who signed Madonna, is dead at 80

2:02am April 03, 2023

by The Associated Press

Seymour Stein, who helped found the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and was himself inducted into the Rock Hall in 2005, died of cancer in Los Angeles, according to a statement by his family.

Music & Culture

Music teacher Ari Silberman puts out his 1st album, 'Beneath the Canopy'

5:52pm April 02, 2023

NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with music teacher-in-training Ari Silberman about his debut Jazz album, Beneath the Canopy.

Queue Listen Now

Ryuichi Sakamoto posing for a portrait in Paris in 1996.

Ryuichi Sakamoto, a godfather of electronic pop, has died

2:20pm April 02, 2023

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The influential Japanese composer died March 28 from cancer. A wide-ranging musician, the Yellow Magic Orchestra co-founder was a synth-pop idol and the writer of sweeping movie scores.

Music & Culture

We made ChatGPT write a song for us

7:56am April 02, 2023

We keep hearing that Artificial Intelligence is a threat to the creative arts. So we put ChatGPT to the test to see if it can write a decent song.

Music & Culture

Musicians Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia on their new album, 'Eclipse'

9:58am April 01, 2023

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon talks with musicians Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia about their love story and their new album, "Eclipse."

Queue Listen Now

Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song premieres tonight on PBS.

Music & Culture

Watch Joni Mitchell perform 'Summertime' at Gershwin Prize concert

7:37pm March 31, 2023

by Elizabeth Blair

James Taylor, Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox and Angélique Kidjo are among the artists performing on Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, airing on PBS this evening.

Music & Culture

Watch Live: The 2023 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert

11:45am March 31, 2023

by Nate Chinen

This celebration honors this year's NEA Jazz Masters award recipients, including Regina Carter, Kenny Garrett, Louis Hayes and Sue Mingus. Watch live Sat, April 1, 7:30 p.m. ET!

Music & Culture

Limbo District, 'Encased'

9:48am March 31, 2023

by Lars Gotrich

The Athens, Ga., group has always felt like a myth hidden in plain sight. In a newly unearthed studio session, hear the band reverse-engineer punk's primitive roots to craft a circus-like surrealism.