Music Features

Music & Culture

ECM At Big Ears: A Boundless Label Meets A Broadminded Festival

12:22pm May 24, 2019

We head to the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville for the 50th anniversary of ECM Records. Hear three riveting performances by Carla Bley, Avishai Cohen and Nik Bärtsch's Ronin.

Joel Ross performs at Lantaren Venster on May 2, in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Music & Culture

Joel Ross And His (Exceptionally) Good Vibes

8:46am May 23, 2019

by Nate Chinen

The vibraphonist has a "love-hate relationship" with his instrument that has been helpful in perfecting his craft — but it wouldn't mean much without the deep emotional well he pulls from.

Queue Listen Now

Clockwise from top left: Lauren Weintraub, King Hoodie, Bandits On The Run, The Collection, Grayson Erhard, Blessing Offor.

Music & Culture

Top Shelf: 2019 Tiny Desk Contest Entries Our Judges Loved

12:01pm May 22, 2019

An incredibly strong pool of artists entered this year's Tiny Desk Contest. And though there's just one winner, there were so many more entries our judges loved.

Music & Culture

Slingshot Scenes: The Best Hotspots In Austin

7:00am May 22, 2019

From providing mental-health resources to teaching people to dance, these are some of the businesses, nonprofits and programs that help make the Austin music scene special.

Kanye West and Lil Pump as Perrier and Fiji, respectively, as Adele Givens looms overhead.

Music & Culture

'SNL' Musical Guests, Ranked From No. 1 To Greta Van Fleet

11:00am May 20, 2019

by Stephen Thompson

BTS! DJ Khaled! Paul Simon! Kanye West dressed as a bottle of sparkling water! This season of Saturday Night Live had it all, and now all 21 performances have been cruelly ranked for your enjoyment.

Quinn Christopherson is the winner of the 2019 Tiny Desk Contest.

Music & Culture

Meet Quinn Christopherson, Winner Of The 2019 Tiny Desk Contest

6:04pm May 16, 2019

Hailing from Anchorage, Alaska, Christopherson is a thoughtful songwriter with a powerful sense of perspective.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

Announcing The 2019 Tiny Desk Contest Winner

3:20pm May 16, 2019

by Bob Boilen

After receiving over 6,000 entries this year, we've picked a winner of the 2019 Tiny Desk Contest. Meet the gifted songwriter who captivated our panel of judges.

Queue Listen Now

Sylvan Esso perform in Austin, Tex. in 2018.

Music & Culture

Slingshot Scenes: The Best Of Austin, Festival City

11:30am May 16, 2019

From the pinnacle of mainstream pop to the gods of the underground and from hip-hop's illest to Americana's crunchiest, the Austin festival scene has something for everyone.

Michael Jackson in 2005, on his way into the Santa Barbara County Courthouse to hear the verdict in a 10-count case of child molestation brought against him. Earlier in 2019, allegations of child sexual assault were once again raised against Jackson, who

Music & Culture

Before And After

8:10am May 11, 2019

by Ann Powers

The allegations against Michael Jackson in the documentary Leaving Neverland make listening to his songs a struggle, one that resists the comfort those songs once provided.

Tom Petty performs with the Heartbreakers in Belgium in 1992.

Music & Culture

'A Song For Any Struggle': Tom Petty's 'I Won't Back Down' Is An Anthem Of Resolve

5:49pm May 08, 2019

by Melissa Block

Petty's song has been used by striking workers in defiance, by political candidates to show grit, on national stages in the aftermath of tragedy. We asked what "I Won't Back Down" means to you.