Though some moments seemed to indicate a pop takeover, 2016 was also a year when country tended to its traditions. In the end, the genre decided it was big enough to hold both.
It's been 40 years since The Ramones released their self-titled first album. Rock historian Ed Ward remembers the debut as a confrontational and divisive record with a "cartoonish overlay."
Jazz lost great players in 2016, including Paul Bley, Gato Barbieri and three musicians we're profiling — vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, harmonica player Toots Thielemans and bassist Victor Bailey.
The Scandinavian duo played this hushed folk song at the Oregon summer festival's Lucky Barn stage, a venue for performances that invite you to perk up your ears and listen closely.
In the wake of the death of George Michael, we take a moment to appreciate "Freedom '90," not his biggest hit, but an irresistible mix of independence and vulnerability.
Here's a second chance to listen to inspiring conversations with veteran musicians like Paul McCartney and Jonny Greenwood, as well as newer visionaries like AURORA and Danny Brown.