All Music
Play them loud: 2021’s best albums so farEven if live music venues are still shuttered, these standout albums from 2021 encourage joy – and contemplation.
First LookMichael Jackson's heirs win in tax court after yearslong battleMichael Jackson’s heirs faced a daunting tax bill after the IRS estimated the pop star’s image and assets to be worth hundreds of millions more than the family’s estimates. The court ruling may clear the way for further promotion of Mr. Jackson’s legacy.
In Pictures: Young Sufi women defy one tradition to preserve anotherDoes music have gender? In this photo essay, young women keep Sufi musical traditions alive by defying cultural norms about who can perform.
They sing for a living. In the pandemic, Germany has their backs.Thanks to a history of government funding for the arts, shuttered German opera houses and singers have kept humming during the pandemic.
First Look2021 Grammys: Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish make historyBeyoncé's four awards Sunday brought her up to 28 Grammy awards in her career, more than any other female artist. Taylor Swift' won album of the year, again.
Can the Grammys finally do right by Black artists?Our columnist wonders if the Grammy Awards, airing March 14, can move beyond a culture of exclusion to lift up Black musicians.
FocusFrom rock to opera, Austin live music scene plays on during pandemicFrom rock to opera, Austin live music scene unsilenced by pandemic as it reinvents the brand with heart, soul, and online performances.
What does resilience sound like? One couple searches the world to find out.With the music they facilitate, one cross-cultural couple hopes to amplify marginalized voices. Their latest work features exiled women in Ghana.
First Look'A blessed gift': How one Mississippi man keeps the blues aliveJimmy “Duck” Holmes is the last Bentonia bluesman to carry on the town's unique musical and oral storytelling tradition. Despite newfound fame after being nominated for a Grammy, he has never considered leaving his small Mississippi community.
Bringing the outside in: How one songwriter finds creativityWith the arrival of a new album, “Ignorance,” Tamara Lindeman of The Weather Station talks about embracing the unencumbered times of her childhood.
From Ella to Beyoncé: New museum celebrates African American musicThe new National Museum of African American Music chronicles the rise of Black musicians and their influence on American culture.
From H.E.R. to Taylor Swift, women deliver the best songs of 2020Music often kept people going in 2020, and some of the best songs were from female artists, including Taylor Swift, H.E.R., and Rina Sawayama.
First LookCharley Pride: A legacy of big hits and breaking racial barriersCountry music legend Charley Pride had more than 30 No. 1 hits and broke racial barriers in the music industry. He died Saturday.
First Look2021 Grammy nominations: Black experience takes center stageThe nominations for the 2021 Grammy Awards feature songs that focus on protest, police brutality, and the Black experience. Beyoncé, with nine nominations, is the leading contender.
Cover StoryWomen created the blues. Now they are taking it back.Women are changing one of America’s oldest art forms – and showing that the electric guitar isn’t just for men anymore.
Can you dance to it? The world takes on the ‘Jerusalema’ challenge.A dance challenge that went viral, “Jerusalema” is inspiring the world with its message of faith and deeply South African roots.
How South Sudan’s ‘king of music’ beats back despairSouth Sudanese musician Gordon Koang channels his life-affirming outlook into a new album, “Unity,” meant to embrace refugees and buoy listeners.
Waterboys frontman calmly waits for the lyrics to come. They always do.Mike Scott discusses The Waterboys’ new album “Better Luck, Seeker” and his understanding that inspiration can take time.
‘Our voice matters’: Promoting female composers in classical musicGrammy-nominated composer Clarice Assad champions the voices of female and minority artists and encourages new ways of thinking about music.
‘Break the silence’: In Tunisia, rappers keep revolution aliveTunisian rappers have moved on from toppling a dictator to exploring how music empowers the marginalized. Rap has become the language of the people.
