NPR Music

The seven acts voted into the Rock Hall this year include Southern rap and Midwest garage rock duos, pillars of the grunge and English blues rock eras and the '80s most <em>unusual</em> pop star.

A celebration to honor this year's NEA Jazz Masters award recipients, including Marshall Allen, Chucho Valdés, Marilyn Crispell and Gary Giddins. Watch live at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 26.

For musicians like Rhiannon Giddens and Rissi Palmer, trying to break down doors in the folk and country music scenes has been a long road. A festival in Durham this weekend aims to remedy that.

The Irish folk rock duo talk about their forthcoming record, <em>Forward</em>, plus they perform live in the studio.

The big-voiced, unapologetically frank singer-songwriter refuses to be boxed in by genres, and finds joy in the full expression of self.<br>

As one of the most-performed living composers, the Pulitzer winner insists that her music communicate to everyone — from farmers to children to the classical music intelligentsia.

Coco Jones. Samia. Fly Anakin. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes <a href="https://www.kuvo.org/staff/ayanacontrerasvp">Ayana Contreras from Denver public radio stations KUVO Jazz and The Drop</a> to discuss the best new albums they heard this week.<br><br>Featured albums:<br><br>• Coco Jones, 'Why Not More' (<a href="https://lnk.to/p24p4p4y">Stream</a>)<br><br>• Samia, 'Bloodless' (<a href="https://lnk.to/fg1p1T5O">Stream</a>)<br><br>• Emma-Jean Thackray, 'Weirdo' (<a href="https://lnk.to/nPsz3ZtK">Stream</a>)<br><br>• David Murray, 'Birdly Serenade' (<a href="https://lnk.to/63TZbl22">Stream</a>)<br><br>• Fly Anakin, '(The) Forever Dream' (<a href="https://lnk.to/DYlDMpIx">Stream</a>)<br><br>Check out our long list of albums out April 25 and sample more 50 of them via our New Music Friday playlist at <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/25/g-s1-62543/new-albums-coco-jones-willie-nelson-jeff-goldblum-beach-bunny">npr.org/music</a>.<br><br>To learn more about the Tiny Desk Contest artists you heard in this episode, check out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xblT_i1V4LI">Ayana Contreras' Top Shelf special on YouTube</a>.<br><br>Credits<br><br>Host: Stephen Thompson<br>Guest: Ayana Contreras, KUVO Jazz & The Drop<br>Producer: Simon Rentner<br>Editor: Otis Hart<br>Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed<br>Vice President, Music and Visuals: Keith Jenkins

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Ayana Contreras of Denver public radio stations KUVO Jazz and The Drop to discuss today's top new releases.

Vote for your favorite independent artist in this year's Tiny Desk Contest.

Formed in 1975, Pere Ubu embodied the industrial decay and hardscrabble ethics of Cleveland. Thomas tied together the band's sound with uncompromising vocals that exuded steely menace and unfettered anguish.

A trained violinist, the Los Angeles-based musician explains why she brought it back for her latest record.

Billy McFarland says he will sell the brand "to an operator that can fully realize its vision." The news comes days after the postponement of Fyre Festival 2, which was scheduled for late May.