'Mixtape Potluck' Is Inspired By Questlove's 'Food Salon' Dinner Parties

NPR's David Greene talks to musician Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, the co-founder of the iconic hip-hop band The Roots, about his cookbook Mixtape Potluck.

Music News

January 16, 2020

Under Two Weeks Before Grammy Awards, Recording Academy CEO Is Suspended

Deborah Dugan, the Recording Academy president and CEO, has been placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into misconduct allegations.
January 16, 2020

Eminem Releases Surprise Album, 'Music To Be Murdered By'

YouTube We last heard from Marshall Mathers in album form in the summer of 2018, when he surprise released his 10th album, Kamikaze. At the time, NPR Music's Rodney
January 16, 2020

President Johnson's Impeachment Inspired 'Impeachment Polka'

In 1868, President Andrew Johnson was being impeached. According to The Washington Post a musician named Charles D. Blake saw an opportunity to cash in with a ditty called "Impeachment Polka.
January 15, 2020

Recording Academy CEO Suspended Amid Allegations Of Misconduct

Enlarge this image Recording Academy President and CEO Deborah Dugan speaks during the 62nd Grammy Awards Nominations Conference at CBS Broadcast Center in
January 15, 2020

Recording Academy CEO Suspended Amid Misconduct Allegations Ahead Of Grammy Awards

Enlarge this image The Recording Academy has placed Deborah Dugan on administrative leave. The statement did not specify the nature of the allegation,
January 15, 2020

Bruce Springsteen's Son Is 1 Of 15 New Firefighters In Jersey City

In New Jersey Tuesday, rock icon Bruce Springsteen's son Sam was sworn in as a firefighter. He is one of 15 new firefighters in Jersey City.
Jan 14, 2020

Whitney Houston, The Notorious B.I.G. Among 2020's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees

Enlarge this image Whitney Houston is the only woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year. Other
Jan 13, 2020

The Past Year, And Decade, In Music Listening: Video Rules, The Boy's Club Remains

Enlarge this image Two competing data firms, BuzzAngle and Nielsen Music, released reports in early Jan. 2020 detailing the many changes in listening
Jan 13, 2020

Women Make Up Less Than 8% Of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees

Enlarge this image Janet Jackson speaks onstage during the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. In her speech, she criticized
Jan 11, 2020

O' Valley Of Plentyyyyy: 'Toss A Coin To Your Witcher' Is An Intentional Earworm

Enlarge this image Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) potentially traveling through the much speculated about "valley of plenty" mentioned in the song…
Jan 09, 2020

Rush Drummer And Lyricist Neil Peart Has Died

Enlarge this image Drummer Neil Peart, on stage with Rush in Springfield, Mass. in 1976. Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images hide captiontoggle…
Jan 09, 2020

Library Card Registration Day Was Started By Rapper NoName

NPR thanks our sponsors Become an NPR sponsor
Jan 09, 2020

On Jan. 11, Rapper Noname Wants You To Register For A Library Card

Enlarge this image "I think we've been tricked into believing that we have to constantly consume, and I think challenging the way we
Jan 07, 2020

Chinese Tech Giant Tencent Wants A Piece Of The World's Most Successful Record Label

Enlarge this image From left: Lucian Grainge, CEO of Universal Music Group; artist Billie Eilish; and Eilish's brother, songwriter Finneas O'Connell…
Jan 07, 2020

Hear A Previously Unreleased Version Of David Bowie's 'The Man Who Sold The World'

YouTube Happy birthday to the man of many names. David Bowie would have turned 73 today. To celebrate, Parlophone is releasing a six-song EP entitled…
Jan 05, 2020

Radio Legend Wants Spandau Ballet's 'Gold' To Be Respected

As part of NPR's series "One-Hit Wonders/Second-Best Songs," BBC Radio legend Zane Lowe nominates "Gold" by Spandau Ballet. The group is mostly known…
Jan 05, 2020

Zane Lowe On The Power Of Spandau Ballet

Enlarge this image (L-R) Steve Norman, Martin Kemp,Tony Hadley and Gary Kemp of the band Spandau Ballet perform live in 2015. Suhaimi
Jan 02, 2020

An Early 2020 Preview: 5 Upcoming Albums We Can't Wait To Hear

Born in California to Ghanaian parents, Moses Sumney is all about a collision of worlds: He smashes genres together (soul, pop, folk, classical, et…
Jan 01, 2020

Here Comes YouTube: 'Billboard' To Change How It Calculates Top Albums

Enlarge this image Billboard chart analyst Chris Molanphy cites Taylor Swift as an artist who effectively differentiates between albums with the help…
Dec 30, 2019

Obama Releases His List Of Favorite Songs Of 2019

Former President Barack Obama has shared his favorite songs of 2019, including selections from Lizzo, Bruce Springsteen and Lil Nas X.
Dec 29, 2019

The Woman Leading The Fiddle Revival In Country Music

Enlarge this image Jenee Fleenor at the 53rd annual CMA Awards on Nov. 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn., where she was honored as
Dec 29, 2019

Neil Innes, Monty Python Collaborator And Rutles Member, Dead At 75

Enlarge this image From left to right: John Cleese, Neil Innes, Michael Palin and Eric Idle dressed as Arthurian knights on the set
Dec 29, 2019

1924 Copyrighted Works To Become Part Of The Public Domain

NPR thanks our sponsors Become an NPR sponsor
Dec 26, 2019

Broadway Legend Jerry Herman Is Dead At 88

Enlarge this image Composer Jerry Herman, flanked by actresses Carol Channing (left) and Jo Anne Worley at a 2002 Tony Awards party in
Dec 24, 2019

Here We Are Now: On 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' Hitting A Billion Views On YouTube

YouTube In the fall of 1991, I was volunteering as a college-radio music director at the University of Wisconsin in Madison when I started telling…
Dec 23, 2019

Small Churches Struggle To Find Organists And Pianists

At Christmastime in small towns, churches are trying to find organists — or even pianists. Sometimes piano-playing children have stepped up to fill…
Dec 16, 2019

Why Are There No New Christmas Songs?

Enlarge this image Thousands of new holiday songs have been released since 1994, but none have become standards in the way pop songs
Dec 16, 2019

It Took 25 Years, But Mariah Carey's Holiday Earworm Reaches No. 1

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" was released in 1994. This modern Christmas classic tapped out at No. 3 last season. Now, the Queen of Christmas…
Dec 15, 2019

After 25 Years, Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' Is No. 1 At Last

Enlarge this image Mariah Carey performs onstage during 2016 VH1's Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night at Kings Theatre on December 2, 2016 in New
Dec 12, 2019

Lil Uzi Vert Is Back With A New Song — And Dance

Enlarge this image Lil Uzi Vert performs at the Austin City Limits Music Festival on October 11, 2019 in Austin, Texas. SUZANNE
Dec 11, 2019

Grammys Pledge More Diversity Under New Leadership

Enlarge this image The new Recording Academy president and CEO, Deborah Dugan, speaking at the 62nd Grammy Awards nominations on Nov. 20 in
Dec 09, 2019

Marie Fredriksson, Of Pop Group Roxette, Dead At 61

Enlarge this image Swedish singer Marie Fredriksson, performing in Cologne, Germany on March 19, 2011. Patrik Stollarz/AFP via Getty Images hide…
Dec 09, 2019

Roxette's Marie Fredriksson Dead At 61

Enlarge this image Swedish singer Marie Fredriksson, performing in Cologne, Germany on March 19, 2011. Patrik Stollarz/AFP via Getty Images hide…
Dec 08, 2019

Kennedy Center Celebrates 2019 Honorees

Among the artists receiving Kennedy Center Honors Sunday night in Washington, D.C., were Linda Ronstadt, Earth, Wind & Fire and actress Sally…
Dec 07, 2019

Reports: Rapper Juice WRLD Dead At Age 21

Enlarge this image Juice WRLD, seen here performing in Oakland, Calif., in September, reportedly died on Sunday in Chicago at age 21.
Dec 07, 2019

Rapper Juice WRLD Has Died At Age 21

Enlarge this image Juice WRLD, seen here performing in Oakland, Calif., in September, reportedly died on Sunday in Chicago at age 21.

Northern California
Public Media Newsletter

Get the latest updates on programs and events.