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Music recommendations, industry developments, and other music coverage from Vox.

Technology
Spotify’s first day of trading ended up being surprisingly normal — and that’s a win for the direct listingSpotify’s first day of trading ended up being surprisingly normal — and that’s a win for the direct listing
Technology

Where’s the chaos?

By Theodore Schleifer and Rani Molla
Technology
Spotify relies on the big labels for most of its music. It thinks that will change.Spotify relies on the big labels for most of its music. It thinks that will change.
Technology

The streaming music company wants to get more music — and more profitable music — from the little guys.

By Peter Kafka
Technology
Spotify’s direct listing is an inflection point in the Wall Street-Silicon Valley relationshipSpotify’s direct listing is an inflection point in the Wall Street-Silicon Valley relationship
Technology

You should care what happens on Tuesday — even if you don’t care about Spotify.

By Theodore Schleifer
Culture
The electric spectacle of Jesus Christ Superstar Live, in one shotThe electric spectacle of Jesus Christ Superstar Live, in one shot
Culture

NBC’s show, starring John Legend and Sara Bareilles, was an elaborate production with one unbeatable scene.

By Caroline Framke
Technology
Meet Barry McCarthy, the man behind Spotify’s daring public offeringMeet Barry McCarthy, the man behind Spotify’s daring public offering
Technology

Spotify’s CFO pushed for this week’s direct listing, which could change life for Wall Street and for big tech startups.

By Theodore Schleifer
Technology
Spotify told Wall Street it is going to have a very good year in 2018Spotify told Wall Street it is going to have a very good year in 2018
Technology

Ahead of its IPO, the streaming service is offering its first-ever guidance: Revenue, subs and margins will be up, operating losses will go down.

By Peter Kafka
Culture
Taylor Swift rarely gets political. March for Our Lives just changed that.Taylor Swift rarely gets political. March for Our Lives just changed that.
Culture

The famously apolitical singer just spoke up on Instagram to “support gun reform.”

By Caroline Framke
Technology
Spotify’s first day of trading will be April 3Spotify’s first day of trading will be April 3
Technology

It’s sure to be a volatile debut.

By Theodore Schleifer
Culture
Common and Andra Day’s Oscars performance recapped all of this year’s newsCommon and Andra Day’s Oscars performance recapped all of this year’s news
Culture

The musicians backed political activists and called out the NRA and Donald Trump in their Oscars performance.

By P.R. Lockhart
Oscars
At the Oscars, an original song is supposed to be important to its filmAt the Oscars, an original song is supposed to be important to its film
Oscars

Are you a major recording star? Here’s a way you can win an Oscar!

By Emily St. James
Technology
Everyone wants to build a giant consumer subscription business. Spotify already has one.Everyone wants to build a giant consumer subscription business. Spotify already has one.
Technology

71 million subscribers is a big deal, and it gives CEO Daniel Ek lots of options.

By Peter Kafka
Technology
Spotify is gambling its stock with an IPO that it concedes is riskySpotify is gambling its stock with an IPO that it concedes is risky
Technology

Most companies don’t take chances with the pomp and circumstance of an IPO. Here’s what Spotify is doing differently.

By Theodore Schleifer
Technology
Spotify’s IPO in six chartsSpotify’s IPO in six charts
Technology

What we learned from the streaming company’s public filing.

By Rani Molla
Technology
Spotify’s IPO could be a billion-dollar payday for Sony MusicSpotify’s IPO could be a billion-dollar payday for Sony Music
Technology

Now it has to figure out how to divide that money with Beyonce and its other artists.

By Rani Molla and Peter Kafka
Technology
Here’s why Spotify had to go public this yearHere’s why Spotify had to go public this year
Technology

A three-part play in a debt drama.

By Theodore Schleifer
Technology
Spotify is still burning an enormous amount of cash, but the bigger it gets, the better it looksSpotify is still burning an enormous amount of cash, but the bigger it gets, the better it looks
Technology

Spotify generates billions in revenue and gives most of that money to the music labels. But it is gaining leverage and getting better margins.

By Rani Molla and Peter Kafka
How K-pop became a global phenomenon
Culture

No country takes its fluffy pop music more seriously than South Korea.

By Aja Romano
Culture
13 Valentine’s Day songs for lovers and loners alike13 Valentine’s Day songs for lovers and loners alike
Culture

A love song playlist for everyone.

By Bridgett Henwood
Life
Single or not, you’ve got a Valentine in another universeSingle or not, you’ve got a Valentine in another universe
Life

And, given some strong metaphysical assumptions, they love you right back.

By Dylan Matthews
Culture
How and where to listen to Justin Timberlake’s Man of the WoodsHow and where to listen to Justin Timberlake’s Man of the Woods
Culture

The release strategy for Timberlake’s latest album looks pretty standard. That’s weird.

By Constance Grady
Culture
The 2018 Grammys put on a big show of supporting women without actually supporting womenThe 2018 Grammys put on a big show of supporting women without actually supporting women
Culture

The Grammys’ treatment of Kesha, Lorde, and other women nominees reveals the industry’s true priorities.

By Caroline Framke
Culture
The 9 best performances of the 2018 GrammysThe 9 best performances of the 2018 Grammys
Culture

From Kendrick Lamar to Kesha.

By Constance Grady and Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
3 reasons why the 2018 Grammys fell so flat3 reasons why the 2018 Grammys fell so flat
Culture

They tried, but in general: yikes.

By Emily St. James and Caroline Framke
Culture
Grammy winners 2018: the complete listGrammy winners 2018: the complete list
Culture

Bruno Mars was the night’s biggest winner, taking home six awards including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Hillary Clinton roasts Donald Trump by reading Fire and Fury at the GrammysHillary Clinton roasts Donald Trump by reading Fire and Fury at the Grammys
Play
Culture

This bit probably didn’t go over well at the White House.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
“You are not shitholes”: at the Grammys, musicians offer words of support to immigrants“You are not shitholes”: at the Grammys, musicians offer words of support to immigrants
Culture

Logic, Camila Cabello, and Bono all made powerful statements about immigration and diversity.

By P.R. Lockhart
Culture
Watch: Kesha’s wrenching performance of “Praying” at the 2018 GrammysWatch: Kesha’s wrenching performance of “Praying” at the 2018 Grammys
Play
Culture

The singer was joined by Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, and more for a searing, relevant performance.

By Caroline Framke
Culture
What to expect at the 2018 Grammy AwardsWhat to expect at the 2018 Grammy Awards
Culture

The awards will be packed with performances from Kesha, Cardi B, SZA, Elton John, and more.

By Caroline Framke
Culture
5 Grammy wins that prove how unpredictable — and controversial — the awards can be5 Grammy wins that prove how unpredictable — and controversial — the awards can be
Culture

Adele over Beyoncé? Macklemore over Kendrick Lamar? What were the Grammy voters thinking?

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Grammys 2018: A listening guide to this weekend’s nomineesGrammys 2018: A listening guide to this weekend’s nominees
Culture

Get to know the nominated songs and artists in all 30 televised categories.

By Constance Grady and Genevieve Koski
Culture
Lorde is the celebrity avatar of pop culture’s witch obsessionLorde is the celebrity avatar of pop culture’s witch obsession
Culture

The witch fantasy is more popular than ever — and Lorde is riding it straight to the top.

By Constance Grady
Technology
Here’s why the music industry is celebrating again — and here’s why the music industry is still in mourningHere’s why the music industry is celebrating again — and here’s why the music industry is still in mourning
Technology

Do you like your streaming glass half-full or half-empty? We have you covered.

By Rani Molla and Peter Kafka
Culture
“The Dark Knight is a punk score”: Hans Zimmer on his collaborative composing process“The Dark Knight is a punk score”: Hans Zimmer on his collaborative composing process
Podcast
Culture

The Oscar nominee (for Dunkirk) joined his collaborators to talk the score for Blue Planet II.

By Emily St. James
Culture
How Tune-Yards’ frontwoman uses their new album to critique her “white woman’s voice”How Tune-Yards’ frontwoman uses their new album to critique her “white woman’s voice”
Culture

Says Merrill Garbus of interrogating her white privilege, “Shouldn’t I be the one doing this work?”

By Bridgett Henwood
Culture
A definitive ranking of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s 101 songsA definitive ranking of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s 101 songs
Culture

This ranking is as weird and perfect as the show itself.

By Genevieve Koski, Constance Grady and 2 more
Technology
Spotify’s chief content officer is leaving ahead of its IPOSpotify’s chief content officer is leaving ahead of its IPO
Technology

Stefan Blom’s departure may raise questions.

By Peter Kafka
Technology
How Spotify solved a $1 billion debt problem that will help it IPOHow Spotify solved a $1 billion debt problem that will help it IPO
Technology

Big investors TPG and Dragoneer get a nice return, and Tencent gets a piece of the streaming music company. Everybody happy?

By Theodore Schleifer and Peter Kafka
Culture
Obama’s best of 2017 list is hip and wonky — and might be nodding at TrumpObama’s best of 2017 list is hip and wonky — and might be nodding at Trump
Culture

His end-of-the-year list centers on class, race, and gender in America.

By Constance Grady
Video
N.E.R.D.’s hit song “Lemon” owes a lot to New Orleans bounceN.E.R.D.’s hit song “Lemon” owes a lot to New Orleans bounce
Play
Video

Big Freedia explains where “Lemon” got its bounce from.

By Estelle Caswell
Culture
Kesha’s Rainbow turned pain into catharsis in a year that desperately needed itKesha’s Rainbow turned pain into catharsis in a year that desperately needed it
Culture

2017’s most powerful album answered a pressing, crucial question about enduring abuse: What comes next?

By Caroline Framke