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Music

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

World Politics
“I’m with the banned”: Spotify’s newest project slams Trump’s travel ban“I’m with the banned”: Spotify’s newest project slams Trump’s travel ban
World Politics

Music makes the people come together, yeah.

By Lindsay Maizland
Culture
9 essential pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend9 essential pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend
Culture

From Chance the Rapper’s awesome Stevie Wonder cover to an in-depth look back at A League of Their Own.

By Vox Culture
Culture
4:44, Jay-Z, and the luxury of living long enough to own your mistakes4:44, Jay-Z, and the luxury of living long enough to own your mistakes
Culture

On Jay-Z, Tamir Rice, and growing old.

By Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib
Culture
Kesha’s new single “Praying” is a scorched-earth ballad on betrayal and hopeKesha’s new single “Praying” is a scorched-earth ballad on betrayal and hope
Culture

The singer will release Rainbow, her first album in five years, on August 11.

By Caroline Framke
Music
Everything we know about LCD Soundsystem’s long-awaited new album American DreamEverything we know about LCD Soundsystem’s long-awaited new album American Dream
Music

This is happening. In September.

By Grant Rindner
Culture
9 questions with Henry Rollins9 questions with Henry Rollins
Culture

The musician-writer on patriotism, curiosity, and reading Ann Coulter books.

By Sean Illing
Culture
Where to stream Jay-Z’s 4:44 (if you don’t already have a Tidal subscription)Where to stream Jay-Z’s 4:44 (if you don’t already have a Tidal subscription)
Culture

Jay-Z’s 4:44 release strategy fits into a new streaming trend toward windowed releases.

By Constance Grady
Culture
9 of June’s best new music releases, from Fleet Foxes to Lorde9 of June’s best new music releases, from Fleet Foxes to Lorde
Culture

Plus folk rock from Big Thief and Millie Bobby Brown in an xx video.

By Bridgett Henwood
Culture
9 pieces of can’t-miss pop culture to catch up on this weekend9 pieces of can’t-miss pop culture to catch up on this weekend
Culture

Featuring a new Hamilton music video, a creepy-fun documentary, and more.

By Vox Culture
Culture
33 years after Prince debuted Purple Rain, a deluxe reissue has opened the vault on new tracks33 years after Prince debuted Purple Rain, a deluxe reissue has opened the vault on new tracks
Culture

Two new editions of the iconic album feature a mix of previously unreleased songs and other special features.

By Abbey White
Culture
9 pieces of can’t-miss pop culture to catch up on this weekend9 pieces of can’t-miss pop culture to catch up on this weekend
Culture

From Lorde’s excellent new album to the best new movies to see.

By Vox Culture
Technology
Spotify has guaranteed to pay big music labels billions over the next two yearsSpotify has guaranteed to pay big music labels billions over the next two years
Technology

The streaming service posted revenue of $3.3 billion last year; it has promised big checks in exchange for better rates.

By Peter Kafka
Culture
Tony Awards 2017 live stream: time, date, channel, and how to watch onlineTony Awards 2017 live stream: time, date, channel, and how to watch online
Culture

Will this year be the singing and dancing extravaganza we’ve come to expect?

By Constance Grady
Culture
Taylor Swift puts all her music back on streaming, continues to be a PR geniusTaylor Swift puts all her music back on streaming, continues to be a PR genius
Culture

Swift re-embraced Spotify on the same day Katy Perry’s album came out.

By Constance Grady
Video
Grime: London’s latest music exportGrime: London’s latest music export
Play
Video

It’s not the same as hip-hop.

By Carlos Waters
Technology
Taylor Swift is bringing her music to Spotify, and every other streaming serviceTaylor Swift is bringing her music to Spotify, and every other streaming service
Technology

She’s been gone since 2014, but she’s coming back tonight.

By Peter Kafka
Culture
8 can’t-miss pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend8 can’t-miss pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend
Culture

Get into the summer vibe with catchy pop tunes, a compelling new novel, and one of the year’s best horror films.

By Vox Culture
Culture
Watch: Ed Sheeran does Carpool Karaoke, pities selfWatch: Ed Sheeran does Carpool Karaoke, pities self
Culture

And he has a guitar!

By Constance Grady
Technology
Apple Music now has 27 million subscribersApple Music now has 27 million subscribers
Technology

That’s up from 20 million in December.

By Kurt Wagner
Culture
9 can’t-miss pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend9 can’t-miss pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend
Culture

From the new Wonder Woman movie to an under-the-radar NBC comedy to an amazing slow jam about sparkling water.

By Vox Culture
Culture
How Steven Universe, a joyous cartoon about love and aliens, used music to evolveHow Steven Universe, a joyous cartoon about love and aliens, used music to evolve
Culture

The show’s composers explain how they wrote songs about anxiety, grief, and obsession for cartoon aliens.

By Caroline Framke
Culture
May was a great month for music. Here are the 8 best new releases.May was a great month for music. Here are the 8 best new releases.
Culture

From Selena Gomez to Courtney Barnett to Perfume Genius, early summer music does not disappoint.

By Bridgett Henwood
Culture
The MP3 isn’t “dying.” The MP3 is eternal.The MP3 isn’t “dying.” The MP3 is eternal.
Culture

In fact, the landmark audio file type just became easier to use than ever.

By Aja Romano
Culture
9 essential pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend9 essential pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend
Culture

New TV! New music! A viral video you really must see! And more!

By Vox Culture
Culture
Harry Styles and Miley Cyrus are reinventing their pop personas, but only one is pulling it offHarry Styles and Miley Cyrus are reinventing their pop personas, but only one is pulling it off
Culture

The new Harry Styles is getting great publicity. The new Miley Cyrus? Not so much.

By Constance Grady
Culture
Harry Styles’s new direction as a solo artist: modern punkHarry Styles’s new direction as a solo artist: modern punk
Culture

The former One Direction member transcends the “former boy-bander” label by not giving a shit about the “former boy-bander” label.

By Sarah Sahim
Culture
Watch: Dear Evan Hansen’s Ben Platt shows why he’s going to win a TonyWatch: Dear Evan Hansen’s Ben Platt shows why he’s going to win a Tony
Culture

Platt shows off his twitchy vulnerability in a performance of “For Forever.”

By Constance Grady
Culture
The history of American protest music, from “Yankee Doodle” to Kendrick LamarThe history of American protest music, from “Yankee Doodle” to Kendrick Lamar
Culture

How protest music evolved from Civil War refrains to viral Trump videos.

By Bridgett Henwood
Technology
The man behind Spotify’s Discover Weekly feature is going to InstagramThe man behind Spotify’s Discover Weekly feature is going to Instagram
Technology

Matthew Ogle leaves after two-plus years.

By Peter Kafka
Technology
Spotify has hired an M&A specialist to help it buy other companiesSpotify has hired an M&A specialist to help it buy other companies
Technology

WPP veteran Sheila Spence joins next week.

By Peter Kafka
Culture
Watch: Harry Styles does Carpool Karaoke, rejects toxic masculinityWatch: Harry Styles does Carpool Karaoke, rejects toxic masculinity
Culture

He also breaks out a surprisingly solid Julia Roberts impression.

By Constance Grady
Music
Chris Cornell, the Soundgarden frontman who helped define grunge music, is dead at 52Chris Cornell, the Soundgarden frontman who helped define grunge music, is dead at 52
Music

Known for his vocal range, the singer was found dead after a concert Wednesday night.

By Genevieve Koski
Culture
7 can’t-miss pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend7 can’t-miss pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend
Culture

Featuring the best new additions to your Netflix queue, Harry Styles’s new album, a return to Twin Peaks, and more.

By Vox Culture
Video
Why every graduation plays the same songWhy every graduation plays the same song
Play
Video

To understand the graduation song, you have to know a bit about the Boers, the British Empire, and maybe even a little Othello.

By Phil Edwards
Culture
8 can’t-miss pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend8 can’t-miss pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend
Culture

Including new singles from long-dormant bands, one of the campiest teen soaps in recent memory, and a deflated Pikachu.

By Vox Culture
Culture
8 can’t-miss pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend8 can’t-miss pieces of pop culture to catch up on this weekend
Culture

Feat. two essential additions to your Netflix queue, the Gorillaz’ first new album in seven years, and more.

By Vox Culture
Culture
In Contemporary Color, David Byrne and the Ross brothers joyfully fuse art and athleticismIn Contemporary Color, David Byrne and the Ross brothers joyfully fuse art and athleticism
Culture

How the documentarian brothers captured Byrne’s unique vision of a color guard-assisted music concert for the screen.

By Charles Bramesco
Culture
How Ed Sheeran became the pop star people love to hateHow Ed Sheeran became the pop star people love to hate
Culture

The British singer-songwriter is an affable, seemingly innocuous pop star. So why is he so polarizing?

By Annie Zaleski
Culture
The vinyl resurgence is real, but it won’t save the record industryThe vinyl resurgence is real, but it won’t save the record industry
Culture

Vinyl is an easy savior figure for an embattled industry. But it’s more complicated than that.

By Kelsey McKinney
Culture
Prince didn’t let the music industry define him. That’s why he became a legend.Prince didn’t let the music industry define him. That’s why he became a legend.
Culture

He wanted the world and wouldn’t settle for anything less.

By Alex Abad-Santos