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Music

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

Culture
Listen: Billie Eilish’s big 2020 continues with James Bond theme “No Time to Die”Listen: Billie Eilish’s big 2020 continues with James Bond theme “No Time to Die”
Culture

Billie’s 2020 hot streak continues with her sultry James Bond theme.

By Allegra Frank
Culture
Eminem singing “Lose Yourself” was the most baffling Oscars moment. It was also a milestone.Eminem singing “Lose Yourself” was the most baffling Oscars moment. It was also a milestone.
Culture

The audience reactions to Eminem’s surprise performance were hilariously divided, but it was a win for the rapper.

By Aja Romano
Technology
Why Spotify and a casino bought The Ringer and BarstoolWhy Spotify and a casino bought The Ringer and Barstool
Technology

Digital media companies were supposed to be sold to TV companies. Look what’s happening instead.

By Peter Kafka
Video
That famous cello prelude, deconstructedThat famous cello prelude, deconstructed
Play
Video

Why Bach’s G major prelude is the perfect piece of music.

By Estelle Caswell
Culture
2 winners and 3 losers from One Direction’s solo albums2 winners and 3 losers from One Direction’s solo albums
Culture

The boys have all gone in different … directions … since their indefinite hiatus in 2016. Some are better than others.

By Alexa Lee
Culture
The masterful deceit of “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher,” explainedThe masterful deceit of “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher,” explained
Culture

Switched on Pop’s Charlie Harding explains why The Witcher’s hit song can’t be bleat.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Billie Eilish makes history at her first Grammys, sweeping the top categoriesBillie Eilish makes history at her first Grammys, sweeping the top categories
Culture

Eilish is youngest artist and the first woman to win all four of the awards’ major categories: Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year.

By Allegra Frank
Culture
The 8 best performances from the 2020 GrammysThe 8 best performances from the 2020 Grammys
Culture

From Lizzo to Demi Lovato to Lil Nas X.

By Constance Grady, Allegra Frank and 1 more
Culture
Grammys 2017: winners, news, and biggest momentsGrammys 2017: winners, news, and biggest moments
Culture
Grammys 2018: winners, news, and biggest momentsGrammys 2018: winners, news, and biggest moments
Culture

Bruno Mars swept the three top categories.

By Vox Staff
Culture
Grammys 2019: nominees, winners, news, and biggest momentsGrammys 2019: nominees, winners, news, and biggest moments
Culture

Women ruled the awards, in a show hosted by Alicia Keys.

By Vox Staff
Culture
The Grammys opened with a Kobe Bryant tribute from Alicia Keys and Boyz II MenThe Grammys opened with a Kobe Bryant tribute from Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men
Culture

Celebrities in attendance and across social media remembered the NBA superstar.

By Aja Romano
Culture
The 2020 Grammys’ sexual harassment and corruption controversy, explainedThe 2020 Grammys’ sexual harassment and corruption controversy, explained
Culture

Recording Academy CEO Deborah Dugan says she was suspended in retaliation for exposing a “boys’ club” atmosphere and a rigged Grammy nominations process.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
The biggest stories headed into the 2020 GrammysThe biggest stories headed into the 2020 Grammys
Culture

Music’s biggest night will be about Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Nipsey Hussle, and Demi Lovato, with a side dish of chaos and controversy.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and Lil Nas X lead the 2020 Grammy nomineesLizzo, Billie Eilish, and Lil Nas X lead the 2020 Grammy nominees
Culture

The 62nd Grammy Awards will take place Sunday, January 26.

By Allegra Frank
Culture
Why everyone loves Lizzo — well, almost everyoneWhy everyone loves Lizzo — well, almost everyone
Culture

Lizzo loves herself unapologetically. But she’s not without critics.

By Allegra Frank
Culture
Eminem’s new song “Darkness” tries to enter the mind of the Las Vegas shooterEminem’s new song “Darkness” tries to enter the mind of the Las Vegas shooter
Culture

The rapper’s surprise album, Music to Be Murdered By, features the harrowing gun control anthem at its center.

By Aja Romano
Culture
How Broadway’s Jagged Little Pill tries to reinvent the jukebox musicalHow Broadway’s Jagged Little Pill tries to reinvent the jukebox musical
Culture

The new Alanis Morissette show is the most ambitious jukebox musical yet, for better or for worse.

By Constance Grady and Aja Romano
Culture
What celeb trainer Jillian Michaels got wrong about Lizzo and body positivityWhat celeb trainer Jillian Michaels got wrong about Lizzo and body positivity
Culture

The former Biggest Loser star feigned concern over the singer’s health. No one’s buying it.

By Katelyn Esmonde
Culture
Coachella 2020: The good, the bad, and the “okay, sure” of this year’s lineupCoachella 2020: The good, the bad, and the “okay, sure” of this year’s lineup
Culture

This April’s festival includes a K-pop reunion, a digital superstar, and way too few women on the bill.

By Allegra Frank
Video
The real story behind this Harry Styles album coverThe real story behind this Harry Styles album cover
Play
Video

The fisheye album cover is a modern music staple.

By Estelle Caswell
Looking back at the tumultuous 2010s
Beyoncé’s Lemonade is one of the best movies of the 2010sBeyoncé’s Lemonade is one of the best movies of the 2010s
Looking back at the tumultuous 2010s

The superstar helmed one of the decade’s most radical films.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” finally hit No. 1 on Billboard, 25 years after its release“All I Want for Christmas Is You” finally hit No. 1 on Billboard, 25 years after its release
Culture

If the song can hold the top spot a little longer, Mariah Carey will make history.

By Constance Grady
Culture
Juice Wrld helped define Soundcloud rap through vulnerability, debauchery, and mortalityJuice Wrld helped define Soundcloud rap through vulnerability, debauchery, and mortality
Culture

The 21-year-old was, more than anything, just trying to relate.

By Allegra Frank
Video
How an opera gets madeHow an opera gets made
Play
Video

Backstage at the Metropolitan Opera.

By Estelle Caswell
The best $29 I ever spent: a ticket to a concert I didn’t attend
Money

After missing out on seeing my favorite band, I swore I’d never let a lack of concert buddy hold me back again.

By Deepa Lakshmin
Culture
Taylor Swift’s “Beautiful Ghosts” might be the best part of the Cats movieTaylor Swift’s “Beautiful Ghosts” might be the best part of the Cats movie
Culture

The new song Swift wrote with Andrew Lloyd Webber has a lot to teach us about cats, “Memory,” and fangirls.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Taylor Swift (and her fans) won a battle in her war against Scooter Braun and Big Machine Label GroupTaylor Swift (and her fans) won a battle in her war against Scooter Braun and Big Machine Label Group
Culture

Taylor Swift can sing Taylor Swift songs at the American Music Awards, if she wants to.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
David Bazan talks about his music and watching Christianity be “co-opted by authoritarianism”David Bazan talks about his music and watching Christianity be “co-opted by authoritarianism”
Culture

The provocative Pedro the Lion frontman is the subject of the new documentary Strange Negotiations.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
Taylor Swift’s feud with her old record label has entered a new and messy public phaseTaylor Swift’s feud with her old record label has entered a new and messy public phase
Culture

Taylor Swift says Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta won’t let her perform her old hits on TV.

By Constance Grady
Culture
Why Kanye’s new spiritual work keeps borrowing from James TurrellWhy Kanye’s new spiritual work keeps borrowing from James Turrell
Culture

Meet the artist whose work explains Kanye’s new aesthetic.

By Constance Grady
Culture
How Lana Del Rey’s career explains a huge shift in the way we think about pop starsHow Lana Del Rey’s career explains a huge shift in the way we think about pop stars
Culture

In 2012, people called Lana Del Rey a fake. Now they call her one of the best pop stars of her generation.

By Constance Grady and Alex Abad-Santos
Technology
The man who tried to disrupt Wall Street’s stranglehold on Silicon Valley is retiringThe man who tried to disrupt Wall Street’s stranglehold on Silicon Valley is retiring
Technology

Spotify CFO Barry McCarthy is leaving the company in January.

By Theodore Schleifer
Culture
Kanye’s Jesus Is King feels unfinished. But it’s still worth hearing.Kanye’s Jesus Is King feels unfinished. But it’s still worth hearing.
Culture

Kanye West’s new album is brief and underwhelming, despite the build-up.

By Allegra Frank
Video
How this chair became a pop culture iconHow this chair became a pop culture icon
Play
Video

Why so many celebrity butts sat in the peacock chair

By Estelle Caswell
Culture
Patti Smith’s new memoir is a dreamy recollection of a terrible yearPatti Smith’s new memoir is a dreamy recollection of a terrible year
Culture

The Year of the Monkey is about 2016, and the intertwining of personal and national grief.

By Kaitlyn Tiffany
Why we are in danger of losing Aaliyah’s voice
Culture

The seismic reckoning around R. Kelly shouldn’t change how we view Aaliyah’s art.

By Julian Kimble
Culture
Why 2020 Democrats love LizzoWhy 2020 Democrats love Lizzo
Culture

For the same reasons most of us do. And, you know, #relatability.

By Li Zhou
Culture
Lil Nas X’s lone CMAs nod is faint praise from country music’s biggest award showLil Nas X’s lone CMAs nod is faint praise from country music’s biggest award show
Culture

Country fans still struggle to embrace the artist, no matter how massive “Old Town Road” gets.

By Allegra Frank
Culture
Meek Mill’s decade-long probation showed how broken America’s justice system isMeek Mill’s decade-long probation showed how broken America’s justice system is
Culture

The Philadelphia rapper had been caught in America’s probation system for years. On Tuesday, his case finally came to an end.

By P.R. Lockhart