Music

Two new operas focus on the Black female experience

Olivia Hampton

Two short operas that got their premieres at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. feature Black female protagonists.
Bid on the bard: Auction features historic items from Bob Dylan's life

Manuela López Restrepo

The lot includes about 50 items and features early handwritten drafts for Dylan's hit "Mr. Tambourine Man" as well as photographs, posters and a signed harmonica.
National

Sam Moore, who sang 'Soul Man' in Sam & Dave duo, dies at 89

The Associated Press

Moore, the surviving half and higher voice of the 1960s duo Sam & Dave, died Friday morning in Coral Gables, Florida, due to complications while recovering from surgery, his publicist said.
Unpacking Bad Bunny's personal and political 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS'

Anamaria Artemisa Sayre

Felix Contreras

Isabella Gomez Sarmiento

Time and time again Bad Bunny has proven that he's strongest creatively when he anchors himself to the island and if DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is to be believed, home is where he's insistent on staying.
With the holidays over, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and more stars flood the pop charts

Stephen Thompson

Now that most Christmas songs and albums have been packed away into the proverbial attic, the pop landscape of the new year is coming into focus.
National

Peter Yarrow of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary has died at 86

Jeff Lunden

Yarrow wrote or co-wrote some of the group's biggest 1960s hits, including "Puff, the Magic Dragon" and "Day Is Done."
Arts & Culture

San Diego arts picks in January: 'Appalachian Spring,' 'The Half-Life of Marie Curie,' 'Brand New' and more

Julia Dixon Evans

In our January arts and culture preview for San Diego, explore our picks for visual art, dance, theater, film, literature and music, spanning jazz, classical, experimental and popular genres. Up next: theater at New Village Arts, Martha Graham Dance Company performs "Appalachian Spring," a national group visual art show, Haley Heynderickx and more.
NPR photographers share their favorite Tiny Desk Concert pictures from 2024

Michael Zamora

Zayrha Rodriguez

Elizabeth Gillis

Keren Carrión

Virginia Lozano

Courtney Theophin

Sofia Seidel

Alanté Serene

Grace Widyatmadja

We asked NPR photographers to share their favorite pictures and their thoughts about photographing Tiny Desk concerts in 2024.
After nearly two years, SZA's 'SOS' rockets back to the top of the album chart

Stephen Thompson

No album in the history of the Billboard album chart has ever had a longer gap between stints at No. 1. Elsewhere, Christmas music dominates for one last week.
Southern women are shaping the sound of hip-hop's future

Sidney Madden

In 2024, GloRilla, Latto and Doechii all delivered landmark rap albums. Not just because they had the best bars, but because each trusted themself enough to make an artistic and commercial leap.