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A hand turns a radio dial, their fingers painted with red nail polish. The knob is attached to a green case, a red needle switching between frequencies as it presumably turns. The needle glides over a yellow bar marked with black symbols, words and numbers, both housed within a black rectangle, the word "music" imprinted in gold on to their left.

Reviving Radio Through Daily Drive

Cerasela Hanseter, University of California, Berkeley

Undiscovered by many, the Daily Drive on Spotify incorporates both users’ favorite songs and recent news to recreate radio on Spotify.…

May 14, 2024

A golden French horn shines against a glossy purple background, flickering in misty streams like the northern lights. A forceful, shining beam of energy erupts from the horn's head, contrasting against the muted tones of the background with its glittering hues. The word "JAZZ" floats out from the horn, into the float, rendered in a phosphorus, cloud-like texture.

Jazz And All It Can Do

Santiago Rivera, Washington University in St. Louis

A crash course in the all-American art form, its various forms and variations and its compelling presence in recent films.…

May 8, 2024

Album Review: Victoria Bigelow bares her soul on ‘Songs For No One, Vol. 2’

Avery Heeringa, Columbia College Chicago

The singer-songwriter’s latest EP captures the sweeping sounds of the West while grappling with hard truths…

May 8, 2024

Brain listening to music on headphones in studying environment.

Background Bops: Why We Need Music to Focus

Mark StenbergandNatalie VanHecke, University of Texas at Dallas

Have you ever noticed that you tend to clean faster or more efficiently when you have music on? Some people love 80s rock, others love lo-fi. What is it about music that constantly draws people…

April 20, 2024

A pair of red ballet slippers stand in point while grey drawings of a nutcracker and a swan stand against the pink background.

Five Famous Ballet Pieces That Aren’t Just for the Holidays

Beatriz Barros Felice, California State University, Northridge

Learn About These Iconic Ballet Stories That Will Make You Want to Run to the Theaters…

December 31, 2023

Against a pink background, a graphic of Miley Cyrus swings on a wrecking ball from her iconic music video while Beyonce sings into a microphone in a black leotard.

Then vs. Now: Have 2014 Artists Withstood the Test of Time?

Emma Troise, Manhattan College

Exploring the longevity of artists and their albums from 2014 to 2024.…

December 27, 2023

Dark Cafes and Big Yellow Taxis—The Everlasting World of Joni Mitchell

Avery Heeringa, Columbia College Chicago

Now in her 80th year on earth, Mitchell’s work continues to influence young generations of fans. …

December 20, 2023

In an article about Danielle Brooks as Sofia in "The Color Purple film," a woman with a plaid dress looks over her shoulder and snickers. Superimposed is that same woman with a plaid dress on a porch with her foot up, kicking open a door.

Danielle Brooks Is As Divine As She Is Humane as Sofia in ‘The Color Purple’

Roberto Soto

Almost 40 years after the original film adaptation, fans of this classic story will be wowed by the force that is Danielle Brooks.…

December 15, 2023

Similar to the album cover of "Born to Die", a drawing of Lana Del Rey stands in front of a blue sky with the words "Born to Die" around her.

Born to Thrive: The Lana Del Rey Album Ahead Of Its Time

Emma Troise, Manhattan College

Revisiting the impact of Lana Del Rey’s “Born to Die” on the music industry (I never stopped listening).…

December 12, 2023

REVIEW: Nicki Minaj’s ‘Pink Friday 2’ Takes Listeners on a Turbulent Flight to Gag City

Avery Heeringa, Columbia College Chicago

Minaj’s long awaited fifth studio album gets dragged down by agonizing samples and blurred artistic vision. …

December 12, 2023

Radio: A Quest to Discover Your New Favorite Song

Sophie Serage, University of Massachusetts, Boston

What happens when you ditch your playlists and listen to the radio for a day?…

December 8, 2023

The Powerful, Transformative, and Life Changing Power of Music

Noah Hernandez, University of Texas at San Antonio

How music affects the brain from emotions of crying to laughter.…

December 7, 2023

The Grit, Glam and Mess of Lady Gaga’s ‘ARTPOP,”’ 10 Years Later

Avery Heeringa, Columbia College Chicago

Exploring Gaga’s commercial “failure” by going “behind the burqa" a decade after its release. …

December 6, 2023

The Best Hidden Gems Christmas Albums

Karla D. Galvan, The University of Texas at San Antonio

These albums don’t always get the attention they deserve, but they hold the same magic that can make your holiday season special.…

December 5, 2023

The NFL’s Got It Bad—Usher at Superbowl LVIII

Paiton Young, University of Georgia

How Will the Siren Appeal to NFL Fans?…

December 4, 2023

We Love You, Megan—’Cobra’ Is a Beacon for Black Women’s Mental Health

Paiton Young, University of Georgia

The harsh realities of Black women's mental health are being disregarded and this is affecting rapper, Megan Thee Stallion.…

November 28, 2023

The Brittany Broski Effect: Goofy and Endearing

Sophie Serage, University of Massachusetts, Boston

The influencer is more than a YouTube and TikTok personality. She continues to say what her audience is thinking… in a funnier and more insightful way.…

November 24, 2023

Welcome to the Renaissance: 5 Things We Hope to See in the Renaissance World Tour Movie

Paiton Young, University of Georgia

It’s awe-inspiring how Beyoncé motivates her fans to come in costume and participate in her events, setting trends even when fans are unsure of the reason for the specific color or theme requests.…

November 21, 2023

For an article on Sammy Rae and The Friends, a collection of drawings of different people with various instruments.

Say Hello To Sammy Rae and ‘The Friends’

Noah Hernandez, University of Texas at San Antonio

Who are Sammy Rae and The Friends and Why Is There Music So Good?…

November 17, 2023

For an article about "Piece of Me" by Britney Spears and "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift, three photos of blonde hair Britney with her left hand up are in the bottom row. three photos of blonde Taylor on the top (upper left corner with mascara running, middle in action smashing a car hood, on right yelling with a kitchen knife in hand). In the top right corner, text in bright yellow letters, "Pop Idols Off the Deep End!" On the bottom a pink better with yellow text, "Bank Space Breaks Records. Piece of Me Breaks Britney."

How Britney Spears’ ‘Piece of Me’ Laid the Groundwork for Taylor Swift’s ‘Blank Space’

Avery Heeringa, Columbia College Chicago

Taylor Swift found herself in a somewhat similar position to Spears’ mid-2000s public scrutiny.…

November 15, 2023

An astronaut stands on the moon with his helmet off. Behind him to the right are paper cutouts of a tree and a house. Behind him on the left is the earth in outer space.

Concept Albums: Creative Writing in Music

Julia Ray, Northern Arizona University

Concepts enrich one’s listening experience because the listener has to do some deconstruction of the songs to find their hidden meaning.…

November 14, 2023

In an article about the band No Doubt, singer Gwen Stefani sings into a microphone.

No Doubt’s Songs and Music Videos Have Always Delivered

Ally Najera, California State University, Northridge

Gwen Stefani’s alt-rock band did more than just release spectacular tracks.…

November 4, 2023

For an article about female sophomore albums, three women are pictured next to eac other.

The “Sophomore Slump” Effect on Young Female Artists

Emma Troise, Manhattan College

The "sophomore slump" label seems to plague many young female artists from Alanis Morissette to Olivia Rodrigo.…

November 1, 2023

For an article about sonification of space data, a person sits cross-legged with head phones on staring off. A blue background with musical notes around them.

By the Way, the Universe Is Always Singing

Farah Shah, University of Central Florida

How sonifications of space data are broadening horizons for interpretation and interaction between humans and the cosmos. …

November 1, 2023

For an article about music samples, a variety of artists are in a pitcure — Ray Charles in the upper left corner (man with sunglasses), Robin S in the lower left corner (woman with short faded hair singing into a microphone), Beyoncé in the center left (woman with long curly hair looking back while holding microphone), Taylor Swift in the center right (woman with gelled down hair and suit winking into the camera), Kanye West in the bottom right corner (a man with a jacket staring into an audience), Sister Nancy in the top right corner (woman with short hair singing into microphone) and Olivia Rodrigo in the top center (woman with dark brown hair screaming into the camera in front of an enflamed room.

Sample or Stealing? How the Music Industry Recycles Tunes

Christine Bardos, Santa Clara University

A hot take on the use of sampled songs in the music industry. …

October 30, 2023

For an article about Taylor Swift's marketing strategies, a dark image of a blonde woman with a white collar necklace holds her two fingers up like a "gun." In the background, a red figure with a similar pose is seen with red horns and a tail drawn on her.

Taylor Swift: Evil Genius?

Natalie VanHecke, University of Texas at Dallas

Is Taylor Swift a well-intentioned lyrical genius or a mastermind of manipulation?…

October 27, 2023

Joe Satriani: An Innovative Legendary Guitarist

Danni Shuai, University of Southern California

Follow Us Can you imagine someone using only an electric guitar to tell stories and convey complex emotions? Before listening to Joe Satriani’s music, I used to view the electric guitar merely as one element…

October 21, 2023

In an article about the Talking Heads concert film, the words "Stop Making Sense" are spelled out in bold across the top. A large stage in black and white is riddled with chracters: two women singing at microphones, a man dancing in front of a microphone, a woman crouched down playing bass and two men playing guitar.

Talking Heads ‘Stop Making Sense’ on the Biggest Screen

Sophie Serage, University of Massachusetts, Boston

The concert film, “Stop Making Sense” by Talking Heads, had its IMAX debut by A24 and will return to theaters this month, remastered and better than ever. …

October 19, 2023