NPR Music

When John Cage composed an opera commemorating the American bicentennial audiences walked out. Now, it's being reinterpreted by new artists in a Detroit Opera production. Above, Brianna J. Robinson, left, Travis Leon Williams, Mia Mandineau and Selena Kearney rehearse for Apartment House 1776 which runs May 21 to 24.

An unlikely opera for America's birthday summons dissonance and harmony

Neda Ulaby

When John Cage composed an opera commemorating the American bicentennial audiences walked out. Now, it's being reinterpreted by new artists in a Detroit Opera production, as the nation turns 250.

Kars4Kids advertisements, like this TV commercial on a hot-pink set, feature children turning the charity's phone number into a catchy jingle. But they do not disclose that most of the proceeds go to a Jewish nonprofit that supports programming for young adults.

After the Kars4Kids ad is banned in California, we check in on nostalgic jingles past

Rachel Treisman

A California judge has given Kars4Kids 30 days to either take its ads off the air or update them to disclose its affiliations to a Jewish charity based in the Northeast.

The cover of "A grain of Sand" album liner notes with a photograph by Bob Hsiang of a 1972 anti-war demonstration at Cornell University (L) and the album cover of "A Grain of Sand" (R). (Courtesy of Ralph Rinzler/Folklife Archives and Collections of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage)

How 'A Grain of Sand' amplified Asian American identity

Deborah Becker, Will Walkey

The 1973 activist folk album "A Grain of Sand" is widely recognized as one of the first and most influential albums of Asian American music.

Drake performs at Wireless Festival in London in July 2025. His newest release after an unusual fallow period is a set of three albums: Iceman, Maid of Honour and Habibti.

Drake's target audience is you, whoever you are

Sheldon Pearce

On three new albums — Iceman, Maid of Honour and Habibti — the streaming era's defining star doubles down on a strategy of abundance, no matter the creative cost.

RaiNao performs a Tiny Desk concert at NPR in Washington, D.C.

RaiNao: Tiny Desk Concert

Anamaria Artemisa Sayre

In her recordings, RaiNao leans into reggaeton and electronic beats. Her Tiny Desk performance presents a different version of Puerto Rico's song spine, built on guiros, timbales and maracas.

Tomeka Reid expands the possibilities of jazz avant garde on 'Dance! Skip! Hop!'

Martin Johnson

Reid's quartet makes music that seems inspired by a variety of sources, ranging from modern dance to children's games. Her latest album is one of her most compelling.

Rostam embraces his Iranian roots on his third album American Stories.

Rostam quilts Americana with Persian influences on 'American Stories'

Leila Fadel, Milton Guevara

Rostam explains why he's embracing his Iranian roots on his new album, American Stories.

Bruce Springsteen appeared on Wednesday night's second-to-last episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to perform "Streets of Minneapolis."

Bruce Springsteen voices what Colbert left unsaid on penultimate 'Late Show'

Eric Deggans

The rock icon directly blamed President Trump and the Ellisons for Colbert's cancellation on Wednesday night's show.

Doja Cat was the musical guest on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live's 51st season, an episode hosted by Bad Bunny.

'SNL' just wrapped its 51st season: It's time to cruelly rank its musical guests

Stephen Thompson

The latest season of Saturday Night Live felt transitional in many ways, but it was full of blockbuster pop stars, up-and-coming bands and musical legends. We ranked them from worst to best.

Drake, in rebuilding mode, goes all in by releasing three albums at once

Rodney Carmichael

With his first major solo output since his battle with Kendrick Lamar in 2024 ended, Drake does what Drake has always done: puts out more music than most people could reasonably consume.