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AUSTIN, TEXAS - JULY 04: Singer-songwriter Willie Nelson performs onstage with Willie Nelson and Family during the 46th Annual Willie Nelson 4th of July Picnic at Austin360 Amphitheater on July 04, 2019 in Austin, Texas.

Music

Willie Nelson is still chasing an idealized country in a divided America

Nelson's new album, Oh What a Beautiful World, his 77th solo album and 154th overall, doesn't break from convention, but that's exactly why it feels so necessary right now.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - JULY 04: Singer-songwriter Willie Nelson performs onstage with Willie Nelson and Family during the 46th Annual Willie Nelson 4th of July Picnic at Austin360 Amphitheater on July 04, 2019 in Austin, Texas.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - JULY 04: Singer-songwriter Willie Nelson performs onstage with Willie Nelson and Family during the 46th Annual Willie Nelson 4th of July Picnic at Austin360 Amphitheater on July 04, 2019 in Austin, Texas. Rick Kern/WireImage for Shock Ink hide caption

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Rick Kern/WireImage for Shock Ink

Featured Stories

what to read, watch and listen to now

Lucius's self-titled album is out now.

New Music Friday

The best new albums out May 2

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Julie Bee of Marfa Public Radio to talk through the best albums released on May 2.

Wild Card Video Episodes

'Weird Al' Yankovic keeps dorkiness close to his heart

On this week's Wild Card with Rachel Martin, he talks about aging into his weirdness.

Durham, N.C. - April 26th, 2025: Former Carolina Chocolate Drop member Rowan Corbett (left) and a shopper look at banjos inside a pop-up shop at the Biscuits and Banjos festival. (Cornell Watson for NPR)

The Picture Show

Rhiannon Giddens' new music festival celebrates Black culture

Durham-based photojournalist Cornell Watson photographed the festival and shared his experience.

Podcasts & Shows

from npr music and the npr network

Car Seay

New Music Friday

New Music Friday

Car Seat Headrest's return, the newest albums from Samantha Crain, PUP, Jenny Hval and more.

PJ Sin Suela

Alt.Latino

Anamaria Sayre talks about the history of Puerto Rican hip-hop with rapper PJ Sin Suela.

The Late Set

The Late Set

Jenny Scheinman grew up along the so-called Lost Coast; she carries its rustic charm and mystique in her music.

Jane Remover, a 21-year-old musician whose youthful interest in online gaming transformed in to a music career, is a central figure of digicore, an emerging offshoot of the hyperpop culture that took off in the 2010s.

All Songs Considered

We update our running list of the year's best songs with a staggering cut from Sinners, plus Jane Remover.

The Swell Season

World Cafe

World Cafe

XPN

The Swell Season talks about its forthcoming record, Forward, plus they perform live in the studio.

new bullseye

Bullseye

We get into Fat Joe's childhood, his family and how he keeps it real after three decades in the game.

Videos

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Live Sessions

WFUV

Live Sessions

Tiny Desk

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Tiny Desk

Field Recordings

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Field Recordings

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News & Stories

the latest from npr music

Jack Black hits a milestone on the charts, while Alex Warren's 'Ordinary' keeps rising

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2025 includes OutKast, Soundgarden and Cyndi Lauper

Andy Bey, jazz singer of emotional and musical range, has died at 85

Richard Wernick, Pulitzer-winning composer and educator, dies at 91

Jennifer Higdon won't apologize for writing accessible music

Anatomy of a microgenre: hyperpop's next evolution

Playlists

hand-picked songs curated by the NPR Music staff

Disco Beethoven

Music

NPR Classical

Spring has sprung, pollen is in the air and so are the fresh sounds of new releases. Hear tracks by the Attacca Quartet, Ashley Jackson, and Simone Dinnerstein, plus composers Raven Chacon, Thomas Adès and Dalit Hadass Warshaw.

Comic book artist Daniel Warren Johnson (Murder Falcon, Extremity) illustrates the music of Viking's Choice. Horns up!

Comic book artist Daniel Warren Johnson (Murder Falcon, Extremity) illustrates the music of Viking's Choice. Horns up!

New Music

Viking's Choice

A mixtape featuring Josie's lilting twee, ente's urgent rock and roll, Ellen Aarkbro's pipe organ drone, nuvolascara's chaotic screamo, Stereolab's return.

Jazz Night in America's On the List playlist

Jazz Night In America

Jazz Night in America: On the List

A modern jazz survey at ground level, from stone classics to state-of-the-art jams.

"Weird Al" Yankovic photo illustration.

"Weird Al" Yankovic photo illustration.

Featured Stories

40 Songs From 40 Years Of 'Weird Al' Yankovic

"Weird Al" Yankovic's self-titled debut came out on May 3, 1983. So our resident super-fan listened to all of his songs and ranked the 40 best.

Programs

public radio music shows

All Songs Considered

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All Songs Considered

Robin Hilton spins new music from emerging bands and musical icons.

Alt.Latino

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Alt.Latino

What Latinidad sounds like, presented by Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre.

Fresh Air Interviews

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Fresh Air Interviews

Terry Gross interviews luminary artists about their lives and musical work

From the Top

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From the Top

NPR Music presents From The Top program highlights. For the complete From The Top program website, visit www.fromthetop.org.

Jazz Night In America

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NPR

Jazz Night In America

Jazz Night In America is a public radio program, a video concert documentary series, and an online home for the music, from NPR Music, WBGO and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Metropolis

Metropolis

KCRW's Jason Bentley hosts a weekly spin of the best electronic, dance and beyond.

Mountain Stage

Mountain Stage

Mountain Stage

Live recordings from the award-winning public radio program, hosted by Kathy Mattea.

Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

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Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

Each week, NPR's award-winning program showcases both acclaimed artists and up-and-coming performers as they share music and memories.

The Thistle & Shamrock

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The Thistle & Shamrock

Award-winning radio host Fiona Ritchie explores evolving music from Celtic roots in Europe and North America.

World Cafe

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World Cafe

WXPN in Philadelphia and host Raina Douris present interviews and performances with today's essential and emerging artists.