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Taylor Swift is rerecording her old songs to control the licenses

Nov 17, 2020
The new recordings are bound to sound different than the originals. Which versions will fans choose?
Taylor Swift has unsuccessfully tried to buy her master recordings before. Above, Swift at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Musicians adapt with live tours still canceled

Oct 21, 2020
The bars where lots of bands played have limited capacity, if they’re open at all.
A still from René Kladzyk's music video for her song "True Romantic," released in August.
Ralph Diaz

Nicki Minaj-Tracy Chapman copyright battle sets stage for future of music recording

Sep 14, 2020
Is it fair use to copy someone's work in the beginning stages of musical experimentation?
Artists often create something with someone else’s work, and then run it by the original artist. That's what Nicki Minaj, pictured, did with Tracy Chapman's song "Baby Can I Hold You."
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Can't stop K-pop! BTS tune tops Billboard 100 in a first.

Sep 1, 2020
The boy band's single, "Dynamite," blasts it way to No. 1 on the chart. Korean pop music has its hardcore fans, and now the perky genre is officially a phenomenon in the U.S.
BTS performs in Los Angeles in 2019. K-pop is a big part of South Korea's cultural exports.
Rich Fury/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Music industry confronts calls to 'make things right' for Black artists

Aug 6, 2020
Labels have long been accused of racist, exploitative practices toward artists. Some now pledge to support social justice and diversify executive ranks.
Rock 'n' roll great Chuck Berry in 1964. Berry was prevented from performing in segregated venues and had to share songwriting credit that belonged solely to him.
Terry Fincher/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Musicians are figuring out what concerts look like during the pandemic

Apr 27, 2020
The industry was set to make more from touring than record sales.
The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles remains closed due to the coronavirus.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Sirius is investing in SoundCloud to the tune of $75M

Feb 12, 2020
SoundCloud is known for hosting up-and-coming artists like Lil Nas X and Billie Eilish.
Lil Nas X and Billie Eilish, two of last year's breakout artists, got their start posting tracks to SoundCloud.
Erik Voake/Getty Images for Spotify

For public good, not for profit.

Streaming rescued record labels. But has it abandoned artists?

Feb 7, 2020
Warner Music is going public just as music sales are growing after years of decline.
Metallica sued Napster over piracy concerns, during an era music analysts refer to as a dark moment for the record industry.
Kevin Winter/Getty

Music’s biggest night, by the numbers

Jan 24, 2020
You may not be surprised to learn Beyoncé is the most nominated woman ever.
Beyoncé poses with her Grammy wins at the 59th Grammy Awards in 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Detroit helps lead vinyl record renaissance

Dec 18, 2019
In 2017, Detroit became the only city in the U.S. with more than one vinyl presser. It's good timing.
An Archer Record Pressing employee takes a lunch break amidst stacks of freshly pressed vinyl.
Steven Cuevas