Michael Jackson sings during the opening performance of a 13-city U.S. tour in 1988.
AP Photo/Cliff Schiappa
The story of African-American music is a story of eclipsing expectations and subverting norms.
Bob Dylan pictured in 2012: his long synopses of a seemingly random list of books made up the bulk of this week’s Nobel Prize speech.
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
This extraordinarily odd speech might well be the singer’s most Dylanesque performance.
Andriy Makukha
The German band laid the foundations for the electronic pop revolution which continues today.
Sweden performs in the 2017 Eurovision grand final.
EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO
As always, Eurovision 2017 blended pop and politics. Russia was missing from the Ukrainian-hosted contest, and the UK had healing words, post Brexit.
A cross stitch recreation of Nirvana’s classic album cover by Mr X Stitch.
Jamie Chalmers/flickr
Nirvana’s Nevermind was emblematic of the 1990s. But in today’s fragmented digital age, can anyone nominate an album that defines the first or second decade of the 21st century?
Primera's tomb // lubrio/flickr
It was popular music that enabled Chávez to link his political movement with grassroots activism.
Justin Bieber in What do you mean?
Youtube
With Justin Bieber’s impending Australian tour, it’s time to reassess his creative artistry, musicianship and recorded output.
Is the system broken?
'Record Player' via www.shutterstock.com
After winning his Grammy in 1996, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder said, ‘I don’t think this means anything.’ Was he right?
On New Year’s Eve, Mariah Carey was at a loss for words.
Stephanie Keith/Reuters
From The Monkees to Mariah Carey, lip-syncers have been getting mocked for decades.
A Bowie mural in Brixton, London.
Stefan Wermuth/Reuters
Amid the tribute concerts and outpourings of sadness on the anniversary of Bowie’s death, we should be wary of mythologising him.
Members of the band MP4 present Jeremy Corbyn and Tracy Brabin MP with copies of the Jo Cox charity single. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire/PA Images
MPs and rock songs may seem like odd bedfellows, but the charity single marks a longstanding shift in how music mobilises the masses.
Punters cheer at the 2016 Glastonbury Festival. Revenue from live performances is growing.
Stoyan Nenov/Reuters
In Australia, musicians’ total income actually went up last year. While the music industry still faces many challenges, there is now a world-wide push to boost artists’ royalties paid by streaming services such as Spotify.
A saxophone player busks in New York: as technology transforms their industry, quite a lot of musicians are leaving the field.
Michael Tapp
Whenever you listen to a streamed song, like it but don’t buy it and instead stream it again, you are casting a vote for the future nonexistence of professional musicians.
Leonard Cohen in 2012 accepting an award for his song lyrics.
Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters
Leonard Cohen, who has died at 82, had both a tragic vision and a voice that was warm, funny and closely observant. His unique gaze helped fans see the world anew.
John G Mabanglo/EPA
Results of the first large-scale study to specifically investigate the musical features that might increase the ‘earworminess’ of a song.
Real or Fake?
John Stillwell/PA Archive
ABBA are reportedly planning a ‘virtual and live experience’. What might this actually entail?
Rasyidien/Shutterstock
Auto-Tune was originally developed as a tool in the oil exploration industry, but now it’s widely used in pop music.
Fans criticised Sia for a ‘lacklustre’ concert.
EPA/Balazs Mohai
Sia is being sued for what her fans felt was a lacklustre show. But pop history is littered with live disasters.
Sky
This big budget series about the rock business failed to connect with its market.
Prince performs during the 2013 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Steve Marcus/Reuters
For those on Rolling Stone’s list of 100 Greatest Artists, their life expectancy is on par with the people of Chad, the nation with the lowest life expectancy in the world.