NPR Music’s Must-Read Articles Of 2019

From the carwash to hold music to American Anthems and more. by Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Bob Boilen/NPR Season’s greetings from the Tiny Desk! With the holidays here and 2019 winding down, we at NPR HQ are looking forward to a little rest, relaxation and time spent with loved ones — and we hope you are too. Maybe you're looking for a little festive music to accompany your holidays? As usual, we're getting into the spirit with [a little Mariah]( — the No. 1 song in the country for the very first time, 25 years after it was released (when it instantly became the No. 1 song in our hearts) — but we've also got a soft spot for [Poolside Yuletide]( our seasonal roséwave soundtrack that's fit for escaping to warmer climates or warding off the winter blues. And if you’re looking for something to read by a warm fireplace (or maybe a heated pool, depending on where you read this newsletter from), we’ve got you covered. We looked through all the wonderful reviews, conversations, reporting and series our team published this year and chose a selection of our favorite features and long reads. We hope you discover something you missed or revisit something you loved. May your days be merry and bright, Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Our 2019 Must-Read Articles - [The Allegations Against R. Kelly: An Abridged History]( Anastasia Tsioulcas and Colin Dwyer, Jan. 11 This year, there were a lot of developments in the R. Kelly case, which has itself spanned decades. Reporters Anastasia Tsioulcas and Colin Dwyer followed the story this year, adding regular updates in real time. - [Tierra Whack's Labor Of Self-Love, From Car Wash To Critical Mass]( Rodney Carmichael, Feb. 6 The Philadelphia artist is one of the most creative minds in hip-hop today; the 2019 Grammys could hardly keep up with her wacky, avant-garde releases. In this profile from our hip-hop critic Rodney Carmichael, she recalls the watershed period in her journey to self-discovery. - [Tiny Tech Tips: Why You Need Earplugs At Concerts]( Josh Rogosin, Mar. 12 Trust us: You need to wear earplugs at concerts. Josh Rogosin, Tiny Desk audio engineer, breaks down why — and compiled a list of his favorite earplugs specifically engineered for music. - [For 50 Years, Quint Davis Has Never Let New Orleans' Jazz Fest 'Go Down']( Gwen Thompkins, May 4 New Orleans is on first-name basis with Quint Davis. Though he didn’t originate the idea for a “jazz and heritage” festival in the city, he’s been central to Jazz Fest since the beginning. - [Before And After: What it's like listening to Michael Jackson now]( Ann Powers, May 11 In March, HBO aired Leaving Neverland, which shared the stories of two alleged sexual abuse victims of Michael Jackson. Critic Ann Powers says it “challenged the status of an icon” whose impact on popular music can’t be overstated. Powers asks: What does it mean — and what does it feel like — if we continue listening to Jackson’s music today? - [As A Crowdfunding Platform Implodes, A Legendary Composer Rebounds]( Nate Chinen, May 14 PledgeMusic was a British-based, direct-to-fan crowdfunding service that was meant to help bring musical projects to fruition. When it announced it was headed for bankruptcy this year, it owed hundreds of thousands of dollars to artists and labels — including composer John Zorn, who had used the platform to fund a box set of 11 new albums. Zorn’s plight with the project reveals some of the major pitfalls of this increasingly common business model. - [The Many Requirements Of Hold Music, A Genre For No One]( Sophie Haigney, Sept. 5 UberConference co-founder Alex Cornell has written only one song: the unusually self-aware jingle “I’m On Hold.” It is, of course, what you hear before the chorus of "Hi, who just joined?" and "Can everyone please mute?" And it has one singular purpose: to get you to stay on the line. - [Lana Del Rey Lives In America's Messy Subconscious]( Ann Powers, Sept. 4 On Norman F****** Rockwell!, one of our [favorite albums]( of 2019, Lana Del Rey is at her most compelling and committed to the contradictions of her art, with its mash-up of affects and references. Lana Del Rey herself took issue with Ann Powers’ analysis; the [aftermath]( has been captivating, to say the least. - [Why Is American Classical Music So White?]( Tom Huizenga, Sept. 20 American composers in the early 19th century resisted the influence of early African American music. Had slave songs, spirituals and jazz taken root in American classical music, Joseph Horowitz argues, we’d have an entirely different landscape today. - [Forgotten: The Things We Lost In Kanye's Gospel Year]( Ashon Crawley, Oct. 23 2019 was quite a year for Kanye West, who rose from the ashes of a career flameout and took his faith on tour. Ahead of the release of the rapper’s gospel-inspired album, scholar Ashon Crawley asked: Does engaging with West’s self-styled salvation forget what gospel music was truly created to do? - [Joe Henry's Next Second Chance]( Grayson Haver Currin, Nov. 15 A year ago, doctors told Joe Henry he had less than a year to live. Now in remission, his 15th album, The Gospel According to Water, written in the throes of illness but recorded as it became clear he would survive, is as emotionally nuanced as anything he’s ever made. - [To Reset Your Life As A Pop Star, Try Walking Across America]( Grayson Haver Currin, Nov. 19 On a self-imposed sabbatical seven months removed from the release of a tormented third album, Mike Posner started walking in Asbury Park with the goal of reaching Venice Beach by foot. The journey, snakebite and all, proved transformative. - [American Anthem]( This year saw the conclusion of NPR’s series American Anthem, which comprised stories about 50 songs that have become galvanizing forces in American culture: from Bruce Springsteen’s [misunderstood critique]( of America to Bikini Kill’s rebel cry of [feminist friendship]( to TLC’s [smash hit]( about misbehaving men to Robyn’s [community-building]( ode to loneliness. You can read all the stories at [npr.org/anthem](. - [Turning the Tables: 8 Women Who Invented American Popular Music]( The third season of Turning the Tables focused on eight women whose music and lives left an indelible mark on the sounds of popular music today. You can read about how [Maybelle Carter]( became an iconic mentor and matriarch in country music; how [Ella Fitzgerald]( shattered glass with her powerful voice; how [Rosetta Tharpe]( nearly disappeared from history, despite having invented rock and roll — and more at [npr.org/turningthetables](. - [A Borrowed World: Streaming As The New Reality]( A few years ago, we examined streaming at its tipping point; this summer, we decided to revisit the realities of today’s streaming economy. We considered [Spotify’s dual identify]( — maintaining a struggling reputation among artists but used in massive numbers by those artists’ fans — and what a more [equitable alternative]( might look like. We even explored what old tech taught us about today (consider the [humble cassette]( or where today’s evolution will take [creatives in the future](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Tiny Desk Catie Dull/NPR ¡Feliz Navidad! For a special Christmas Tiny Desk concert, we decked the Desk and hosted [Los Lobos]( who recently released the group’s first-ever holiday album, Llegó Navidad. It felt like a festive family affair, as Los Lobos shared a set of bilingual songs from the Latin holiday songbook. --------------------------------------------------------------- One More Thing [A long time ago, in an NPR far, far away...]( Listen to your favorite NPR Member station live on your Alexa or Google Home device. Just tell your smart speaker to, [“Play NPR.”]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [nprmusic@npr.org](mailto:nprmusic@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? 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