Accessibility links
Pop NPR Music stories that discuss pop music.

Pop

The Culture Corner: 40 years of Prince's 'Purple Rain'

Prince's Purple Rain Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

The Culture Corner: 40 years of Prince's 'Purple Rain'

WXPN

World Cafe correspondent John Morrison looks back at the record that helped turn the Minneapolis musician into a bonafide legend.

The Culture Corner on World Cafe

Listen · 15:31
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198912449/1256118781" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Talia Schlanger on her debut album, 'Grace for the Going'

Talia Schlanger Katherine Holland/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Katherine Holland/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Talia Schlanger on her debut album, 'Grace for the Going'

WXPN

The former World Cafe host returns to talk about leaving the radio world to pursue a music career, plus she performs songs from her new record.

Talia Schlanger on World Cafe

Listen · 45:04
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198912435/1256103451" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Vice President Harris gets ready to speak to campaign staff at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del., on Monday.

Vice President Harris gets ready to speak to campaign staff at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del., on Monday. Harris won the crucial backing of Democratic heavyweight Nancy Pelosi to lead the party against former President Donald Trump in November after President Biden's stunning exit from the 2024 race. As the endorsements stacked up, the 59-year-old Harris made her first public appearance since Biden's announcement in a ceremony at the White House, where she warmly praised the outgoing president's "unmatched" achievements. Erin Schaff/Pool/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Erin Schaff/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Music

Harris walks out to Beyoncé’s 'Freedom' in her 1st appearance as a presidential candidate

The vice president, an avid Beyoncé fan, received a rare clearance to use the superstar's music before delivering a speech at her campaign headquarters in Delaware.

Paul Weller on his latest album, '66'

Paul Weller Nicole Nodland/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Nicole Nodland/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Paul Weller on his latest album, '66'

WXPN

World Cafe talks to "The Modfather" about making his 17th studio album, featuring collaborations with Noel Gallagher and Bobby Gillespie.

Paul Weller on World Cafe

Listen · 14:34
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198912430/1256061052" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage

Grammy award-winning soul singer Mavis Staples Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images

It's Been a Minute

Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage

This week, the legendary singer and civil rights figure Mavis Staples is turning 85 and there's no sign of her slowing down: She released a new song, "Worthy," and a children's book, Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples.

Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage

Listen · 23:21
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197956774/1255402713" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Camera Obscura make their return after a decade of uncertainty, grief

Camera Obscura Robert Perry/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Robert Perry/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Camera Obscura make their return after a decade of uncertainty, grief

WXPN

Plus, the Scottish band performs songs from their latest album, Look to the East, Look to the West.

Camera Obscura on World Cafe

Listen · 33:51
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198912318/1255381185" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Bess Atwell on her latest album, 'Light Sleeper'

Bess Atwell Leo Sartain/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Leo Sartain/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Bess Atwell on her latest album, 'Light Sleeper'

WXPN

The Brighton, U.K., singer embraces more vulnerability in her third studio album.

Bess Atwell on World Cafe

Listen · 34:31
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198912273/1255334588" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Charli XCX and Lorde sure did make the internet go crazy
Victor Boyko; Michael Tran / AFP/Getty Images

Perspective

It's Been a Minute

Charli XCX and Lorde sure did make the internet go crazy

The internet freaked out when Charli XCX and Lorde revealed - and put to rest - their pop girl rivalry on Charli's "Girl, so confusing" remix. That same day, Brandy and Monica seemed to settle their decades long feud when they appeared on the remix of Ariana Grande's version of "The Boy is Mine." But while the pop girls are healing, a lot of fans still seem to want blood - can this music heal us? To break it all down, Brittany is joined by NPR Music Editor Hazel Cills, and Pop Pantheon podcast host, DJ Louie XIV.

Charli XCX and Lorde sure did make the internet go crazy

Listen · 38:03
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197956736/1254928166" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
The Culture Corner: How Cibo Matto quietly influenced New York in the '90s

Cibo Matto's 1999 album, Stereo Type A Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

The Culture Corner: How Cibo Matto quietly influenced New York in the '90s

WXPN

World Cafe correspondent John Morrison explains how the alt rock band's 1999 record subverted stereotypes at the time.

The Culture Corner on World Cafe

Listen · 10:29
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198911427/1254878803" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Eric Slick on his latest album, 'New Age Rage'

Eric Slick Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Eric Slick on his latest album, 'New Age Rage'

WXPN

The longtime drummer of Dr. Dog joins us to talk about letting his personality shine through on his new solo album.

Eric Slick on World Cafe

Listen · 37:17
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198911411/1254723102" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Brittany Davis brings their life into vivid focus on 'Image Issues'

Brittany Davis Lance Mercer/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Lance Mercer/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Brittany Davis brings their life into vivid focus on 'Image Issues'

WXPN

Born without sight, Davis uses their mastery of sound to bring their inner turmoil, and joy, to life on their new album.

Brittany Davis on World Cafe

Listen · 41:13
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198911335/1254203582" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Eminem, performing here during the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show at SoFi Stadium in 2022, returns to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week with

Eminem, performing here during the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show at SoFi Stadium in 2022, returns to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week with "Houdini." Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Music News

The top songs of the week take a nostalgia trip, courtesy of Eminem

For a seventh straight week, Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department rules the Billboard 200. On the singles chart, Eminem references both the Steve Miller Band and his own past glory.

TIKTOK 50 CHART

Listen · 2:13
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5001850/nx-s1-827519ed-8ec9-4b49-8baa-a502c628037b" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
World Cafe celebrates Pride Month

From left: Robyn, Christine and the Queens, Janelle Monáe, MUNA, Arlo Parks and Perfume Genius From left: Heji Shin, Eloïse Labarbe-Lafon, Mason Rose, Isaac Schneider, Alexis Waespi and Gilles Laurent/Courtesy of the artists hide caption

toggle caption
From left: Heji Shin, Eloïse Labarbe-Lafon, Mason Rose, Isaac Schneider, Alexis Waespi and Gilles Laurent/Courtesy of the artists

World Cafe

World Cafe celebrates Pride Month

WXPN

We're re-airing some of our favorite interviews with queer music icons throughout June.

Jordan Mackampa on his latest album, 'WELCOME HOME, KID!'

Jordan Mackampa Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Jordan Mackampa on his latest album, 'WELCOME HOME, KID!'

WXPN

The British musicians says his latest effort is a full-circle moment.

Jordan Mackampa on World Cafe

Listen · 28:06
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198911200/1253048765" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org