Music & Technology
The Music Channel teaches us about the industry, the instruments and the genres. These articles explain why music is such an important fabric of our collective soul.
Learn More / Page 2
5 Things You Didn't Know About Bob Marley
Emancipate yourself from mental slavery by learning more about this reggae superstar.
How Does the YMCA Feel About the Village People Song 'Y.M.C.A.'?
Nearly four decades after the Village People anthem hit the discos, the song's namesake still isn't really ready to fully embrace it.
5 Things You Didn't Know About 'London Calling'
When the Clash started working on their third album, they had no idea it would be so influential.
5 Things You Didn't Know About Jim Morrison
Which other famous rock star inspired the Lizard King's persona?
Is Music Sampling Dead? Not So Fast
The copyright infringement lawsuits didn't kill off sampling. Musicians just figured out how to hide it better so artists often can't tell they're being sampled.
Do We Really Stop Caring About Music As We Get Older?
Not everyone agrees that as you age, you only want to hear the oldies.
What Does Your Playlist Say About Your Personality?
Whether you love cheery pop tunes or melodramatic ballads has a lot to do with your age and gender, right? Actually, your musical taste depends more on your personality.
Pianist Plays Gorgeous Music While Floating in the Arctic Ocean
Ludovico Einaudi's 'Elegy for the Arctic' is part of a Greenpeace campaign to draw attention to the region's rapidly melting ice.
The Sound of Ancient Irish Horns, Rediscovered in Modern India
A musicologist uncovers a surprising link between the musical cultures of ancient Europe and India.
See the Band, Buy the T-shirt (More Easily)
You want to wear the cool T-shirt the day after the concert; the band wants your cash to fuel life on the road. The Merch Cat app is geared at making both things happen.
Killer Mike Talks Activism and Music at SxSW
Music executive Shanti Das and rapper Killer Mike have a conversation about Atlanta, music and social justice.
Red Lobster Owes Beyoncé Some Free Cheddar Bay Biscuits
But does name-checking a product in a song always mean a big sales bump?
Composing in Code: Musician-Programmers Are Changing the Way Music Is Made
Here's a riddle: If a musician creates an artificial intelligence that composes music, then who actually wrote the concerto?
Love Kate Bush? Join the Crowd. Literally.
Reenactments of the 'Wuthering Heights' video are happening all over the world in July.
5 Times David Bowie Was Censored in the Past
Overt religious themes? Canine-human hybrids? Gender-bending marionettes? Yep, David Bowie did it all, and often faced censorship because of it.
So Now Bling Means Blink, Drake? How Hip-Hop Pushes Linguistic Evolution
From fleek to bling to hood, hip-hop and teen culture influence the evolution of American and global English.
Where Have All the Angry Mainstream Musicians Gone?
Protest music? What's that? Maybe musicians today are too concerned about getting paid. Or maybe there are ones who care, but industry forces make it tough to get heard.
Now You Can Sing 'Happy Birthday' Without Looking Over Your Shoulder (Probably)
Now that "Happy Birthday to You" is free to use, people everywhere will publicly sing it, right? Most likely. But the answer's not so clear.
You Might Not Get to Hear Wu-Tang Clan's Latest Album
That infamous pharma exec Martin Shkreli just bought the sole copy. Bummer.
Not All Musicians Live Fast and Die Young
Sure, some do, but it depends on what kind of music you're listening to.
The Perfect Length for a Pop Song
Do we really prefer three-minute radio songs, or is that just what we're given?
Why do banjos sound so twangy?
At a glance, the banjo seems like a pretty simple instrument. In actuality, a complex combination of acoustics, physics and musicianship work in tandem to produce that signature twang.
Was Major Tom a real astronaut?
Did David Bowie really write "Space Oddity" to pay tribute to a brave astronaut who was lost in space? Or is it solely a testament to Bowie's unique brilliance?
What does 'digitally remastered' mean?
Your favorite band has just digitally remastered and reissued all of its albums. You already own everything they've ever made — should you buy them all again?
Who was the fifth Beatle?
John, Paul, George and Ringo were the Fab Four of The Beatles – or did they have a fifth member? Legend hints there was one, but who was he?
The Latest
Before Earhart, There Was Aviation Trailblazer Bessica Raiche
October 18, 2019
When Presidential Approval Ratings Really Matter
October 18, 2019
Sea Urchins Are the Edible Pincushions of the Ocean
October 18, 2019