A catchy hook, an infectious chant: an earworm is a simple thing. Writing one, however, is not. Here’s why earworms are so effective – and hard to create.
Everyone from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga has sung from The Great American Songbook – classic songs so familiar they are woven into our cultural fabric.
We look back to a time when jazz was the dominant form of popular music and could be heard emanating from radio stations and concert halls around the world.
The origins of heavy metal are often disputed... We attempt to track down the history of the term and answer the question, Where does heavy metal come from?
The sophisticated sound of symphonic soul filled dancefloors and bedrooms in the 70s, thanks to the pioneering work of Barry White, Isaac Hayes, and more.
Hailed as the birthplace of both the blues and rock’n’roll, Memphis, Tennessee, is a must-visit city for music lovers around the world.
For every anthem and romantic ballad, female artists have also asserted their independence through empowering lyrics, challenging the constraints of gender stereotypes, bad relationships or the music industry itself.
With an emphasis on precision and speed, thrash metal emerged in the early 80s to become the dominant form of heavy metal throughout the decade.
Girl groups go all the way back to the birth of pop, and their long and honorable dedication to delighting the ears deserves far more recognition than it gets.
It wasn’t easy for musicians to be openly feminist – or, indeed, to be openly women. But right from the start, they’ve been there...
Founded in 1939 by Alfred Lion, Blue Note is loved, respected, and revered as one of the most important record labels in the history of music.
Steeped in tradition while pushing music into new frontiers, modern R&B has infiltrated the mainstream and become the go-to sound for pop music.
Music and art will always go together, as artwork can be as much a part of a record as the sound. Music fans have always taken pleasure from looking again and again at old album covers.
The history of recorded jazz is hard to pin down. So many conflicting stories make up a rich patchwork that guides us towards the truth of how jazz began.
New Orleans music has a rich history. Whether you’re in town for Mardi Gras, or seeking authentic jazz performances, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
