The Best Articles in Music
The most useful articles and videos in Music from around the web—beginners to advanced—curated by thought leaders and our community. We focus on timeless pieces and update the list whenever we discover new, must-read articles or videos—make sure to bookmark and revisit this page.
Top 5 Music Articles
At a glance: these are the articles that have been most read, shared, and saved in Music by Refind users.
Videos
Watch a video to get a quick overview.
Andrea Bocelli: Music For Hope
On Easter Sunday (April 12, 2020), by invitation of the City and of the Duomo cathedral of Milan, Italian global music icon Andrea Bocelli will give a solo p...
When making your debut album almost kills you
The journey Vernon took in making For Emma, Forever Ago has become something of an indie-folk legend: he recorded the album at his father's hunting cabin aft...
What should you listen to when you want to focus?
Shared by 472, including Johannes Dornisch, Albert Ràfols
Trending
These links are currently making the rounds in Music on Refind.
Will women overturn the world of classical conducting?
Will a new generation of women on the podium perpetuate the tyrannical charisma of their male predecessors or overturn it?
What makes that song swing? At last, physicists unravel a jazz mystery
For nearly a century, jazz musicians have debated what gives songs that propulsive, groovy feel that makes you want to move with the music. The secret may lie in subtle nuances in a soloist's timing.
Shania Twain Says Her Songs Belong to Everybody
“You write them and you live them in that moment. Then, you let them go,” she says. But with a new album and tour, the music-industry “auntie” still has a lot to give.
Why is Spotify full of faster versions of pop hits? Let’s bring you up to speed
Sped-up versions of existing songs are becoming more popular than the original versions. But who’s behind the trend?
Why Do Kids Hate Music Lessons?
As a former violin student, I decided to investigate why so many promising players quit early
Short Articles
Short on time? Check out these useful short articles in Music—all under 10 minutes.
Can you ‘feel’ the music? You’re probably an empathetic person
People who are more empathic toward others are also more likely to have more feeling for the emotions communicated in music
Like Wordle, but for Music
Guess the song from the intro in as few tries as possible.
How the Billboard Hot 100 Lost Interest in the Key Change
One of the key changes—pun intended—to the pop charts in the last 60 years is the demise of key changes. What happened?
Obsolete Sounds
The world's biggest collection of obsolete sounds and disappearing sounds - remixed and reimagined by artists all over the world.
Nick Cave on Music, Mystery, and the Relationship Between Vulnerability and Freedom
“There is more going on than we can see or understand, and we need to find a way to lean into the mystery of things…. and recognise the evident value in doing that, and summon the coura…
Long Articles
These are some of the most-read long-form articles in Music.
Every Song With Over 1 Billion Spotify Streams
View the full-resolution version of this infographic <
Sound – Bartosz Ciechanowski
Interactive article explaining how sound works.
Torment and Triumph: The Remarkable Story Behind Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”
A hymn of rage, a hymn of redemption, and a timeless love letter to the possible.
How Bob Dylan used the ancient practice of ‘imitatio’ to craft some of the most original songs…
Because Dylan draws from songs from the past, he has been accused of plagiarism. But this view has been colored by a distorted understanding of the creative process.
The 50 Best Albums of 2022
Featuring Björk, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Rosalía, the Weeknd, Alex G, and more
Thought Leaders
We monitor hundreds of thought leaders, influencers, and newsletters in Music, including:
NPR Music
For the love of music.
Song Exploder
A podcast and Netflix series where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. By @HrishiHirway.
Vulture
Devouring culture. Find us on Instagram: @Vulture Get Vulture's daily newsletter: http://nym.ag/39gtEv0
NME
The world’s defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking what’s new and what’s next since 1952. Follow us for news, interviews & more: http://bnd.link/nme
WIRED
Where tomorrow is realized || Sign up for our newsletters: http://WIRED.com/newsletter
Publications
We monitor hundreds of publications, blogs, newsletters, and news sources in Music, including:
The Ringer
Sports. TV. Movies. Pop Culture. Music.
Aeon+Psyche
Aeon is a magazine of ideas and culture. Psyche is our sister magazine focused on the human condition. Visit http://aeon.co and http://psyche.co for more.
The Pudding
The Pudding is a digital publication that explains ideas debated in culture with visual essays. Email us: sup@pudding.cool Support us: http://patreon.com/thepudding
Visual Capitalist
Data-driven visual content focused on global trends, investing, technology, and the economy.
Stratechery
Free Articles from http://stratechery.com. For Daily Updates, follow @StratecheryMO. For the author, follow @benthompson.
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Which sources does Refind monitor in Music?
We monitor hundreds of sources in Music, including The Ringer, Aeon+Psyche, The Pudding, Visual Capitalist, Stratechery, and many more.
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We follow dozens of thought leaders in Music, including NPR Music, Song Exploder, Vulture, NME, WIRED.
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