Dan Rager (Cleveland State): The Evolution and Antithesis of Western Music. Jason Parham, Kiese Laymon, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Clover Hope, and Matthew McKnight explore the state of black liberation music released in the last year. When pop broke up with jazz: Robert Siegel interviews Ben Yagoda, author of The B-Side: The Death of Tin Pan Alley and the Rebirth of the Great American Song. Marion Jacobson on the rise and fall (and rise) of the ukulele. The hunting of Billie Holiday: Johann Hari on how Lady Day found herself in the middle of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics’ early fight for survival. What if grunge never happened? Zachary Lipez on an alternate history. Tony Gervino interviews Jay Z on Tidal, Jimmy Iovine, rewriting the music business rulebook. Danny Vinik on why Jay Z’s streaming music service makes no economic sense. Tearing up the pop charts: If popular music is escapist fun, why are the songs so sad? Michelle Orange on Kim Gordon, Kurt Cobain, and the mythology of punk. Word to your Mother (Tongue): Can hip hop save endangered languages? Jesse David Fox and Lauretta Charlton rank the 37 contributors to We Are the World. Nick Holdstock explores musical traditions and pop sensibilities in Xinjiang, China. How did Kurt Cobain really die? Kelly Conaboy on the murder conspiracy theory, explained. Music to die for: Dianna Theadora Kenny on how genre affects popular musicians’ life expectancy. The U.N. releases a list of world’s happiest songs.
