Music

Court rules that Trump’s name must be removed from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 02:04:56 GMT

A Washington DC federal district judge ruled that the president’s stacking of the board with his loyalists and placing the Trump name on the Kennedy Center was a “procedurally defective and substantively unlawful action.”

“Saxophone Colossus” Sonny Rollins dies at 95

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 01:28:23 GMT

His death marks the physical and “biographical” end of an era that began with the founding of bebop in New York during the final years of World War II.

The “Great American State Fair” debacle: Trump’s megalomania and extreme isolation

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 02:00:25 GMT

One of the centerpieces of the anniversary is a mixed martial arts cage match scheduled to take place June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House.

Miles Davis at 100, a complex figure reflecting a complex time

Sat, 30 May 2026 01:31:38 GMT

The jazz world is celebrating the centenary of jazz trumpet master and bandleader Miles Davis, one of the 20th century’s most impactful musicians.

Michael: An exercise in image control

Wed, 13 May 2026 23:24:18 GMT

An estate-approved film about Michael Jackson is an exploitation that leans heavily on his music and provides a superficial, selective view of his life.

1,100 artists call for boycott of Eurovision over Israel’s Gaza genocide

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:03:01 GMT

The letter is a moving assertion of opposition to the ongoing genocide and the cultural devastation that accompanies it.

Michael Tilson Thomas, acclaimed American conductor, has died at the age of 81

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:55:22 GMT

Like his mentor Leonard Bernstein, Tilson Thomas was known for his communication skills and his ability to attract new audiences to classical music.

Dismissal of Boston Symphony Orchestra conductor Andris Nelsons provokes uproar

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:37:43 GMT

The capitalist crisis and the “donor class” are leading the BSO, the Metropolitan Opera, and other leading cultural institutions into the abyss.

Gino Paoli, leading voice of postwar Italian popular music, dies at 91

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 01:15:15 GMT

Paoli’s work helped define the “cantautore” tradition and expressed Italy’s complex cultural transformation amid postwar reconstruction and social change.

Blues singer John Hammond dead at 83

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 02:27:01 GMT

While widely known and respected among musicians, Hammond purposefully avoided the trappings of celebrity bestowed upon “big name” artists.

Brit awards and Baftas: Criticising genocide and the rise of the far-right and being censored for it

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 18:54:25 GMT

Viewers complained at the censorship on social media, with one commenting, “I’ve never known the Brits bleep out so much stuff.”

The 50th anniversary remaster of Tales from Topographic Oceans by progressive rock band Yes

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 23:25:53 GMT

A remastered and much improved reissue of the controversial sixth studio album by the British progressive rock band Yes, Tales from Topographic Oceans, has been released as a 50th anniversary super deluxe edition.

Lucinda Williams’ World’s Gone Wrong: An urgent protest against the fascist danger

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 01:08:49 GMT

Formally, it could be described as a blues-rock album, but it is more importantly a call to fight against the fascist regime emerging in the US. This is a welcome development among popular musicians.

Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show highlights mass opposition to Trump

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 04:21:27 GMT

Bad Bunny’s record‑breaking Super Bowl halftime show evoked colonial and immigrant struggles and indirectly rebuked the Trump administration’s xenophobic, anti‑immigrant agenda.

Music and recording artists denounce ICE and defend immigrants at 2026 Grammys

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:03:42 GMT

A group of music artists made public statements during their acceptance speeches—Olivia Dean, Billie Eilish and Bad Bunny, in particular—in opposition to the assault by the Trump administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement on the rights of immigrants.

Lecture at the University of Michigan on Ignatz Waghalter and the Negro Symphony Orchestra

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 23:48:00 GMT

The topic of the lecture was a significant episode in the history of 20th century American and world music—the establishment of an African-American symphony orchestra, founded by conductor and composer Ignatz Waghalter.

“If you care about the world you live in, you might want to fight for it, because it might not be there next year.” A conversation with hip-hop artist Sole

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 03:26:03 GMT

Independent rap artist Sole spoke to the WSWS about the issues confronting hip-hop artists in the present situation, as well as his opposition to the Trump administration’s assault on the population.

Artists voice growing opposition to Trump, call for “general strike” and “revolution”

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 02:57:42 GMT

The upsurge of resistance, unlike anything that has been seen in decades, is beginning to find many important expressions, including among classical and popular musicians, actors, writers and even professional athletes.

Bruce Springsteen denounces ICE “Gestapo tactics” in Minneapolis occupation

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 03:07:49 GMT

The celebrated singer-songwriter dedicated a surprise performance to ICE murder victim Renee Nicole Good.

Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz on the “Trump-Kennedy” Center for the Performing Arts: “There’s no way I would set foot in it now”

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 04:26:43 GMT

The exodus of artists from the Kennedy Center began in February 2025, when Trump named himself chairman of the board of trustees.

Popular music in 2025: Signs of resistance emerge amid war, fascism and corporate conformity

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 04:03:10 GMT

Overall, musicians made their strongest statements outside the recording studio, reflecting the growing mass opposition within the world population.

Eurovision 2026 plunges deeper into political crisis as boycotts multiply

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:01:24 GMT

“Participating in Eurovision allows Israel to maintain the illusion that it is a modern and exemplary Western democracy, and thus to more easily conceal its criminal actions”, said the collective of 170 Belgian artists and cultural figures.

Trump administration lashes out after musician cancels Christmas Eve Jazz Jam to protest Kennedy Center’s new name

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 02:52:39 GMT

The threatened lawsuit over a canceled Christmas Eve concert at the renamed "Trump Kennedy Center" exposes the authoritarian bid to intimidate artists and silence dissent.

Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon: Rodgers and Hart, without much music

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 02:24:38 GMT

In this depiction of the end of Lorenz Hart’s career and his life, his legacy gets short-changed.

Five countries boycott Eurovision Song Contest protesting inclusion of Israel

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:06:51 GMT

It is highly likely that there will be further boycotts of next year’s contest, given that Israel is a global pariah.

Legendary Stax Records guitarist Steve Cropper (1941-2025)

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 04:27:08 GMT

The death of Booker T. & the M.G.s’ guitarist Steve Cropper is something of an end of an era for soul and rock and roll.

English folk singer and guitarist Martin Carthy: An appraisal of his six-decade career

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:21:01 GMT

Carthy has always seen folk as reflecting social life and conditions, so has never shied away from social and political issues.

As part of anti-Russian hysteria, Dutch venue cancels scheduled concert by renowned pianist Elisabeth Leonskaya

Sat, 22 Nov 2025 03:00:28 GMT

Officials have become entangled in the campaign to justify war against Russia and a new imperialist slaughter.

More than 1,000 artists and labels join international campaign to remove their music from Israel

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 05:37:38 GMT

No Music for Genocide and the response of large numbers of performers and musicians speak to the broad leftward shift currently under way.

Dmitri Shostakovich, at the age of 18, composed his First Symphony 100 years ago

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 01:19:45 GMT

Shostakovich is remembered by contemporaries who were interviewed many decades later as a student of single-minded determination, even as a young teenager.

Life of a Showgirl: Taylor Swift’s latest self-portrait

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 23:34:45 GMT

The new album confirms Swift’s indifference to virtually anything outside her bubble of fame, wealth and romance.

Country music’s Zach Bryan: “ICE is gonna come bust down your door”

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 01:40:25 GMT

The lyrics to the partially released song “Bad News” by Zach Bryan, denouncing ICE raids and defending immigrant families, have been the subject of a campaign by Trump administration officials against the country music star.

Strike threat at Venice’s La Fenice opera company over new conductor linked to neo-fascist Meloni government

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 01:10:05 GMT

The musicians and audience are outraged over the appointment, which has an unmistakable political motive.

Attempted prosecution of Kneecap’s Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh collapses

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:59:01 GMT

Chief magistrate Goldspring’s excoriating judgement could only come about because of the Starmer government’s attempt to ride roughshod over basic democratic norms.

Israeli conductor Ilan Volkov speaks out powerfully against Gaza genocide at BBC Proms

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 23:18:42 GMT

Israeli conductor Ilan Volkov ended his recent BBC Proms performance with a bold and powerful statement against the “atrocious and horrific” crimes being committed by Israel.

Rock musician Neil Young releases song denouncing Trump’s armed takeover of Washington, D.C. and the “billionaire fascists”

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 03:25:01 GMT

Neil Young: “No more money to the fascists The billionaire fascists Time to blackout the system”

Festival censorship of Mary Wallopers over Gaza protest backfires

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 17:00:12 GMT

Midway through their opening song, as they led chants of “Free Palestine,” festival staff cut the band’s sound and tore down the flag. The crowd booed, chanting “Let them play.”

Tom Lehrer, satirical singer-songwriter of the 1960s, is dead at 97

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 01:36:34 GMT

Lehrer, trained as a mathematician at Harvard, taught for many decades after his performing and songwriting career ended around 1970.

Wet Leg, Juan Wauters and Aesop Rock in their own separate worlds

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 23:41:30 GMT

Recent albums by artists of diverse styles point to broader problems of current popular music.

Roger Waters’ remarkable This is Not a Drill: Live from Prague concert film: A warning and call to action

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 01:06:59 GMT

The release of Roger Waters’ film of the performance in Prague on May 25, 2023 of the rock concert “This is Not a Drill” provides an opportunity for a wider global audience to experience in full a powerful expression of art and politics.

Germany’s media place the rapper Macklemore in its crosshairs

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 02:32:52 GMT

The case of Grammy Award winner Macklemore highlights the ideological depravity of the German establishment: the rapper denounces the crimes of imperialism, yet a concerted media campaign has branded him an “anti-Semite.”

Massive Attack, Kneecap, Brian Eno, Fontaines D.C. announce formation of musicians’ alliance to repel Zionist attacks

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 02:52:21 GMT

There are many political questions to be discussed and worked through, but the organization of an alliance of artists to oppose Zionist lies and attacks is a step forward.

David Cousins, songwriter and singer for the Strawbs, dead at 85

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 02:01:05 GMT

Cousins was widely recognized for his emotionally dynamic and expressive voice. He could shift from fragile vulnerability to commanding or angry theatricality within a single phrase.

Federal jury rejects most serious charges against rapper and music industry mogul Sean Combs

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 01:55:06 GMT

A federal jury in New York City acquitted Sean “Diddy” Combs of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges but convicted him of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Bands pull out of Manchester’s Radar Festival after event, under pressure from Live Nation-AMG and UK authorities, drops Bob Vylan

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 02:25:26 GMT

Bob Vylan came to international prominence recently by courageously denouncing the mass murder in Gaza at the Glastonbury Festival.

A further comment on Brian Wilson’s life and music

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 23:18:56 GMT

The cultural consciousness of posterity is enriched by Wilson’s 1962–1967 output. His greatest accomplishments during that period remain relevant, genuine, substantial, and intensely moving.

Instant Holograms on Metal Film and the return of alternative pop band Stereolab

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:54:20 GMT

War, rising inequality and resurgent fascism seem to have prompted the band to break its 15-year silence, but its musical and political approaches have not changed.

Trump administration revokes US visas for Bob Vylan over anti-genocide chants at Glastonbury

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 02:17:48 GMT

The same day the Trump administration announced it had banned the punk rock group from entering the United States, it was reported that wanted war criminal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be welcomed to Washington next Monday.

Sly Stone (1943–2025), a funk pioneer who rejected musical and racial boundaries

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 01:07:09 GMT

Famous for his hits with Sly and the Family Stone, the abundantly talented musician created infectious and enduring music in the 1960s and 1970s.

Alfred Brendel, world-famous classical pianist, is dead at 94

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:34:05 GMT

The Czech-born, Austrian pianist had wide interests and an international outlook, and was best known for his dedication to the works of Beethoven and Schubert.