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NPR Podcasts
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Welcome to your all-in-one destination for every NPR Music podcast. We break down the best new albums to hit streaming each week on New Music Friday; we share the latest songs worthy of your playlists on All Songs Considered; there’s off-the-rails conversations (and chisme!) about Latin music on Alt.Latino. The NPR Music channel is your hub for new records, iconic artists and cult heroes, free of algorithms and full of surprises. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for NPR Music.

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  1. 34m ago ·  Bonus · NPR Podcasts+ Only

    Over & Over: “It’s Not Right but It’s Okay” by Whitney Houston (NPR+)

    When Whitney Houston releases this song at the end of the 1990s, the stakes are high. She hasn't put out a solo album in about eight years; she’s made it big on the silver screen, but the tabloid aspects of her life are taking over her story. On top of that, the slow jam ballads Houston made her name on are losing their grip as the dominant sound in mainstream R&B. So how does she respond?  This week on Over and Over, NPR Music critic Ann Powers and editor Daoud Tyler-Ameen discuss “It’s Not Right but It’s Okay” by Whitney Houston, from 1998.  Check out more episodes on songs that keep coming back by looking for “Over and Over” in the NPR Music podcast feed. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one by signing up at plus.npr.org. Follow NPR Music coverage and the Tiny Desk Concerts at npr.org/music.

    Over & Over: “It’s Not Right but It’s Okay” by Whitney Houston (NPR+)

  2. 1d ago

    Alt.Latino: Lighting candles on our sonic altar: Dolores Huerta and more

    The Mexican folk celebration of Día de los Muertos transcends borders and cultures these days. It is so widely celebrated that you can buy plastic marigolds and papél picado (the intricately cut designs on tissue paper) and even fake sugar skulls for your home altars on Amazon. And yet that popularity hasn't seemed to diminish the actual intent: an offering to the spirits of our friends and family who have passed, as a reminder that they are still in our hearts. Years ago on Alt.Latino we started a tradition of making those offerings through words and music for a Sonic Altar: songs, dedications, lots of emotions and more than a few tears. This year, we dedicate our altar to the iconic civil rights icon Dolores Huerta by returning to an Alt.Latino episode from Sept. 2017, when she mixed her passion for social justice with jazz. We also make some time for a special personal dedication, and remember some prominent Latin musicians who left us this year: Ruben Rada, Roxana Amed and Willie Colón. This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    Alt.Latino: Lighting candles on our sonic altar: Dolores Huerta and more

  3. 1d ago

    The best songs we've missed this year

    As we enter the homestretch of 2026, we pause to catch up on some of the great tracks we missed from earlier in the year. This includes a stunning, ever-shifting earworm from a bedroom pop artist out of Northern Iowa known as Kinji, maximalist polyrhythms from the composer and electronic artist Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, the singular voice of Mexican singer Silvana Estrada and more. AltLatino host Anamaria Sayre joins All Songs Considered’s Robin Hilton. Featured artists and songs: (00:00) Intro (01:49) Kinji: “Windburn” (08:42) Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith: “Ruin” (17:37) Rita Payés & Lucía Fumero: “Rueda eterna” (25:32) Lizzie Weber: “Truth Teller” (33:20) Pedro Mizutani: “Queria Ter Nove” (39:58) Lockimara: “Tastes Like” (47:04) Silvana Estrada: “Pensarte” (53:54) Lennon Stella: “Unforgivable Things” Tell us what you think with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    The best songs we've missed this year

  4. 6d ago

    New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 30

    Sampa The Great. Moses Boyd. Kaitlin Butts. Guest host Lars Gotrich breaks down the best new albums out Friday, Oct. 30 with DJs from around the NPR Music network: Jewly Hight from WPLN in Nashville, Matt Byars from WUOT in Knoxville and Raina Douris from World Cafe in Philadelphia. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.  The Starting 5 (02:00) Album No. 1- Kaitlin Butts, 'Hello, Honky Tonk' (08:52) Album No. 2- Sampa The Great, 'Nu Zamrock' (16:48) Album No. 3- Kali Malone, 'Burning Song' (22:42) Album No. 4- Moses Boyd, 'Songs For Sinners' (29:34) Album No. 5- P***, 'you made me / skin on linen' (37:52) The Lightning Round - 2nd Grade, 'Girls and Boys'- NØ MAN, 'Between the Sword and the Neck'- DIIV, 'ZIRP!'- Takuya Nakamura, 'Shape The Future'- Joyce Moreno, 'Never Too Soon' Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist. Credits:Host: Lars GotrichGuests: Jewly Hight, Matt Byars, Raina DourisAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Dora LeviteEditors: Elle Mannion, Otis HartExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedSpecial thanks to Sheldon Pearce and Felix Contreras Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 30

  5. Oct 28

    Alt.Latino: Chuwi steps into the spotlight - and more new music

    As we poured ourselves into the El Tiny takeover of the Tiny Desk, a month's worth of new music piled up in our inboxes. So, this week, we dig in and bring the long-awaited debut album from Puerto Rico's Benito-approved ensemble Chuwi, the rap-electronica of Monterrey's alternative experimentalist Nsqk, and a track of resilience in the face of an earthquake's destruction. Plus, Sofía Campos, The Mars Volta, and a deep dive into the glory days of mambo in New York City. Artists, albums and songs mentioned in this episode: (01:00) Chuwi, 'Libertad'(09:33) Carlos Vives, Nidia Gongora, Juliana, "Aquí Seguiré"(12:43) Nsqk, 'mosca'(18:07) The Mambo Legends Orchestra, "La Rumbantela"(24:35) Sofía Campos, 'Minha Beleza'(26:59) The Mars Volta,"Voice In My Knives - Poseedora De Mi Sombra" This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    Alt.Latino: Chuwi steps into the spotlight - and more new music

  6. Oct 27

    Why does everything in music feel fake?

    It’s been an unprecedented year for arguing about “fake” music, and it’s not just AI. From bot-powered ticket sales and social media campaigns to manufactured artist identities and an endless wave of complaints against nepo babies, 2026 feels like a turning point in the timeless debate about authenticity in music. This week on All Songs Considered, NPR Music’s Ann Powers and Isabella Gomez Sarmiento join host Robin Hilton to break down how we’ve reached this point, what it means, and where we go from here. Tell us what you think with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    Why does everything in music feel fake?

  7. Oct 23

    New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 23

    Anderson .Paak and Cordae. Michael Kiwanuka. Fenne Lily. Host Stephen Thompson breaks down the best albums out Friday, Oct. 23 with DJs from around the NPR Music network: Francesca Harding from KCRW in Los Angeles, Erin Wolf from Radio Milwaukee and Alex Newman from KMHD Jazz Radio in Portland, Ore. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:47) Album No. 1- Anderson .Paak & Cordae, 'Heavy Is The Crown' (07:34) Album No. 2- Michael Kiwanuka, 'Fudge' (14:33) Album No. 3- Fenne Lily, 'Win Win' (20:34) Album No. 4- Fine, 'Jazz dreams' (27:07) Album No. 5- Surprise Chef, 'Frogs In A Pond' (33:53) The Lightning Round - Shabazz Palaces, 'It's a Style Sport'- Claud, 'Me and the Music'- Josh Johnson, 'Animative'- The Olivia Tremor Control, 'The Same Place'- Jlin & Third Coast Percussion, 'Vernacular' Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist. Credits:Host: Stephen ThompsonGuests: Francesca Harding, Erin Wolf, Alex NewmanAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Dora LeviteEditors: Elle Mannion, Otis HartExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedSpecial thanks to Ann Powers, Lars Gotrich and Tom Huizenga Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 23

  8. Oct 22

    Over and Over: "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondells (NPR+)

    More than any song we’ve covered yet in this series about songs that persist in culture, "Crimson and Clover" is a stealth classic. Maybe you heard it in 1968 after its rough mix was leaked by a radio station and it became a top-40 hit. Maybe you only know it from a popular rock ’n’ roll cover in 1980s, or when it became a singalong in an emo song in the 2000s. Maybe it’s not even the lyrics that you recognize, but those three heavy, insistent chords. But it’s a song that’s stuck around, that feels endlessly replayable, and that helped inspire the new name for this NPR Music series: “Over and Over.”  This week on Over and Over, NPR Music critic Ann Powers and editor Daoud Tyler-Ameen discuss “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James and the Shondells, from 1968.  Check out more episodes on songs that keep coming back by looking for “Over and Over” in the NPR Music podcast feed. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one by signing up at plus.npr.org. Follow NPR Music coverage and the Tiny Desk Concerts at npr.org/music. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    Over and Over: "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondells (NPR+)
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About

Welcome to your all-in-one destination for every NPR Music podcast. We break down the best new albums to hit streaming each week on New Music Friday; we share the latest songs worthy of your playlists on All Songs Considered; there’s off-the-rails conversations (and chisme!) about Latin music on Alt.Latino. The NPR Music channel is your hub for new records, iconic artists and cult heroes, free of algorithms and full of surprises. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for NPR Music.

Information

  • Channel
    NPR Podcasts
  • Creator
    NPR
  • Years Active
    2005 - 2026
  • Episodes
    487
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2011-2026 NPR - For Personal Use Only
  • Show Website
    NPR Music
  • Provider
    NPR

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