World Music

Composer Jeff Beal (“House of Cards") has created new music for the Oscar-winning silent movie “Sunrise: A Song For Two Humans,” directed by German expressionist F.W. Murnau in 1927.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Tom Schnabel revisits some musical gems from the past, from African and Corsican music to jazz and gospel favorites.

from Music News

Martin Luther King, Jr. grew up listening to and singing church songs, and saw gospel and folk music as natural tools to further the civil rights movement.

Special: A musical journey in the life of MLK, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. grew up listening to and singing church songs, and saw gospel and folk music as natural tools to further the civil rights movement.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Olivia Wilde and Bryan Ling got inside the heads of teenagers to get it just right.

Behind the Sounds: The music in ‘Booksmart’ is all about finding yourself

Olivia Wilde and Bryan Ling got inside the heads of teenagers to get it just right.

from KCRW Features

Artists to watch: Moses Sumney, Porridge Radio, Bonny Light Horseman, Sorry, and Tame Impala.

The sound of 2020: Pop meets indie, and digital DIY

Artists to watch: Moses Sumney, Porridge Radio, Bonny Light Horseman, Sorry, and Tame Impala.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Composer Daniel Lopatin says the score for the film was built around Adam Sandler’s character, Howard Ratner.

Behind the Sounds: ‘Uncut Gems’ music builds to an explosive ending

Composer Daniel Lopatin says the score for the film was built around Adam Sandler’s character, Howard Ratner.

from KCRW Features

Musician Cedric Burnside is preserving what his famed grandfather R.L. Burnside helped create: a rural, lo-fi, twangy-groove genre.

Blues musician Cedric Burnside carries on the tradition of his grandfather

Musician Cedric Burnside is preserving what his famed grandfather R.L. Burnside helped create: a rural, lo-fi, twangy-groove genre.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Make a resolution to see more live music in 2020, starting with these terrific shows around town!

January Concert Picks from Rhythm Planet

Make a resolution to see more live music in 2020, starting with these terrific shows around town!

from Music News

Ring in the new year with a new playlist of recent releases from Rhythm Planet!

New Tunes for the New Year

Ring in the new year with a new playlist of recent releases from Rhythm Planet!

from Music News

Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir created the soundtrack for “ Joker ,” which opened earlier this month and is now the biggest R-rated film in history.

Hildur Guðnadóttir composed ‘Joker’ soundtrack before the film was shot

Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir created the soundtrack for “ Joker ,” which opened earlier this month and is now the biggest R-rated film in history.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Tom Schnabel picks his favorite jazz, world, and classical releases of 2019.

Rhythm Planet’s Best of 2019

Tom Schnabel picks his favorite jazz, world, and classical releases of 2019.

from Music News

KCRW’s DJs compiled their best albums, songs, and artists of the year and the decade. Lots of LA based artists made the lists. KCRW DJ Anne Litt tells us about some of them.

Best LA musicians of 2019: Billie Eilish, Finneas, and more

KCRW’s DJs compiled their best albums, songs, and artists of the year and the decade. Lots of LA based artists made the lists. KCRW DJ Anne Litt tells us about some of them.

from Greater LA

KCRW’s DJs compiled their best albums, songs, and artists of the year and the decade. Lots of LA based artists made the lists. KCRW DJ Anne Litt tells us about some of them.

Best LA musicians of 2019: Billie Eilish, Finneas, and more

KCRW’s DJs compiled their best albums, songs, and artists of the year and the decade. Lots of LA based artists made the lists. KCRW DJ Anne Litt tells us about some of them.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Scafaria says that she picked the music for the movie before she landed the job to direct it.

Behind the Sounds: Lorene Scafaria and Jason Markey on ‘Hustlers’

Scafaria says that she picked the music for the movie before she landed the job to direct it.

from KCRW Features

“Imperial March” is the standard by which all movie villain themes are judged. That’s according to Frank Lehman, author of “The Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars.”

Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, the Emperor: ‘Star Wars’ villains get the best music

“Imperial March” is the standard by which all movie villain themes are judged. That’s according to Frank Lehman, author of “The Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars.”

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Deck your musical halls with classics and holiday fare from places near and far!

Rhythm Planet holiday mix feat. classics and sounds from Brazil, Cuba, Syria, Lebanon, Jamaica, Trinidad and Hawai’i.

Deck your musical halls with classics and holiday fare from places near and far!

from Music News

When Joe Pesci is not starring in holiday classics and Martin Scorsese gangster films, he’s working on his jazz career.

Joe Pesci’s unheralded jazz career

When Joe Pesci is not starring in holiday classics and Martin Scorsese gangster films, he’s working on his jazz career.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Mary J. Blige released her first album in 1992, and the awards rained down.

The career and influence of Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige released her first album in 1992, and the awards rained down.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Bruce Springsteen is often seen as the the All-American man, especially with his blue jeans and Super Bowl halftime performances with the huge firework displays.  Springsteen also…

Bruce Springsteen’s appeal to LGBTQ women

Bruce Springsteen is often seen as the the All-American man, especially with his blue jeans and Super Bowl halftime performances with the huge firework displays.  Springsteen also…

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Linda Ronstadt sang rock, folk, Mexican mariachi and operetta. She won 10 Grammys, and was the only female artist with five platinum-selling albums in a row.

Linda Ronstadt, from arena rock to operetta and Mexican folk

Linda Ronstadt sang rock, folk, Mexican mariachi and operetta. She won 10 Grammys, and was the only female artist with five platinum-selling albums in a row.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand