Ann Powers is NPR Music's critic and correspondent. She writes for NPR's music news blog, The Record, and she can be heard on NPR's newsmagazines and music programs.
One of the nation's most notable music critics, Powers has been writing for The Record, NPR's blog about finding, making, buying, sharing and talking about music, since April 2011.
Powers served as chief pop music critic at the Los Angeles Times from 2006 until she joined NPR. Prior to the Los Angeles Times, she was senior critic at Blenderand senior curator at Experience Music Project. From 1997 to 2001 Powers was a pop critic at The New York Times and before that worked as a senior editor at theVillage Voice. Powers began her career working as an editor and columnist at San Francisco Weekly.
Her writing extends beyond blogs, magazines and newspapers. Powers co-wrote Tori Amos: Piece By Piece,with Amos, which was published in 2005. In 1999, Power's book Weird Like Us: My Bohemian America was published. She was the editor, with Evelyn McDonnell, of the 1995 book Rock She Wrote: Women Write About Rock, Rap, and Pop and the editor ofBest Music Writing 2010.
Ann Powers on KCRW
More from KCRW
Corinne Bailey Rae: KCRW Live from Apogee Studio
ArtsGrammy-winner Corinne Bailey Rae expands into punk and free jazz playing cuts from her audacious 2023 LP “Black Rainbows,” live From Apogee Studio.
‘One Life’ director on the true story of Sir Nicholas Winton; Iger triumphs in Disney proxy fight
EntertainmentKim Masters and Matt Belloni take a quick look at Ari Emanuel-led Endeavor going private, and the banter partners break down the outcome of the long battle between Nelson Peltz and…
Climate change pushes CA state parks to re-think their goals
EnvironmentThe people in charge of California’s state parks once focused on just preserving land, but now they’re tasked with saving it from climate-driven collapse.
Weekend film reviews: ‘La Bête,’ ‘Monkey Man,’ ‘Girls State’
EntertainmentThe latest film releases are La Bête, Monkey Man, Girls State, and Música.
Steven Yeun on ‘Beef’; Disney CEO Bob Iger’s potential successors explained
EntertainmentMatt Belloni and Lucas Shaw examine four Disney executives poised to take the throne in 2026 following CEO Bob Iger’s proposed retirement.
Weekend film reviews: ‘Civil War,’ ‘In Flames, ‘Sting’
EntertainmentThe latest film releases include Civil War, In Flames, Sting, and Sasquatch Sunset.
Kiefer Sutherland, Jovan Adepo, and Scott Simon on The Treat
ArtsKiefer Sutherland on Jack Bauer and William Friedkin, Jovan Adepo on “3 Body Problem,” NPR’s Scott Simon on The Treat.
Alan Poul, Stephen Ujlaki, and Taraji P. Henson on The Treat
ArtsAlan Poul talks “Tokyo Vice,” Stephen Ujlaki breaks down the rising calls for American Christian nationalism, and Taraji P. Henson has our Treat.