Iconic Labels: Interscope Records This is the eighth in our series of profiles of iconic record labels, exploring the label's history and some interesting stories about the artists they signed, and music they released. Look for more label profiles coming up soon and check them all out here. Few record labels have shaped modern popular music as dramatically as Interscope Records did, starting in the 1990s. From gangsta rap and alternative rock to pop superstars and streaming-era hitmakers, Interscope has consistently been...

The Most Iconic Live Music Venues: Pt. 2 This is Part 2 in our series on iconic music venues. Check out Part 1 here. Live music is as much about place as it is about sound. Certain venues transcend their physical structures, becoming cultural landmarks where history, artistry, and audience energy converge. Around the world, a handful of stages have earned near-mythic status—not just for the artists who’ve performed there, but for the atmosphere, acoustics, and stories embedded in their walls. Here’s a journey through some of the m...

How A Machine Got A RIAA Award: The Story Of Steely Dan's Gaucho Recorded in 1978-79 and released on November 21, 1980, Gaucho stands as one of the most meticulously crafted albums in popular music history. Created by Steely Dan—the studio-focused partnership of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker—the record represents both the peak of their perfectionism and a turning point in music production technology. At the center of its story is an unlikely “musician”: A custom-built drum machine named Wendel, invented by late recording engineer Roger Nichols (1944-2011)...

2026 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced The 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees were announced earlier today, and this year's group includes Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan. In addition, Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Gram Parsons are being recognized with the Early Influence Award, while Linda Creed, Arif Mardin, Jimmy Miller, and Rick Rubin will receive the Musical Excellence Award. Finally, Ed Sullivan will receive the A...

Iconic Labels: Elektra Records This is the seventh in our series of profiles of iconic record labels, exploring the label's history and some interesting stories about the artists they signed, and music they released. Look for more label profiles coming up soon and check them all out here. The history of Elektra Records is one of the most fascinating evolutions in the music industry, tracing a path from a tiny folk label founded in a college dorm room to a major force within the global recording business. Over more th...

Music People We Lost In 2025 While 2025 brought some great legacy moments, one example being the Black Sabbath reunion, it also brought some sad moments including the poignant loss of Sabbath front man Ozzy Osbourne in July, less than three weeks after the reunion concert. Ozzy Osbourne 1948-2025 Other major music figures lost this past year include Brian Wilson, the legendary co-founder and creative force behind The Beach Boys, R&B songstress Roberta Flack, Ace Frehley, original lead guitarist of KISS, known as “T...

Prettier Than RIAA Awards? DiscAward Ltd '60s-'70s Awards In the history of recorded music, the iconic gold and platinum records that adorn the walls of recording studios, artist's homes, and music professional's offices have become some of the most recognizable symbols of commercial success. Most people immediately associate these plaques with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)—the trade organization that, beginning in 1958, formalized sales recognition in the United States. Yet nestled within the annals of music memorabil...

Iconic Labels: Columbia Records This is the sixth in our series of profiles of iconic record labels, exploring the label's history and some interesting stories about the artists they signed, and music they released. Look for more label profiles coming up soon and check them all out here. Columbia Records stands as one of the oldest and most influential record labels in the history of recorded music. With roots stretching back to the dawn of the phonograph era, Columbia has continually reinvented itself, shaping popula...

Iconic Albums: Led Zeppelin IV This is the fifth in our new series of profiles of iconic albums, exploring the origins and recording of these famous releases, along with anecdotes about the artists and stories behind the tracks. Look for more iconic album articles coming up soon. As Mike Damone in 1980s film favorite Fast Times At Ridgemont High put it in the five-point plan he relays to his buddy Rat: "And, five, now this is the most important, Rat. When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one...

Iconic Albums: Steely Dan Aja This is the fourth in our new series of profiles of iconic albums, exploring the origins and recording of these famous releases, along with anecdotes about the artists and stories behind the tracks. Look for more iconic album articles coming up soon. When Steely Dan released Aja on September 23, 1977, they created something that seemed almost impossible: an album that was sophisticated enough to satisfy jazz musicians, meticulously produced enough to impress recording engineers, and catchy e...

Iconic Albums: The Cars 1978 Debut This is the third in our new series of profiles of iconic albums, exploring the origins and recording of these famous releases, along with anecdotes about the artists and stories behind the tracks. Look for more iconic album articles coming up soon. Few debut albums have arrived with the confidence, polish, and lasting influence of The Cars self-titled debut album, released on June 6, 1978. At a time when rock music was splintering into arena rock, punk, disco, and the emerging new wave mo...

Iconic Albums: Pink Floyd's The Wall This is the second in our new series of profiles of iconic albums, exploring the origins and recording of these famous releases, along with anecdotes about the artists and stories behind the tracks. Look for more iconic album articles coming up soon. Released on November 30, 1979, The Wall was more than a new album from Pink Floyd. It was a massive creative statement: a double-LP rock opera about loneliness, childhood trauma, fame, fear, authority, and the emotional barriers people build to...