NPR Music

From top to (cheeky) bottom, CMAT's Tiny Desk has it all: captivating stage presence, sharp songwriting, vocal range, a great band and comedic timing.

From an indie darling getting called a "psyop" to plagiarism allegations against a rising pop star, this year feels like an especially fraught time to bicker about authenticity in the music industry.

"Is it real?" is the most pressing question in music in 2026, and it's one that feels impossible to adequately answer, in almost any context.

Controversy over an artist being fake — or someone thinking they are — is hardly new. Here are some of the craziest moments in recent music history when the boundary between real and fake collapsed.

Taylor Swift still has the No. 1 song in the country, but there are several songs behind her worth your attention.

World Cafe host Raina Douris said she tries to capture the humanity behind well-known and up-and-coming artists.

Webb has written music for a host of superstars. Now 80, he has a new album of previously unreleased songs and he performs on PBS' Great Performances later this month. Originally broadcast in 2004.

The Orange County punk rockers' latest album comes after a turbulent period that included singer Mike Ness'cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Brìghde Chaimbeul expands the language of the Scottish smallpipes behind the Desk with a quiet, yet demonstrative presence.

Rapper Cardi B is wowing the internet this week after her energetic and playful performance at NPR’s Tiny Desk.