What was the first rock and roll song? Ask music historians and you’ll get a range of ’40s and early ’50 candidates, from “Good Rockin’ Tonight” to “Rocket 88.” Ah, but when did the Rock Era begin? That’s easier. Everybody… Read more

The headline-grabbing music story of the week isn’t on the Billboard charts—it’s the U.S. debut of Spotify. With the streaming-music service less than 48 hours old here, it’s a bit too soon to analyze what songs are getting the most… Read more

If, like me, you’ve been putting together your annual summer playlist to pump at block parties and barbecues, you may have found yourself with a historically odd problem: a relative dearth of hits this year by dudes. After you’ve rounded… Read more