The Current's Mary Lucia defends her love of 'Vinyl', the HBO series renewed for a second season. 'I will admit: I can be contrary in my love of things in which other people don't see the same as I do,' Mary writes. 'In fact, the more people who whined about specifics of the structure of this entertaining series, the more I would rise to the challenge of having Vinyl's back.'

Beyoncé once again paid tribute to Prince at a stop on her current Formation tour. She led a “Purple Rain” singalong at the first tour stop, and then in Dallas she sang the Purple Rain show-stopper “The Beautiful Ones” — which she had previously performed at Glastonbury in 2011. (Rolling Stone) Beyoncé’s tour hits TCF Bank Stadium on…

Results for The Current's 893 Essential Albums, numbers 399 to 300.

The Minnesota State Fair has released the schedule of free music for this year’s Great Minnesota Get-Together. Among the biggest national names playing free shows (free with admission to the fair, that is) are G. Love and Special Sauce, War, and Billy Bob Thornton — who’s playing the Leinie Lodge with his band the Boxmasters.…

Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago Bon Iver’s 2007 debut album isn’t exactly a new release — but check out the nifty gold cassette tape that’s been newly released as an exclusive through Newbury Comics. The tape is limited to a release of 500; it will make a good soundtrack for your pilgrimage to Eaux Claires this summer.…

Pet Shop Boys were No.1; Bono was born; The Turtles visited the White House; and Weezer released 'The Blue Album', Today in Music History.

Astronautalis came by our studio to perform new songs from his album 'Cut the Body Loose.'

Results for The Current's 893 Essential Albums, numbers 499 to 400.

Minnesota lawmakers are rushing to enact a law that would restrict the use of Prince's name and likeness in commercial ventures, affording more control to heirs of the late musician's estate.

Can music that’s given away for free win a Grammy? The answer is no, and Chance the Rapper wants to change that. The hip-hop star is one of over 15,000 people who have endorsed a petition asking the Recording Academy to change the policy stipulating that music be made “available for sale” in order to achieve Grammy…