Minnesota's own Bad Bad Hats pick up a nod from Rolling Stone, and The Decemberists land their sixth entry in the Hall of Fame.

Mazzy Star have announced their first American performance in five years; all four suspects in the killing of XXXTentacion have been arrested; and the Irish celebrated their Women's World Cup field hockey medal with a giant Mariah Carey singalong. In other news, streaming is paying big bucks, Wolf Alice are getting ready to wrap up an album cycle, and the New York Times reports on John Prine's condiments.

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are best-known as megahit producers, but they also have a record label imprint that’s been responsible for releases by many notable artists, including some of their Minnesota peers. Perspective Records has been the avenue for albums by Sounds of Blackness, Mint Condition, Lo-Key?, Drama, 4.o, Rufus Blaq, Bobby Ross Avila, Solo,…

Today Rock the Cause Records released a new single from Minnesota artists Paul Metsa, Wee Willie Walker and Sounds of Blackness, titled “Ain’t Gonna Whistle Dixie Anymore.” The new release comes around the same time in August as the anniversary of last year’s march in Charlottesville, Va. and the four-year anniversary of the uprising in Ferguson,…

Beyonce and Jay-Z are in town for a show tonight at U.S. Bank Stadium on their "On the Run II" Tour. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear from power couples?

Scholar Omise'eke Tinsley writes about the many doors opened by one of today's most vital artists.

Janis Joplin bought a headstone for Bessie Smith; Hank Williams, Jr. was in a life changing accident; Jerry Lee Lewis was asked to leave the stage; and "Ringo for President" was released, Today in Music History.

It’s been a busy summer for underground dance music in the Twin Cities: An increasing number of club nights devoted to house and techno, a handful of memorable weekend parties (most memorably, the recent warehouse do featuring masked German techno headliner Headless Horseman), and lots of creative DJ sets. The two best I’ve heard this…

L.A.'s famous Viper Room has been sold and may close; a new study finds that shockingly little music-industry revenue goes to musicians; and HGTV outbid a very disappointed Lance Bass for the 'Brady Bunch' house. Other news involves Gaga in Vegas, a Notorious B.I.G. murder investigation film pulled from release; and a potential 'Hey There Delilah' TV show.

This week, Mary Lucia is joined by Bill DeVille, who went to the Jack White show at the Armory in Minneapolis last night. The show was awesome -- but Mary and Bill talk about White's no-phones concert policy. What do you think of locking up phones at concerts?