Route Song of the Day
NPR's Tiny Desk announcement for 2026 on The Route. Entry window is now open!
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Michelle Branch's hit song "All You Wanted" released in 2001.
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NPR Music culture critic and reporter Rodney Carmichael ruminates on the latest in rap culture. This week: Is the rap mogul's self-selection a crowning achievement or a final affront?
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Photos by Bob Riha, Jr. / Greg Doherty / Michael Putland / Getty Images. Illustration by Jackie Lay."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.
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Photos by Michael Kovac/WireImage and Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for BET. Illustration by Jackie Lay.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.
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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.
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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.
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ATC dibs. Out 10/23.NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Elena Pinderhughes, a jazz flutist known for her work with hip-hop and R&B artists, on her debut solo album, i hope you feel it too.
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Taylor Swift still has the No. 1 song in the country, but there are several songs behind her worth your attention.
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World Cafe host Raina Douris said she tries to capture the humanity behind well-known and up-and-coming artists.
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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.
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The Orange County punk rockers' latest album comes after a turbulent period that included singer Mike Ness'cancer diagnosis and treatment.
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Brìghde Chaimbeul expands the language of the Scottish smallpipes behind the Desk with a quiet, yet demonstrative presence.
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Rapper Cardi B is wowing the internet this week after her energetic and playful performance at NPR’s Tiny Desk.
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We take y'all to church on this episode. We present three artists backed by choirs behind the Desk. Look for Tiny Desk Radio on your local NPR station.
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