NBC obviously put a lot of work into promoting the new live performance of The Sound of Music, starring Carrie Underwood in the role of Maria Von Trapp, the role filled by Julie Andrews during the original film. The promotion campaign seemed to have paid off, as the broadcast brought in a huge viewership. But that doesn't mean the network made its money back. The Hollywood Reporter got numbers from analysts putting the production's budget at around $9 million. Read this

It's Christmas. You need gifts for the music fans in your life. Plus you're feeling more charitable than usual (stats indicate that charitable donations are up 90 percent from 2012's "Giving Tuesday"). Charitybuzz might have something sitting around that you may be interested in. The benefits: A) They're awesome. B) All sales benefit various charities, so you can feel good about indulging. Music Times looked over what's available and compiled a shortlist of best bets. But be warned, all these auctions are limited time only. Read this

For once, the album sales for the previous week made more headlines than the digital downloads, but that doesn't mean that singles are doing badly at all. In fact, after just declaring last week that Eminem's "The Monster" could hold down the top spot for weeks to come, a new track took its place. Read this

We've been real downers for the last couple months with regards to album sales. If you haven't read the news, music sales are down across nearly every format (aside from vinyl), and this has reflected in new releases too, even with some of the biggest stars. What the industry needed was a good Black Friday to boost sales. And boost did it ever. Read this

We don't judge what you guys stream on Spotify. Trust us—we're streaming Cyndi Lauper's "She's So Unusual" right now. We do, however, analyze your Spotify listening trends. The service just revealed its Top 10 most popular performers, albums, and tracks of 2013. Read this

Arctic Monkeys have done quite well in 2013, releasing the stellar and dark album "AM," featuring twists, turns and deep croons unlike anything previously heard from the English alt-rockers. Yesterday (Dec. 5), the Brits kept on their "AM" music journey by releasing "You're So Dark," the B-side to new single "One For The Road." Read this

It's Christmas. You need gifts for the music fans in your life. Plus you're feeling more charitable than usual (stats indicate that charitable donations are up 90 percent from 2012's "Giving Tuesday"). Charitybuzz might have something sitting around that you may be interested in. The benefits: A) They're awesome. B) All sales benefit various charities, so you can feel good about indulging. Music Times looked over what's available and compiled a shortlist of best bets. But be warned, all these auctions are limited time only. Read this

We've already spread the word on what two of the biggest names in music media, Rolling Stone and SPIN, have been listening to during 2013. But what about our friends across the pond? NME has joined in the end of the year fun, releasing its own list of the Top 50 albums of the year. The bad news is that you have to buy the issue to get the full list (looks like those Brits are trying to generate a profit, something the rest of us music media types have given up on), but they were kind enough to share their Top 3 to the general public. Read this

For once, the album sales for the previous week made more headlines than the digital downloads, but that doesn't mean that singles are doing badly at all. In fact, after just declaring last week that Eminem's "The Monster" could hold down the top spot for weeks to come, a new track took its place. Read this

We've been real downers for the last couple months with regards to album sales. If you haven't read the news, music sales are down across nearly every format (aside from vinyl), and this has reflected in new releases too, even with some of the biggest stars. What the industry needed was a good Black Friday to boost sales. And boost did it ever. Read this

Rapper Drake won't be making his scheduled appearance at the Grammy nominations concert in Los Angeles tonight, as was previously announced. A spokesperson for the rapper cited "scheduling complications." Read this

We've already spread the word on what two of the biggest names in music media, Rolling Stone and SPIN, have been listening to during 2013. But what about our friends across the pond? NME has joined in the end of the year fun, releasing its own list of the Top 50 albums of the year. The bad news is that you have to buy the issue to get the full list (looks like those Brits are trying to generate a profit, something the rest of us music media types have given up on), but they were kind enough to share their Top 3 to the general public. Read this

We know, right? Read this

R. Kelly is ending the year with a bang, having guest starred in a single by Lady Gaga and releasing his own album Black Panties December 10. However, the most exciting announcement from the R&B star has to be that new episodes from his ongoing hip-hopera Trapped In The Closet will air on IFC during 2014. Read this

For once, the album sales for the previous week made more headlines than the digital downloads, but that doesn't mean that singles are doing badly at all. In fact, after just declaring last week that Eminem's "The Monster" could hold down the top spot for weeks to come, a new track took its place. Read this

Arctic Monkeys have done quite well in 2013, releasing the stellar and dark album "AM," featuring twists, turns and deep croons unlike anything previously heard from the English alt-rockers. Yesterday (Dec. 5), the Brits kept on their "AM" music journey by releasing "You're So Dark," the B-side to new single "One For The Road." Read this

The theme for this week’s Saturday Night Fever playlist are songs the whole family can get down to — songs for your Grandma to your teenie-bopper little cousins. Thanksgiving is over, but you might still have some family parties that linger throughout the weekend. So, consider your playlist covered. Read this

U.K. album sales indicate that record sales are down...but independent record sales are way up. Read this

Your house party playlist for the night, featuring a diverse range of songs. Featuring STRFKR, Brodka, Chiddy Bang, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, David Byrne & St. Vincent, MIA, King Krule, Tame Impala and more. Read this

Pitchfork has had a somewhat secondhand influence on the re-popularization of vinyl, namely by promoting the hip bands that have been the major movers in revitalizing the format (we're not judging; we too prefer our music on big 12-inch discs, maybe just for the larger album art). Now Pitchfork is playing a more major role in what we sentimental journalists hope will be the revitalization of print news publications. Read this

NBC obviously put a lot of work into promoting the new live performance of The Sound of Music, starring Carrie Underwood in the role of Maria Von Trapp, the role filled by Julie Andrews during the original film. The promotion campaign seemed to have paid off, as the broadcast brought in a huge viewership. But that doesn't mean the network made its money back. The Hollywood Reporter got numbers from analysts putting the production's budget at around $9 million. Read this

Rolling Stone has always striven to be the a sign of what's hip, both on the musical and cultural front. Its coverage of country music, a form that has long been considered one of the more square genres in music, hasn't gotten healthy coverage from the magazine as a result. Sales trends have encouraged the music media maven to open its doors, in the form of a new website planned for launch during 2014. Read this

Music Times believes that it's never too late to go back and try something old. Throwback Thursdays will go back and pull out an album that's at least 10 years old, so that you can find something new, or revisit something you've forgotten about. Read this

It's Christmas. You need gifts for the music fans in your life. Plus you're feeling more charitable than usual (stats indicate that charitable donations are up 90 percent from 2012's "Giving Tuesday"). Charitybuzz might have something sitting around that you may be interested in. The benefits: A) They're awesome. B) All sales benefit various charities, so you can feel good about indulging. Music Times looked over what's available and compiled a shortlist of best bets. But be warned, all these auctions are limited time only. Read this

We've been real downers for the last couple months with regards to album sales. If you haven't read the news, music sales are down across nearly every format (aside from vinyl), and this has reflected in new releases too, even with some of the biggest stars. What the industry needed was a good Black Friday to boost sales. And boost did it ever. Read this

So, apparently lots of you enjoyed our Five Best: Musicians on 'Sesame Street.' Five doesn't really do that great show justice, and besides, Classicalite staff have been besieged with indignant readers asking, "What about the one with...?" Here, then, are five more. Read this

On Thanksgiving Day, Miss Jackie Evancho sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions game--ostensibly, according to The Conservative Post, "to honor America." Read this

Nelson Mandela's death at the age of 95 touched off mourning the world over, and inspired coverage from all fields of media. It wasn't empty sentiment either. Major news sites had no issue demonstrating Mandela's importance in international politics, and ESPN's retrospective addressed Mandela's love of sport and how he used it to better South Africa. Mandela's love of music is less documented perhaps, but much like he used rugby to meld the cultural divide in his nation, the leader also used music to bring his people together. Read this

Eat your heart out Broadway: Miss Jackie Evancho performing the beloved showtune from Phantom of the Opera..."The Music of the Night." Read this

Riccardo Muti will conduct the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in a program of Verdi, Martucci and Respighi at the Nobel Prize Concert on December 8. Read this

So, apparently lots of you enjoyed our Five Best: Musicians on 'Sesame Street.' Five doesn't really do that great show justice, and besides, Classicalite staff have been besieged with indignant readers asking, "What about the one with...?" Here, then, are five more. Read this

Madiba left us today, age 95, after a long battle with a liver infection. A key anti-apartheid fighter, Mandela spent 27 years in prison before becoming South Africa's first black president. Read the words of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who joined Mandela in Norway to accept... Read this

Eat your heart out Broadway: Miss Jackie Evancho performing the beloved showtune from Phantom of the Opera..."The Music of the Night." Read this

Creative uses of new video technology have resulted in an unusual sight: a video of a trombonist’s lips vibrating to make music, shot from inside a trombone mouthpiece... Read this

Chico Hamilton, one of the most established and productive drummers in the history of jazz, died at the age of 92 Monday night in New York City. A formal statement was placed on the performer's Facebook page, but no cause was given. Read this

The leading ladies of Christian music - from then to now. Read this

Hillsong Church has announced that the popular Hillsong Conference will return to the U.S. for the second year in 2014. Read this

The new Centricity kids on the block are heading out on their first Christmas tour this year. Read this

Since 1991, fans have been worshiping to the music of Phillips, Craig & Dean. Shawn Craig, also the Lead Pastor of Crosspoint Church in St. Louis, Missouri, shares some of his favorite things about Christmas. Read this

Point of Grace (Shelley Breen, Leigh Cappillino, Denise Jones) is back with their fifth Christmas album and it's only available at Cracker Barrel stores. Read this

It's easy to forget how young some of our favorite performers are when they enter the music world. From Michael Jackson's Jack 5 debut at the age of 11, to Lorde's chart-topping single "Royals" at the age of 16, it doesn't take much life experience to make a splash in the music industry. Tuesdays Under 21 is a Music Times feature dedicated to bringing attention to talented musicians and performers under the age of 21. Who knows? They just might be the next big thing. This week we introduce you to...Madeon Read this

Your house party playlist for the night, featuring a diverse range of songs. Featuring STRFKR, Brodka, Chiddy Bang, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, David Byrne & St. Vincent, MIA, King Krule, Tame Impala and more. Read this

Rihanna and J. Cole are two pretty big names in popular music. Look forward to DJ Mustard joining their ranks soon. The producer/beat-maker just signed to Roc Nation, the home of the previously mentioned artists, under an artist's contract of his own. He was previously signed under a management deal with the label. Read this

It's easy to forget how young some of our favorite performers are when they enter the music world. From Michael Jackson's Jack 5 debut at the age of 11, to Lorde's chart-topping single "Royals" at the age of 16, it doesn't take much life experience to make a splash in the music industry. Tuesdays Under 21 is a Music Times feature dedicated to bringing attention to talented musicians and performers under the age of 21. Who knows? They just might be the next big thing. Read this

According to a Twitter statement from Trinidad James, listeners, especially those from New York City, should keep an eye for something today (November 18). Read this