• Best Albums of 2015 (So Far): Kendrick Lamar, Florence + The Machine and More

    Six months down and six months to go: Music Times just can't wait until the end of 2015 to release its list of the best albums released this year, so we're giving you a free preview with our midyear favorites. From the highly anticipated returns of Kendrick Lamar and Florence + The Machine, to the first album in four years from a beloved band (My Morning Jacket) to the first album in 10 years from a beloved band (Sleater-Kinney), we had a plenty to sift through and sort out.

  • Neil Young Cracks Top 40 for 40th Time: Top 7 Highest-Charting Albums

    This week marked an interesting accomplishment for Neil Young, who debuted an album in the Top 40 of the Billboard 200 for the 40th time with The Monsanto Years, which opened at no. 21. Many of the reviews for Monsanto have been mixed—either as a question of its musical content or because of Young's politics, which tackles numerous companies including the titular Monsanto and Starbucks. Regardless of what you think about Young's politics, and even if you dislike his style personally, you've got to hand it to him for having cracked the Top 40 on the albums chart 40 times. Music Times isn't going to run through all 40 of those entries, but we'll give you a quick rundown of the seven highest-charting albums in Young's catalogue. You may be surprised at some that did...and didn't...make the cut.

  • 50 Years of Rolling Stones No. 1s: "Satisfaction," "Paint It Black" and More

    Many a joke has been passed about the age of the Rolling Stones...and maybe this fact confirms it: It's been more than 50 years since the band released its first American no. 1 single, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," which peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart from July 10, 1965. It wasn't the "big breakthrough" that the band needed in the United States, but it certainly got the ball rolling faster, ensuring the group's status as one of the biggest bands in music history. The Stones released seven other no. 1 singles over the next 50 years, and you can check them out below.

  • Jack White's 6 Best Guitar Tracks: 'Seven Nation Army' and...What Else?

    Yesterday marked the 40th birthday of Jack White, perhaps the most influential individual in the modern rock market. We've been following him since he burst onto the scene with The White Stripes, the self-titled debut album of his most popular band, and he hasn't lost a step in the last 14 years and numerous bands and solo projects. It may be too bold a statement to label him as the greatest symbol of rock music in the 21st Century, but we have no problem labeling him as the most important guitarist of the last 15 years. It's tough to find a song from White's catalogue where his six-string doesn't command attention, but Music Times reached in to choose just six of our favorite guitar cuts.

  • The 6 RIAA Diamond Singles: Eminem, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and More

    "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons joined an elite company today, becoming only the sixth song in history to attain diamond status from the Recording Industry Association of America, meaning that it's moved the equivalent of 10 million units in sales, or 10-times platinum status. Wondering what the other five are? So were we, so we looked up the five hits and ranked them from least sales to most...but when you're talking about diamond status...there's really no such thing as "least sales." You may be surprised at how new most of these songs are.

  • 7 Longest Hip-Hop Streaks At No. 1: Eminem, The Black Eyed Peas, Wiz Khalifa

    Yesterday we learned that Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth had matched hip-hop history by topping the Hot 100 for a 12th week with "See You Again," the pair's smash from the Furious 7 soundtrack. The genre has come a long way since Blondie landed the first rap atop the Hot 100 during 1980 (yeah, Blondie) but still: Only seven hip-hop songs have managed to spend at least 10 weeks on top of arguably the biggest chart in music. Join us as we count up from fewest weeks to most weeks at no. 1, and check back next Wednesday to see if Khalifa and co. manage to take history a step further.

  • Mariah Carey, Madonna and TLC: The Longest Hot 100 Streaks of 1995

    TLC celebrated the beginning of its longest streak on the Hot 100 on this date 20 years ago, as "Waterfalls" topped the singles charts for seven weeks afterward. Now, the Hot 100 is different than the Billboard 200 in that it's rare for any one album to top the chart for more than a few weeks, while songs can rack up huge runs on their chart. For example, only two albums have been at no. 1 for more than one week during 2015 (Taylor Swift's 1989 and Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly), while Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk" has ruled the Hot 100 for 14 weeks thus far (the other 14 weeks have been split between Swift and Wiz Khalifa). Five songs managed to stay at no. 1 for seven weeks or more during 1995...so at least 35 of the year's 52 weeks were owned by just five songs. Check out the playlist of '95's most popular tracks.

  • 5 First No. 1s: 2001 vs 2015; Destiny's Child, Meek Mill and Blink-182 Face Off

    This week marked an unusual accomplishment on the Billboard 200: For the first time in 14 years, the last five no. 1 albums on the chart have been from performers who had never been to the top before. We went back to check out what five albums were hot sellers during that period and compared them to this year's first-timers, to see what "generation" has the better taste. Old millennials, get ready to spar with the young millennials. We lined the albums up from one-to-five, based on where in the order they fell during their respective years.

  • 8 Big City Mayors Sing Lorde, LL Cool J, Idina Menzel and More [VIDEO]

    Philadelphia citizens and hip-hops fans got a gift over the weekend when Mayor Michael Nutter joined The Roots onstage at the Philly Fourth of July Jam to perform the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight." His performance was flawless and he ended the performance by dropping the microphone and exiting the stage. It was, truly, one of the best musical performances from a politician that we've ever seen, but mayors-on-the-mic is all the rage recently, perhaps inspired by Barack Obama and his many soulful appearances. Here's seven other city heads that have stood in the spotlight...willingly or otherwise.

  • Mixtape Monday: This Week's Newest Tracks For Sharing

    Each and every week we put together our favorite tracks that had premiered a few days prior into one magnificent mixtape to share with you and your friends. This time around we've decided to share new 2015 songs from Pharrell, Prince, Beach House and more right here!

  • Geico's Music Guest Stars: Salt-N-Pepa, Little Richard, Kenny Rogers and More

    The latest commercial from Progressive Insurance features Carnie Wilson of the '90s pop standouts Wilson Phillips. One company has spent the last decade atop the wacky insurance commercial game is, of course, Geico. We went back and found all of their oddball entries that feature musical guests (the aforementioned Hammer went with Nationwide).

  • Ranking '1776' Track-by-Track for July 4th: John Adams, Ben Franklin...America!

    The July 4th weekend approaches and that means your correspondent will engage in his yearly tradition of putting on the soundtrack to the Broadway musical 1776, nothing singing along and thanking the Lord that someone saw fit to give John Adams some credit for his significant role within the creation of this nation. The musical, composed by Sherman Edwards, revolves largely around Adams and Benjamin Franklin as they pressure Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence and the rest of the Continental Congress to sign it. Join as as we count down the tracks from the original Broadway cast, ranking them from least to most excellent.

  • Billboard Hot 100 vs. Official Charts Company: 2Pac, Wiz Khalifa and 40 Years of No. 1s

    Few people realize just how different the music across the pond is from that we listen to in America, that the Hot 100 doesn't exist in the UK, and that its equivalent to our singles chart doesn't just feature a whole bunch of American artists with even more One Direction and Ellie Goulding tracks.Music Times is looking back at the last five decades of music, and at the no. 1 hits on April 2 every ten years on the spot, going back to 1975. The ultimate contest, of course, is which country has better taste. Last month the win went to the UK in the best-of-five showdown. This month features Wiz Khalifa, Carrie Underwood, 2Pac and more in the field.

  • What Performers Have Played Historic Venues Most? Carnegie Hall, Red Rocks, More

    Billy Joel made history at one of the most acclaimed music venues in the world this week when he played his 65th concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The total helped him to surpass that of friend Elton John, giving him the most appearances at the historic Manhattan venue. There are many music venues the world over that are adored by performers and fans alike, but unfortunately not many have done much work in attempting to figure out what performers have played there the most. Of course, many—such as The Troubadour in Los Angeles—probably didn't foresee themselves lasting as long as they have. Music Times has done our best to figure out what musicians have played the most gigs at some of the world's most vaunted performance spaces.

  • Debbie Harry by Decade: Celebrating the Blondie Frontwoman's 70th Birthday

    The year 1945 was an astounding one for music history, giving us Eric Clapton, Bob Seger, John Fogerty and Carly Simon. Add another big 70th birthday to the year, as July 1 marks the near-diamond anniversary of Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry. Music Times is celebrating the big day by looking back over her four decades in music and choosing our favorite track from each of the ten-year spans she's spent in business.
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