Apple’s wireless earbuds have led to questions about personal tech as environmental scourge and punch line. Guests: The New York Times's Brian X. Chen and Motherboard's Caroline Haskins.

Ezra Koenig’s literate group has returned, sparking questions about how it was received in the past, and where it stands in the current climate. Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles; The Ringer's Rob Harvilla

A movement of punk-powered feminism that began in the early 1990s has a fresh urgency in 2019. Guests: Evelyn McDonnell, Elisabeth Vincentelli and Caryn Ganz

From Kanye West to serpentwithfeet to the Stellar Awards returning to BET, the genres’ dialogue has been evolving. Guest: The New Yorker's Briana Younger

The 17-year-old musician has been revising the rules of young stardom. But she may be more of a classicist than her aesthetic would suggest. Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli; Meaghan Garvey

“Old Town Road” is the latest flash point in the two-decades-long dialogue between Nashville and hip-hop. Guest: Average Joes Entertainment's Shannon Houchins

Backstreet’s back, the New Kids put out a new single and groups in the K-pop ecosystem are thriving. Why are boy bands so central to pop music? Guests: Jezebel's Maria Sherman and Billboard's Andrew Unterberger

Blueface’s “Thotiana” is a nearly perfectly engineered hit of the social media age. Guests: The Fader's Ben Dandridge-Lemco and Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre.

The documentary “Leaving Neverland” details devastating allegations of sexual abuse. How do fans process them, and Jackson’s body of work? Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli, Aisha Harris and Ben Sisario

Musicians often make headlines; balancing coverage of their art with coverage of the accusations they face isn’t always easy. Guest: The South Florida Sun Sentinel's Brett Clarkson

The musician has been accused of dangling career opportunities while pursuing female artists for sex, then turning domineering and vengeful. He denies the claims. Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli and Melena Ryzik.

After a terrible ceremony that minimized women and nonwhite artists, the Recording Academy tried something else: the opposite. Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli, Caryn Ganz and Jon Pareles.

Two singer-songwriters at different points in their careers are staking claim to new creative ground. Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli; The Ringer's Lindsay Zoladz

Two documentaries examining Billy McFarland’s debacle aim to shed new light on the scammers and victims. Guests: The New York Times's Aisha Harris, Wesley Morris and Melena Ryzik.

From British punk-rap to 1970s-influenced country to morbid electronic pop, a guide to new artists to watch. Guest: The New York Times's Jon Pareles.

His was the defining voice of 2018. What’s next for this Puerto Rican new-pop superstar? Guests: Remezcla's Eduardo Cepeda and Isabelia Herrera; and Rolling Stone's Suzy Exposito.

What did the music, innovations and arguments of 2018 tell us about where the genre is headed next? Guests: John Murph and Giovanni Russonello

The Popcast wraps 2018 discussing Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, streaming and crying. Guest: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli

K-pop, Latin trap and melodic hip-hop — once regarded as subgenres — have become the center of the pop conversation. Guest: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli

The 1975’s millennial anthem, “Shallow” and a lot of Bad Bunny: Why did these tracks define the year in pop? Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles, Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz

Music's big awards show is trying to make big changes. So what do these nominations tell us? Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles. Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz

Drake, Mitski, Ariana Grande — whose albums defined the year? (And will albums matter next year?) Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles, Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz

A conversation about the Brooklyn rapper’s arrest and musical prospects as he releases “Dummy Boy” while behind bars. Guest: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli.

With her 15th album, “Caution,” the singer has entered a new phase of her long career. Guests: Michael Arceneaux; Jezebel's Julianne Escobedo Shepherd; The New Yorker's Briana Younger.

The tug of war between how the genre advertises itself and how it’s actually evolving is growing more tense. Guests: Nick Murray; Natalie Weiner.

The trumpeter, who died at 49, was a singular figure dedicated to keeping jazz’s past in dialogue with its future. Guests: The New York Times's Giovanni Russonello; Jozen Cummings.

With “Honey,” the Swedish star returns to a landscape she’s quietly shaped for over 20 years. Guests: The New York Times's Caryn Ganz; the Guardian's Laura Snapes; Jezebel's Hazel Cills

Now that K-pop is successful on its own terms, the questions it faces are changing. Guest: Billboard's Jeff Benjamin.

Is rock music in 2018 a sound, a mood or a retail category? Where do Twenty One Pilots, the 1975 and Greta Van Fleet fit in? Guests: The New York Times's Caryn Ganz; Rolling Stone's Kory Grow; the Ringer's Lindsay Zoladz

What does Bradley Cooper’s remake starring Lady Gaga say about the pop music business — and the film industry — today? Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli, Manohla Dargis, Caryn Ganz, Wesley Morris and Jon Pareles

Tracing the rapper’s evolution from a teen in New Orleans to his long-awaited album “Tha Carter V.” Guests: XXL's Vanessa Satten; The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli

Why do some artists stick around and others choose to retreat? Guest: The New York Times's Jon Pareles

Writing in-depth features about stars can be an art form. But it’s been changing in recent years. Guests: The New York Times Magazine's Vanessa Grigoriadis; GQ's Zach Baron.

The 26-year-old rapper and producer stood at the crossroads of movements that have been shaping popular music over the past decade. Guests: ItsTheReal's Eric and Jeff Rosenthal; Pitchfork's Sheldon Pearce; and Eric Renner Brown.

Forty years of writers and editors share memories about helping invent a language to talk about music, and the artists they critiqued — some grateful, some not. Guests: Ann Powers, Evelyn McDonnell, Chuck Eddy, Rob Harvilla and Tom Breihan.

Forty years of writers and editors share memories about helping invent a language to talk about music, and the artists they critiqued — some grateful, some not. Guests: Robert Christgau, Jon Pareles, Nelson George, Kyle Gann and Joe Levy.

“Sweetener” has taken the singer to new heights at a moment of transition for the top ranks of female vocalists. Guests: The Ringer's Lindsay Zoladz; VF.com's Josh Duboff; and Billboard's Nolan Feeney.

One is an old-style hip-hop star, one comes from a newer school. But both are facing challenges making effective albums and defining their artistic identities. Guests: David Turner and Briana Younger.

The Queen of Soul leaves a towering legacy. How will we remember her? Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles and Wesley Morris; and David Ritz.

Merch has become a crucial part of a musician’s rise. Here’s how it’s evolved. Guests: Procell's Brian Procell; The Cut's Emilia Petrarca; and Grailed's Lawrence Schlossman.

What happens when a band wipes a stain from its historical record? Or when physical albums vanish, replaced by different digital versions? Guests: Mark Richardson; Rolling Stone's Christopher R. Weingarten; and The New York Times's Caryn Ganz.

Two documentaries have attempted to unpack the life of one of pop’s transformative figures, whose complex legacy is still riddled with questions. Guests: Naima Cochrane; Jezebel's Rich Juzwiak; Alan Light; and The Times's Joe Coscarelli.

A writer critiqued Nicki Minaj online; the rapper’s fans responded in force. How does celebrity fandom become a vicious tool online, and what’s behind stan culture? Guests: iOneDigital's Janeé Bolden; Who? Weekly's Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber; The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz.

With his new double album, “Scorpion,” the rapper and singer is grappling with brand maintenance. Is he innovating, and where can he go next? Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli and Reggie Ugwu; Sheldon Pearce; and Jasmine Sanders.

Was "Ye" rushed, and does it matter? How do women fit into Kanye’s world? Are conversations about politics with him fruitless? Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli and Reggie Ugwu, and the Ringer's Justin Charity.

The 20-year-old broke out of the SoundCloud rap scene and reached No 1. But he faced accusations of violent crimes against a woman, and leaves behind a troubling legacy. Guests: Noisey's Lawrence Burney and Miami New Times's Tarpley Hitt.

Boy bands are on the rise and young male singers have some choices to make. A conversation about two performers with their sights set on pop ubiquity.

The rapper’s polarizing eighth album arrived surrounded by a celebrity circus and provided few answers.

An excavation of the skeletons animating the back-and-forth between the two rappers — and a conversation about who’s inching ahead.

Maddie Poppe won the show, rebooted on ABC with a new cast of judges. What worked, what didn’t and who really stood out? Two longtime “Idol” enthusiasts discuss.

For two decades, accusations of sexual impropriety have been leveled at the R&B superstar. And Jim DeRogatis has been covering the story.

The Rita Ora track was positioned as a celebration of bisexuality, but struck a sour note with critics who found its lyrics problematic.

The 28-year-old producer and D.J., who died last month in Oman, was a pop savant and an EDM innovator who left behind a complicated legacy.

A Coachella set stunning in scope and execution. The first Pulitzer Prize winner who isn’t from classical or jazz. A conversation about the two artists’ triumphs.

In recent weeks, the businesses that present music to the public have undergone major shifts.

The 25-year-old’s LP “Invasion of Privacy” is part of her broad-scale pop culture takeover. A conversation about her rise and debut album.

A conversation about the earnest rapper and the SoundCloud renegade, both successes of modern internet-driven rap fandom.

Two new albums put a spotlight on Nashville’s ongoing, agonized relationship with female performers.

Part two of our conversation about the mid-2000s pop star features debates about her MTV reality show and “S.N.L.” debacle, and a listener mailbag.

In the mid-2000s, the pop singer had platinum albums and an MTV reality show. Hear the first of two conversations about Ms. Simpson’s misunderstood career.

A conversation about carefully considered creative paths — and how pristine voices with powerful messages are amplified — as three strong new albums arrive

What’s responsible for the recent soundtrack renaissance that brought albums from “Black Panther” and “The Greatest Showman” to the top of the charts?

A conversation with a criminal lawyer about the racial politics of legal representation, the Meek Mill saga and the future prospects of incarcerated would-be stars.

The internet’s response to the two musicians after the Super Bowl shows how criticism works these days. Rapid-fire groupthink online can be strong enough to have real-world impact.

Big stars didn’t show up. Ratings were down. Hip-hop was once again shut out of the major categories. Can “music’s biggest night” represent what’s really happening in music?

Flamboyant hip-hop, promising punk rock, intricate bluegrass and more: a conversation about the artists we’re looking forward to following this year.

The lead singer of the Irish rock band, who died at 46, wrote songs in the 1990s that deeply touched young women and Irish listeners while appealing to a worldwide audience

Streaming has established itself as the dominant mode of music distribution. What could go wrong? Quite a lot, it turns out.

Jazz could have spent 2017 looking backward, focusing on the centennials of foundational figures. But instead, several strains of contemporary jazz thrived.

After a brief break from the spotlight, the rapper returned with “Revival,” an album that revisited familiar tropes and sounds. Where can he go from here?

Our readers picked the topics of conversation, which included Fergie, the state of streaming and evolutions in Latin pop

From Lorde to Kendrick Lamar, many of the albums and songs on our critics’ best-of lists showcased the work of musicians meeting difficult circumstances with artistic fortitude.

A conversation about the band’s 14th album, “Songs of Experience,” and its ongoing quest for bigness.

The 21-year-old rapper, who died last week, found a unique way to unite the languages of hip-hop and emo.

Ms. Swift plays a different game on her sixth album — making pop music that directly competes with the rest of the field’s dominant players.

She hasn’t done interviews, but the pop star has been leaving hints about what to expect on her sixth album. Our writers listen to the signs.

A new biography of the magazine’s founder has been praised by our critic and slammed by its subject.

Changes to the formulas used to build albums and singles charts will weigh paid streams more than free ones. What will the impact be?

Two of the music world’s biggest voices and boldest personalities are back. Deep into successful careers, where have their paths diverged?

In the 15 years since she last released an album, the music industry has undergone big changes, but Ms. Twain’s new LP still debuted at No. 1.

He was a student of the ’60s who learned from his elders, but put his own deliberate spin on rock ’n’ roll.

“The Star-Spangled Banner” has long been a site of dissent and disagreement. A conversation about the history of the anthem, and those who have protested it.

Nashville has been undergoing a gender crisis for most of the 2010s. Is the latest development — kinder men — a solution?

The rapper behind one of the summer’s biggest hits has made swift moves in the music industry, and is making waves in the fashion world, too.

What happens when the media shines a light on feminist punk? A conversation about D.I.Y. scenes and representation.

On this week’s episode, our readers picked the topics of conversation, which include Lil Wayne, merchandise and Camila Cabello.

If the music-streaming service disappeared, a culture might vanish too. A conversation about where the tech and culture worlds collide.

On “Rainbow,” Kesha steps away from her old persona but keeps her former spark. In court, Taylor Swift speaks with no filter.

The band just completed a 13-show run in New York where it didn’t repeat any songs, and its fans are already hungering for the next residency.

As the band released its most divisive album yet, it embarked on a rollout that confused its narrative even further.

A conversation about two singers in different bands who left significant musical and emotional legacies

Spotify, SoundCloud, Tidal: Seemingly every major streaming service has suffered through some controversy lately

A new album from Jay-Z, documentaries about Sean Combs and Dr. Dre, and the death of Prodigy have stirred new thinking about older artists

Fanaticism about this Korean genre is on the rise in the United States, but it hasn’t cracked mainstream pop culture

SoundCloud rap is a raw, rowdy, rebellious movement fueled by young rappers looking outside the genre for inspiration.

Three female pop stars, three different approaches: a conversation about their new albums, on Popcast.

Our pop music critics are not fans of record anniversaries, but 50 years after the creation of “Sgt. Pepper,” there are still lessons to be learned from the album.

“Despacito” is the first Spanish-language song to top the chart since “Macarena,” but there are many more interesting shifts in Latin pop today.

Music fests are ubiquitous, but only some are curated well enough to be thrilling. And there’s the Fyre Festival.

The One Direction member and the pop-blues poster boy have a few things in common.

One of the most impressive rock bands working in the mainstream has taken a left turn. Where is Paramore headed, and how did it inspire scores of artists?

The singer-songwriter’s new album is a low-fi exploration of extreme emotions. How does it relate to her earlier hits, and how did she get here?

He’s a rapper, a social media phenomenon, the guy yelling “ya” on Migos’s hit “Bad and Boujee.” What’s the secret of Uzi’s success?

The two rappers recall an earlier time in the genre’s history, in terms of aesthetics and politics. How do they fit in today?

In three years, the duo has had several hits while offending all sorts of people. What does its sound say about EDM?

Kamasi Washington and some Los Angeles musicians are producing vital recordings, but N.E.A. funding is uncertain. A conversation about the state of jazz.

His release isn’t an album or a mixtape, but a playlist — a move that could position him to shift the music industry once again.

He wrote the guitar licks, told the clever stories, duckwalked across the stage and forever changed popular music

Streaming figures into chart positions now, a fact that has started yielding some very odd results.

The British singer/songwriter is a record-smashing superstar, but he still plays the spurned lover. How does he do it?

A panel discusses Migos, Lil Yachty and more of the city’s budding stars on Popcast.

The city synonymous with the country music business is in transition. How is it dealing with rapid change, and the Trump era? A panel discusses on Popcast.

It was an awards show filled with flubs, tear, apologies and protests. The New York Times pop music writers discuss Adele, Beyoncé, Chance the Rapper and more on Popcast.

The New York Times pop team debates whether Sturgill Simpson will pull out a surprise victory in a night stacked with Adele vs. Beyoncé face-offs.

The current political climate doesn’t come up even once during the latest Popcast, a conversation about Japandroids, the Menzingers and the state of rock.

The toast of Hollywood has divided our culture writers. Two of the movie’s boosters go to battle with two of its critics in this week’s Popcast.

He brought soul and hip-hop into the White House like no president before him. A discussion of Mr. Obama’s most powerful musical moments, on this week’s Popcast.

Should rap’s young stars have more reverence for the genre’s pioneers, and vice versa? A conversation about hip-hop’s latest generation-gap struggles.

A panel discusses Ms. Carey's recent New Year's Eve performance and career.

A round table of pop experts discuss the year in tracks, from Maren Morris's "Rich" to Twenty One Pilots' "Ride" to Rihanna's "Sex With Me."

A roundtable of writers discuss trends and notable moments of the year.

The pop music team discusses news themes and what may shape it for years to come.

This week, The New York Times music team reflects on albums that defined 2016.

This week, a discussion of new releases by both artists who have more in common than it may appear.

After a series of bizarre shows, Kanye West canceled the remainder of his "Saint Pablo" tour last week. This weekend, we're listening back to the conversation Jon Caramanica led at the time of the album's release.

This year has seen the loss of Prince, David Bowie, Merle Haggard, and, now, three more towering figures have died. A look at their legacies.

Can the cultural events of the last couple of weeks connect to macro political realities?

A discussion of the group’s legacy and how it fits into the current hip-hop landscape

The pop star has been locked in an ugly contract dispute with Dr. Luke; two writers who have examined her case break down the pop star’s situation.

This week, Jon Caramanica and guests discuss club music.

Our music and book critics discuss Dylan, the musician, and Dylan, the writer.

His fiery solo album questions almost everything he used to believe in.

The new Bon Iver album abandons many of the musical choices that informed much of his earlier music.

Shawn Mendes broke out on Vine. The next breeding ground for pop stars might be Musical.ly, a social music app for teens.

The pop music team discusses some of their favorite upcoming fall releases.

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Young M.A. represent an unexpected moment.

With celebrities so accessible online they have to go above and beyond when meeting fans in the arena.

A roundtable discussion on the release of the musician’s latest works.

A discussion about the current wave of white rappers trying to elide conversations about race, with varying success.

A discussion on how pop failed Ms. Jackson for years, and what it has done for her lately.

Mr. Ratliff, a music critic at The Times since 1996, discusses his tenure.

Jon Caramanica explains how Gucci Mane, Lil Yachty and 21 Savage are all part of the same long line.

Days after Mr. Vega’s death, the journalist Geeta Dayal discusses Suicide’s early days.

Pop music writers discuss Blink-182’s influence on modern pop-punk bands.

Ben Ratliff and Joe Coscarelli discuss how the Latin music superstar is rewriting the rules.

For those looking to understand Prince’s musical life in his final years, the larger story of Ms. Hill is illuminating.

A discussion of techno as youth music and heritage culture.

After a fatal shooting at a T.I. concert, Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli discuss rap, race and security with Minya Oh, a.k.a. Miss Info, and Joie Manda of Interscope Records.

New York Times music critics discuss Mr. Russell’s wide-angle, slow-release significance.

New York Times music critics discuss the latest albums by both artists.

New York Times critics compare the latest releases.

A discussion of Ms. Spears’s conservatorship.

New York Times critics and writers discuss the singer’s new album.

New York Times culture critics discuss Prince’s music and impact.

Mr. Veloso, the great Brazilian singer and songwriter, discusses current events in his country.

New York Times music critics discuss Sturgill Simpson and Merle Haggard.

New York Times music critics discuss recent biopics about Miles Davis and Chet Baker.

Nate Chinen and Ben Ratliff on the ways jazz is being presented at museum spaces.

Ben Ratliff, Times music critic and Caryn Ganz, Times pop music editor, discuss the singer’s new album.

New York Times critics gather to discuss their newly released books.

Jon Caramanica chats with the rapper about the role of music in creating change.

A roundtable discussion on “The Life of Pablo.”

Times critics discuss the recent music releases of each singer.

New York Times music critics discuss changes within the genre.

Ben Ratliff and Michaelangelo Matos discuss the genre.

A conversation about the pop star’s life and work with the philosopher Simon Critchley, author of “Bowie.”

New York Times music critics discuss the year in jazz.

Music critics for The New York Times talk about the themes, currents and big ideas that defined the year.

Music critics for The New York Times discuss their favorite songs.

Music critics for The New York Times discuss the year’s highlights.

Ben Ratliff chats with Mr. Casey about the lyrics on the band’s album and more.

Ben Ratliff and Jon Pareles discuss their approaches to music.

Jon Caramanica and Jon Pareles discuss her new album, “25.”

The stars have found both help and hindrance from those who surround them.

Ben Ratliff and Melissa Marturano talk about the critique of Ms. Newsom and her music.

The Times’s pop music squad on the unlikely songwriter behind “Where Are Ü Now” and “What Do You Mean?”

Times music critics discuss the influence of Kanye West’s album on current musical styles.

Times music critics discuss Ms. Jackson’s new album and tour.

Jon Caramanica and Mr. Miranda discuss the songs and rappers that inspired him and his work.

Times critics discuss the jazz artist whose music incorporates poetry and dreams.

Times music critics discuss Mr. Batiste’s role as bandleader on the show.

The night belonged to those who shocked without needing to perform.

Times critics discuss The Weeknd’s music and new album, “Beauty Behind the Madness.”

Times music critics discuss Justin Bieber’s collaboration with Skrillex and Diplo.

With “Emotion,” the singer known best for “Call Me Maybe” embraces a seductive side to her music.

Jon Caramanica and Reginald C. Dennis, a founding editor of XXL magazine, discuss N.W.A and the film.

Jon Caramanica, Minya Oh and Rawiya Kameir discuss Drake and OVO Fest.

Ben Ratliff and Joe Coscarelli discuss the New Jersey punk band and their new album.

Ben Ratliff, Jon Caramanica and Julianne Escobedo Shepherd discuss international and multilingual pop.

A look at the desire for a reggae or reggae-like worldwide pop hit between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Hip-hop’s mainstream can often be confused with prosperity gospel, so it’s striking that in 2015, at least a couple of the genre’s biggest selling stars want nothing to do with such narratives.

Ben Ratliff and Ben Sisario discuss Apple Music, the much-anticipated music-streaming service to be launched June 30.

Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss the women of country music.

Ben Ratliff, Maria Sherman and Liz Pelly discuss the band’s new album and punk music.

Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss Jason Derulo’s new album.

Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss ASAP Rocky’s new album.

Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss the singer’s blend of different genres.

Ben Ratliff and Nate Chinen discuss Joey Alexander’s debut album.

Ben Ratliff and Jon Pareles discuss U2 and “Songs of Innocence” as the group heads out on a world tour.

Joe Coscarelli and Jon Caramanica discuss records from country dissenters and what, if anything, country’s borders mean anymore.

Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss the tenor saxophonist and his roots in the thriving Los Angeles jazz scene.

Jon Caramanica, Jon Pareles and Ben Ratliff discuss the vicissitudes and artistic value of music festivals.

Jon Pareles and Nate Chinen discuss the jazz saxophonist, flutist and band leader Charles Lloyd.

Discussing the rapper’s new album, “To Pimp A Butterfly.”

Jon Caramanica and Gilbert Cruz, of The Times, and Justin Charity, of Complex, discuss “Empire.”

Ben Sisario, Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss the “Blurred Lines” copyright trial.

Jon Pareles and Ben Ratliff discuss “Rebel Heart,” the new album by Madonna.

Ben Ratliff and Jon Pareles discuss the 28-year-old singer, songwriter and producer.

Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss Kanye West, Beck, Iggy Azalea, Papa John’s and other stars of the show.

Jon Pareles tells Ben Ratliff about club-hopping with Björk in Iceland and listening to her new album, “Vulnerica,” which was released last week.

Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss two connectors with keen ears, who died last week.

Ben Ratliff and Jon Pareles are joined by Caryn Ganz, of RollingStone.com, to discuss “No Cities to Love,” the new album by Sleater-Kinney.

Ben Ratliff and Joe Coscarelli discuss Ms. Trainor as surprise, as a formula, as contrivance and as a product of Nantucket, hip-hop and Nashville.

Jon Pareles, Nate Chinen and Ben Ratliff discuss the movements of jazz in 2014.

Ben Ratliff, Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica and Nate Chinen discuss pop music’s dominant themes, lessons and preoccupations in 2014.

The pop critics of The New York Times discuss their lists of the Top 10 albums of the year.

Jon Caramanica and A.O. Scott discuss what this modern update of “The Bodyguard” gets right about the music business.

Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss Mary J. Blige and her new album, “The London Sessions.”

The 20-year-old East Flatbush rapper Bobby Shmurda has just jumped from No. 8 to No. 6 on the Billboard chart.

Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss “Sonic Highways,” the new album and HBO mini-series by Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters.

Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss Taylor Swift’s poppy new album.

Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss Scott Walker and “Soused,” his new album with the drone-metal band Sunn O))).

Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss the singers Tinashe and FKA twigs, and whether they point toward a new conception of R&B.

Ben Ratliff and Nate Chinen discuss the jazz saxophonist, a recent winner of a MacArthur “genius” grant.

Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss the challenges of appraising Chris Brown.

Ben Ratliff and Jon Pareles discuss the new U2 album, released this week for free in iTunes.

Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss new projects by Ms. Grande and Ms. Bush.

Ben Ratliff talks to Jennifer Herrema of the band Black Bananas.

Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss some of the most popular songs of the summer.