WYSO’s music coverage celebrates the power of sound to connect, inspire, and tell stories. From in-depth features on local and regional musicians to live performance recordings and explorations of musical traditions, our reporting captures the diversity and depth of musical expression in Southwest Ohio and beyond. Whether it’s bluegrass, hip-hop, jazz, classical, or experimental sounds, WYSO highlights the artists, venues, and audiences that make music a vital part of our community. Through programs like Excursions, The Outside, and Kaleidoscope, we bring you new voices and timeless sounds with the storytelling and soul of public radio.
-
When we finally got Wet Leg into the office to record, we weren't surprised by the amount of playful swagger the band brought. -
Journalist Betto Arcos got a history and music lesson from a storied musician and owner of one of the region's remaining juke joints.
-
Saadiq has helped define the sound of modern R&B and soul for more than three decades, both as a member of Tony! Toni! Toné! and as a solo artist. He has a new, deeply personal one-man show.
-
We speak to music journalist Christopher Weingarten about why so many high-profile drummers have either been fired or retired this year in what's been dubbed the "Drumpocalypse."
-
Members of the Detroit group I Am In Demand aren't just rappers, they're also teachers. They tell us about their Tiny Desk entry, "Spark the Flame," which they hope inspires Black men to follow in their footsteps.
-
Madison McFerrin, daughter of renowned musician Bobby McFerrin, describes her new album Scorpio and the power of finding her own voice and sound.
-
The movement of moths inspires a new music project by composer Ellie Wilson. She used data shared by ecologists to create a piece where the insects take center stage.
-
On America's 249th birthday, we look at the different definitions of America by revisiting NPR's American Anthem series.
-
Author Ricky Riccardi says Armstrong's innovations as a trumpeter and vocalist helped set the soundtrack of the 20th century. His book is Stomp Off, Let's Go. Originally broadcast Jan. 30, 2025.
-
The four original members of the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath will perform one last time together on Saturday, back in the city where they grew up: Birmingham, England.
-
Kneecap, three young men from Northern Ireland who rap in Irish, has risen to prominence in recent years, with controversy surrounding its shows and political statements. -
At its best, this capacious grab-bag of 83 songs, some dating back to the 1980s, yields not just good music, but songs that seem unlike anything else Springsteen has ever done.
