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What Makes a Great Love Song? The Magic Behind the Music

Love songs have the power to define generations, soundtrack our most intimate moments, and make us believe in romance all over again. Whether it’s a heart-wrenching ballad or an exuberant anthem of devotion, the best love songs transcend time and genre. But what exactly makes a love song great? Is it the melody? The lyrics? The raw emotion? The answer is all of the above—and more. Let’s break it down and explore some of the most iconic love songs that embody these elements.

1. A Melodic Hook That Hits the Heart

A love song needs a melody that lingers like a lover’s touch. The greatest ones are instantly recognizable after just a few notes. Think of Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You—that soaring vocal line is pure magic. Or the gentle acoustic riff in The Beatles’ Something, which feels as timeless as love itself. These melodies are unforgettable, carrying the weight of the emotions within the song and staying with the listener long after the final chord fades.

2. Lyrics That Speak Universal Truths

Love is personal, but great love songs make it feel universal. The best lyrics express emotions we all understand, whether it’s devotion (At Last by Etta James), longing (Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers), or heartbreak (Someone Like You by Adele). Songwriters who tap into these raw, relatable feelings create lyrics that make us say, “That’s exactly how I feel.” The most powerful love songs feel like they were written just for us.

3. A Vocal Performance That Gives You Chills

A great love song isn’t just sung—it’s felt. The most legendary love songs feature vocal performances that send shivers down your spine. Listen to Freddie Mercury on Love of My Life—his voice aches with emotion, turning the song into a tender farewell. Or consider Sam Cooke’s smooth, heartfelt delivery in You Send Me, a masterclass in effortless romance. The right voice doesn’t just deliver the lyrics; it lives them.

4. Instrumentation That Sets the Mood

Love songs don’t just tell a story—they create an atmosphere. The swelling strings in My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion evoke the grand, cinematic scope of love. The jazzy piano chords in Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley wrap the listener in warmth and intimacy. Every note, every instrument plays a role in painting the perfect picture of love.

5. A Timeless Quality That Never Fades

The best love songs are just as powerful today as they were decades ago. Frank Sinatra’s The Way You Look Tonight still melts hearts, just like Ed Sheeran’s Perfect does for a new generation. Love is eternal, and the most enduring love songs capture that timeless magic. Whether played at a wedding or alone in the car on a quiet night, these songs never lose their emotional impact.

A great love song is felt deep in the soul. It’s the song you slow dance to, the one that plays in the background of your happiest moments, or the one that brings tears to your eyes when love feels just out of reach. Love songs are part of our collective experience, shaping the way we express, celebrate, and remember love.

5 Surprising Facts About U2’s ‘Achtung Baby’

You think you know Achtung Baby. You’ve blasted “One” on late-night drives, jumped around to “Mysterious Ways,” and marveled at Bono’s transformation into The Fly. But did you know that U2 nearly broke up while making it? Or that a car from the album cover would become part of their most ambitious tour ever? Released in 1991, Achtung Baby wasn’t just a new album—it was a complete reinvention, tearing apart everything U2 had built in the ’80s and making something darker, stranger, and bolder. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about Achtung Baby—the record that changed U2 forever.

1. The Berlin Sessions Were a Disaster—Until “One” Saved the Band

In late 1990, U2 set up shop at Hansa Studios in Berlin, hoping to capture the energy of a newly reunified Germany. Instead, they found themselves in a cold, uninspiring city, struggling to write songs and fighting over their musical direction. Bono and The Edge wanted to dive into industrial and electronic influences, while Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton leaned toward classic rock. The tension was so bad, the band nearly called it quits. But during a jam session, The Edge stumbled upon a new chord progression, and within minutes, the band had written “One.” The song wasn’t just a breakthrough—it was a lifeline. Without it, Achtung Baby might never have been finished, and U2 might not have made it out of the ’90s intact.

2. The Album Title Came From a Joke—But It Was Dead Serious

U2 had been toying with names like Man (a nod to their 1980 debut Boy) and even 69, but they landed on Achtung Baby—a German phrase meaning “Attention, baby!”—as a tongue-in-cheek way to signal their sonic shift. The phrase reportedly came from either sound engineer Joe O’Herlihy’s studio banter or a Mel Brooks reference. But the irony of the title masked the album’s deeper themes of love, betrayal, and reinvention. Bono later admitted, “It’s probably the heaviest record we’ve ever made … but calling it Achtung Baby threw people off.” Classic U2—serious and self-deprecating in equal measure.

3. “The Fly” Was Inspired by a Pair of Cheap Sunglasses

Bono’s Fly persona—leather-clad, bug-eyed, whispering rock-star clichés—was born out of pure studio spontaneity. The turning point came when wardrobe assistant Fintan Fitzgerald handed Bono a pair of oversized wraparound sunglasses. The moment he put them on, everything changed. Suddenly, he had a character that could say all the things he wasn’t comfortable saying as “Bono from U2.” The Fly would go on to define the Zoo TV Tour, introducing audiences to a more ironic, chaotic, and self-aware U2. The song itself? A wall of distorted guitars, hip-hop beats, and a whispered warning from the underworld.

4. The Achtung Baby Cover Features a Stolen Car and a Naked Adam Clayton

The album’s chaotic, collage-style cover was a deliberate break from U2’s usual serious, monochrome aesthetic. Shot by Anton Corbijn, it featured vibrant photos of the band, a surreal shot of Bono kissing The Edge, and—most famously—a bright blue East German Trabant car, a leftover relic from the Berlin Wall era. The band became so obsessed with the car that they used real Trabants as stage lights on the Zoo TV Tour. Oh, and the original cover also featured a naked photo of Adam Clayton on the back—until U.S. retailers complained, and a black X had to be slapped over his, well, achtung.

5. The Zoo TV Tour Was Unlike Anything Rock Had Ever Seen

The Joshua Tree tour made U2 the biggest band in the world, but Zoo TV made them the weirdest. Instead of earnestness, they embraced absurdity. Instead of one big screen, they flooded the stage with dozens of flickering TV monitors. Fake phone calls, alter egos, prank calls to the White House—it was part concert, part performance art. The scale was so ambitious that the tour grossed $151 million, with U2 playing to over 5.3 million fans. But it wasn’t just a spectacle—it was a critique of media overload, wrapped in rock-star excess.

Rock and roll is about reinvention. The Beatles had Sgt. Pepper’s, Bowie had Ziggy Stardust, and U2 had Achtung Baby. This was an album seeped in a demolition and a rebirth. The band went into the ’90s feeling lost, and they came out of it with an album that shattered expectations. It gave us a new U2—messier, louder, funnier, and maybe even better. Thirty years later, Achtung Baby still sounds like the future. It’s the sound of four men chopping down The Joshua Tree—and planting something even wilder in its place.

5 Surprising Facts About Led Zeppelin II

You know Led Zeppelin II. You’ve cranked up “Whole Lotta Love” in your car, played air guitar to “Heartbreaker,” and whispered “Ramble On” lyrics like a secret only true fans understand. But do you really know this album? The 1969 masterpiece didn’t just set the standard for hard rock—it changed music history forever. From groundbreaking recording techniques to a certain Tolkien connection, here are five things you probably didn’t know about Led Zeppelin II.

1. It Was Recorded in Some of the Most Unlikely Places

Imagine laying down a rock and roll classic in a makeshift studio with no proper headphones. That’s exactly what Led Zeppelin did while recording Led Zeppelin II. Unlike most albums, which are recorded in one or two studios, this one was pieced together in over a dozen different locations across the UK and the US—some barely equipped to handle a band of Zeppelin’s power. Jimmy Page and Eddie Kramer had to work with whatever was available, sometimes mixing tracks on the fly while the band was on tour. The result? An album that captures the raw, urgent energy of their live performances like no other.

2. The “Whole Lotta Love” Mix Was Pure Studio Magic

One of the most iconic moments in Led Zeppelin II is the trippy middle section of “Whole Lotta Love,” where Robert Plant’s vocals swirl, echo, and float through the speakers like a rock and roll fever dream. But here’s the wild part: it wasn’t planned. Engineer Eddie Kramer and Jimmy Page crafted that psychedelic section by randomly twisting knobs, adding effects in real time, and experimenting with stereo panning. It was all done manually, live in the studio, with no computers or automation—just pure instinct and sonic wizardry.

3. J.R.R. Tolkien Inspired “Ramble On”

Led Zeppelin had a thing for The Lord of the Rings, and nowhere is that more obvious than in “Ramble On.” Robert Plant’s lyrics reference Mordor, Gollum, and “the evil one” in a song about adventure, longing, and wandering souls. Plant was a huge Tolkien fan, and traces of Middle-earth would continue to pop up in Zeppelin’s music, from “The Battle of Evermore” to “Misty Mountain Hop.” Fun fact: Despite being one of Zeppelin’s most beloved songs, “Ramble On” was never performed live by the full band until their 2007 reunion show at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert.

4. “Heartbreaker” Changed the Way Guitar Solos Were Played

Jimmy Page’s unaccompanied solo in “Heartbreaker” is one of the most influential moments in rock guitar history. Recorded separately from the rest of the song, the 46-second solo was completely spontaneous—Page just plugged in and let loose. It became a blueprint for future guitarists, inspiring everyone from Eddie Van Halen to Slash. In fact, Van Halen once said that the “Heartbreaker” solo directly influenced his famous “Eruption” tapping technique. The next time you hear that wild, unchained burst of guitar, know that it paved the way for generations of shredders to come.

5. The Album Cover Is a Remix of a World War I Photograph

The Led Zeppelin II album cover looks like a surrealist rock and roll dream, but it actually started as a photograph of a World War I German Air Force division. The original image featured the famed Flying Circus squadron led by the Red Baron, but artist David Juniper modified it by replacing some of the pilots’ faces with those of the Zeppelin members. He even snuck in a few unexpected additions—like French actress Delphine Seyrig from the 1969 film Mr. Freedom. A Zeppelin album cover inspired by a leftist anti-war satire? Now that’s rock and roll.

Fifty-five years after its release, Led Zeppelin II still stands as a defining moment in rock history, a declaration of the band’s sonic identity, fusing blues, hard rock, and psychedelia into an unstoppable force. With its raw energy, studio innovations, and unforgettable riffs, it set the template for countless bands to follow. Whether you’re revisiting it for the hundredth time or dropping the needle on it for the first, Led Zeppelin II remains, quite simply, essential.

Green Day, Noah Kahan, and Fall Out Boy to Headline Oceans Calling Festival 2025 in Ocean City

The highly-anticipated lineup has been announced for the 2025 edition of Oceans Calling Festival with Green Day, Noah Kahan, and Fall Out Boy set to headline September 26-28 at the Ocean City, Maryland Boardwalk.

The festival returns to Ocean City Inlet Beach with more than 40 artists performing across 3 stages including Weezer, Lenny Kravitz, Vampire Weekend, Good Charlotte, Train, The Black Crowes, Nelly, Devo, Modest Mouse, O.A.R., Vance Joy, CAKE, Ziggy Marley, Jack’s Mannequin, and many more.

Tickets will be available this Friday, February 14 beginning with the Presale at 10AM ET, followed by the public on-sale at 11 AM ET with any remaining tickets.

In addition to the music, Oceans Calling celebrates the return of renowned Chef Robert Irvine alongside culinary stars new to the Oceans Calling stage: Michael Voltaggio, Brian Voltaggio, and Anne Burrell, who will all be presenting lively cooking demos hosted by Jason Biggs for a delicious weekend to remember. Festival goers will once again have access to the Ocean City Boardwalk and its businesses in residence as well as the iconic Jolly Roger at the Pier amusement park, both located inside the festival grounds, as admission will be included with the purchase of an Oceans Calling Festival ticket.

Zach Bryan to Headline Historic First Concert at Michigan Stadium with Special Guest John Mayer

oday, multi-Platinum, GRAMMY-winning artist Zach Bryan has announced a first-of-its-kind concert at Michigan Stadium on September 27, 2025, with special guest John Mayer. Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen and Joshua Slone will also be joining the bill for this inaugural evening of music. Michigan Stadium, home to the University of Michigan Wolverines, is the largest stadium in the United States. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 14 at 10am EST and can be purchased HERE.

Michigan Stadium is the largest football stadium in the Western Hemisphere, and the third largest in the world. While the stadium has previously held other sporting events including soccer matches and college and professional hockey games, this is the first time an artist will headline a concert at “The Big House.”

“We are excited to have award-winning artist Zach Bryan perform the very first concert at Michigan Stadium,” said Warde Manuel, U-M’s Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. “I would like to thank the Board of Regents, President Ono, the Executive Officers of the University, and many of our athletic department staff as well as AEG Presents for all the work that has brought us to this point in the process. We have been studying and evaluating what it takes to host a concert at Michigan Stadium for a couple of years and today marks that next step in the venture with great partners.”

Zach Bryan recently wrapped “The Quittin’ Time Tour,” where he played 85 arenas and stadiums across North America. He is set to headline Stagecoach Festival 2025 in Indio, California and was recently announced as a headliner at BST Hyde Park Festival 2025 in London, England for two nights. Bryan will also be performing at Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland for three nights on June 20, 21, and 22, Metlife Stadium in Rutherford, New Jersey for three nights on July 18, 19, and 20, and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California on August 15.

George Strait Announces 2025 Stadium Shows with Chris Stapleton, Parker McCollum, and Little Big Town

George Strait continues to prove why he’s been dubbed the King of Country, setting a record for the largest single ticketed concert in U.S. History and a new record for Texas A&M Kyle Field for a single event with 110,905 fans in attendance for George Strait: The King at Kyle Field. The record-breaking performance was one of only 10 live shows from Strait last year including a supersized stop at Allegiant Stadium for his 37th Strait to Vegas show.

The country music icon along with eleven-time GRAMMY winner Chris Stapleton will continue the excitement with five shows in 2025. Joining Strait and Stapleton for this run of one-off stadium dates will be special guest Parker McCollum for the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Foxborough dates with Little Big Town joining for the only west coast show at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium.

“I keep trying to slow down a bit but you keep calling me back. Please don’t ever stop. I still love it just as much as I always have,” shares Strait. “Thank you for an amazing year last year and I can’t wait to see you for a few more again this year. Chris will be back and glad to have Little Big Town with us in LA. For the other cities, we’ve added Parker M. to the show which will be outstanding. Can’t wait to see you!!”

Of his stop at New Jersey’s Metlife Stadium last year The Associated Press opined, “Strait turned a space of tens of thousands across many demographics into something resembling the intimacy of those honky tonks he’s always singing about.” Bringing “a big band and a lot of heart” for what AP describes as the “closest a person can get to levitation…singing along to ‘Amarillo by Morning’ in a stadium of tens of thousands.”

While Pollstar opines, “Strait remains the most worthy inheritor of Merle Haggard or Willie Nelson’s mantle of country icon through the meaningful fluidity with which he moves through country’s various sub-strains with the same ease and enjoyment that marked both men’s Country Music Hall of Fame careers.”

Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. local time via GeorgeStrait.com. American Express is providing Card Members access to Amex Presale Tickets™, available for purchase starting Thursday, February 20, before the general public on-sale, while supplies last. Terms apply.

George Strait w/ Chris Stapleton & special guest Parker McCollum:
May 10, 2025 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field
May 31, 2025 Pittsburgh, PA Acrisure Stadium
June 14, 2025 Buffalo, NY Highmark Stadium
June 21, 2025 Foxborough, MA Gillette Stadium

George Strait w/ Chris Stapleton & special guest Little Big Town:
July 19, 2025 Inglewood, CA SoFi Stadium

Alicia Keys, Beck, Cher, Peter Frampton, and More to Headline LOVE ROCKS NYC 2025 Benefit Concert at the Beacon Theatre

The ninth annual LOVE ROCKS NYC benefit concert for God’s Love We Deliver will be live from the historic Beacon Theatre in NYC on Thursday, March 6. Executive produced by iconic international fashion designer John Varvatos, NYC Douglas Elliman real estate broker, investor and prominent concert producer Greg Williamson and esteemed concert/events producer Nicole Rechter, produced by DPS, and with appearances by Alex Edelman, Amy Schumer, Susie Essman and Tracy Morgan, the concert will support and honor the work of the cherished New York-based not-for-profit.

The organization, which has served more than 40 million meals since it was founded during the AIDS pandemic in 1985, now addresses 200+ diagnoses with its medically tailored meals and nutrition services, and this year will mark their milestone 40th anniversary. Last year, the staff and volunteers cooked, packaged, and home-delivered more than 4 million medically tailored meals to 17,000 New Yorkers living with and affected by severe illness.

God’s Love We Deliver pre-sale tickets go live on Thursday, February 13 at 10:00amET, and public tickets go live on Friday, February 14 at 10:00amET through www.ticketmaster.com.

This year, Love Rocks NYC will not only support the NYC nonprofit, but also their Food is Medicine Coalition peer organization Project Angel Food in L.A. as a response to the devastating wildfires in the area.

Since launching in 2017, the annual LOVE ROCKS NYC concerts have brought together an astonishing lineup of musical talent, raising $50 million to date and helping to fund 5 million meals to New Yorkers living with illnesses. The benefit concert highlights the organization’s continued mission of providing life-sustaining meals and nutrition counseling for people in the New York Metropolitan area living with severe illness. As a member of the Food is Medicine Coalition (FIMC), God’s Love We Deliver supports the coalition’s national mission while offering vital services to local communities.

“As we prepare for the 9th Annual LOVE ROCKS NYC concert, we’re reminded of the power of music and community to create change,” said Terrence Meck, President and CEO of God’s Love We Deliver. “This year is especially meaningful as God’s Love We Deliver celebrates having delivered more than 40 million meals since our founding in 1985. We are so proud of our work nourishing our neighbors affected by severe and chronic illness, and we are grateful to Love Rocks NYC for the visibility and funds it raises for God’s Love We Deliver.”

For the ninth anniversary, the LOVE ROCKS NYC 2025 all-star lineup, led by Music Director and Band Leader Will Lee (The CBS Orchestra), will feature Alicia Keys, Beck, Cher, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Dave Stewart Eurythmics feat. Vanessa Amorosi, Eric Burton of Black Pumas, Grace Bowers, Jesse Malin, Kate Hudson, Luke Spiller, Mavis Staples, Michael McDonald, Peter Frampton, The War and Treaty, Trey Anastasio more to be announced.

The past EIGHT LOVE ROCKS NYC benefit concerts have featured an outstanding array of music stars from legendary headliners such as Billy F Gibbons, Buddy Guy, Cyndi Lauper, Dave Grohl, Dave Matthews, Derek Trucks, Heart, James Taylor, Joe Walsh, John Mayer Trio, Jon Bon Jovi, Keith Richards & The X-Pensive Winos, Melissa Etheridge, Nile Rodgers, Norah Jones, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Robert Plant, Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi, The Black Crowes, The Black Keys, and Ziggy Marley to contemporary stars such as Andra Day, Gary Clark Jr., Hozier, Jim James, Joss Stone, Larkin Poe, Ledisi, Leon Bridges, Marcus King, Nathaniel Rateliff, Rufus Wainwright, Sara Bareilles, St. Vincent, Trombone Shorty, Yola and more.

The outstanding house band will include Eric Krasno (Soulive, Phil Lesh & Friends), Ivan Neville, Jeff Babko (Jimmy Kimmel Live), Larry Campbell (Levon Helm, Bob Dylan), Michael Bearden (Lady Gaga) and a six-piece horn section, Pedrito Martinez (Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Camila Cabello), Shawn Pelton (Saturday Night Live), and Steve Gadd (James Taylor, Paul Simon). Ken Dashow of Q104.3 Radio will also serve as the evening’s “voice of god.”

The evening’s sponsors are Bloomberg Philanthropies, RJKB Family Charitable Foundation and Secunda Family Foundation. Additional sponsors include Ernst & Young, JT Magen, Sam & Dena Lombardo, Jeffrey Altman, The Campbell/Ribbecke Family, Corient, DK Display Corp., Daily Provisions, Gramercy Tavern, Greg Williamson at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, The Levine Family, The Nash Family, Shake Shack, RWE Partners and official media sponsors iHeartMedia, Wall Street Journal, Q104.3 and Conde Nast.

Jon Batiste Announces Maestro Tour Following Grammy Wins and Historic Super Bowl National Anthem Performance

Fresh off two Grammy wins in the same week as his groundbreaking National Anthem performance at the 2025 Super Bowl, multi-Grammy and Academy Award winner Jon Batiste today announced Maestro Tour, a uniquely intimate and masterful concert experience showcasing his genre-defying artistry.

Kicking off April 5 at the Citizens Opera House in Boston, MA, the limited-run tour will make stops at renowned venues across North America, including a special 2 show engagement at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Additional stops include the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA, Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, CA, and The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, CA, where the tour will conclude on May 19.

Tickets for the Maestro Tour will be available through artist presales beginning Wednesday, February 12 at 12 PM local time, followed by local presales on Thursday, February 13 at 10 AM local time. General public on-sale begins Friday, February 14 at 10 AM local time.

“This is an opportunity for people to hear me explore my art as if they were in my living room with me-in real time,” said the modern-day maestro. In each performance, he seamlessly melds styles at the piano, reinventing his own catalog alongside classical music, Black American musical traditions, contemporary pop, stream-of-consciousness experimental improvisations and more. “I love the storytelling aspect of these shows as well. It’s not often that I do such intimate and stripped-down performances like this where you can hear and feel every wave of energy as it shifts. I’m excited to share this journey with fans in such an intimate setting, where every performance will be a one-of-a-kind experience-spontaneous, immersive, and deeply personal.”

Batiste’s Maestro Tour comes during a landmark year for the visionary musician, following his recent Grammy wins-including Best Music Film for the critically acclaimed Netflix documentary AMERICAN SYMPHONY and Best Song Written for Visual Media for “It Never Went Away” from the film, his National Anthem performance at the 2025 Super Bowl and the debut of MY UNITED STATE, a two-track project exploring his personal identity through the filter of the American identity.

The first track on MY UNITED STATE, “Star-Spangled Batiste Blues,” reimagines the National Anthem through a deeply personal and culturally reflective lens, incorporating elements of classical jazz, American folk, and R&B while paying tribute to the true heroes of the country. It also makes history as the first rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to feature a recorded sample. The second track on the project, “Notes From My Future Self” is a self-empowerment anthem written as a message from present-day Batiste to his younger self, blending orchestral grandeur with hip-hop beats and spoken-word lyricism to create a sonic journey that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

MY UNITED STATE follows Batiste’s latest studio album, Beethoven Blues, released on November 27, 2024, via Verve Records/Interscope. The album marked his biggest sales week to date, debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Classical Albums chart and No. 9 on the Top Album Sales chart. It also entered the Billboard 200 at No. 64-his highest debut on the chart and his fifth career entry. Beethoven Blues held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Classical Crossover Albums chart for nine consecutive weeks and topped the Billboard Classical Albums chart for five weeks. Showcasing his interpolations of Beethoven’s most iconic works through an expansive and innovative lens, the album expands the boundaries of classical music by infusing it with spontaneity, soul, and inclusivity.

Continuing to showcase his unparalleled creativity across different mediums, Batiste also contributed the innovative score for Jason Reitman’s 2024 film SATURDAY NIGHT. Depicting the chaotic 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live in 1975, the film is underscored by Batiste’s musical masterpiece, which features a blend of jazz, classical, and contemporary elements. Batiste composed and produced the music live on the soundstage in front of the cast and crew, perfectly capturing the intensity and unpredictability of the show’s debut episode.

Maestro Tour Dates
Saturday, April 5, 2025 @ Citizens Opera House in Boston, MA
Sunday, April 6, 2025 (Matinee) @ Metropolitan Opera House in New York, NY
Sunday, April 6, 2025 (Evening) @ Metropolitan Opera House in New York, NY
Thursday, April 17, 2025 @ Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA
Sunday, May 18, 2025 @ Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, CA
Monday, May 19, 2025 @ Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, CA

2025 GRAMMY Hall of Fame Inductees Announced: JAY-Z, Santana, Emmylou Harris, and More Honored

Today, the Recording Academy revealed the 2025 inducted recordings to the distinguished GRAMMY Hall Of Fame. This year’s additions include eight albums and five singles that exhibit qualitative or historical significance and are at least 25 years old. The inducted recordings will be honored at the GRAMMY Museum and Recording Academy’s GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Gala on May 16, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA. The Gala will also pay tribute to this year’s label honoree, Republic Records, with performers to be announced at a later date.

The 2025 GRAMMY Hall Of Fame inducted recordings range from JAY-Z’s Reasonable Doubt to Cat Stevens’ Tea For The Tillerman to Santana’s Supernatural. Others include recordings by Big Star, Clara Ward, Eddie Floyd, Emmylou Harris, Fela Kuti & Afrika 70, Geeshie Wiley, Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine, J.D. Crowe & The New South, Linda Martell, and Luther Vandross.

“It’s a privilege to recognize these eclectic recordings as the 2025 GRAMMY Hall Of Fame inductees,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “Music has the unique power to shape culture and mark moments in time. Each inducted recording reflects that spirit, and we’re excited to celebrate these impactful works, ensuring their legacies continue to inspire generations to come.”

“The GRAMMY Hall Of Fame serves as a vital bridge between music’s past and present, honoring recordings that have left a lasting mark on our cultural landscape,” added Michael Sticka, President/CEO of the GRAMMY Museum. “We’re proud to preserve and share these influential works at the annual GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Gala this spring.”

Eligible recipients will receive an official certificate from the Recording Academy. For a full list of 2025 recordings inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame, see below or visit here.

The GRAMMY Hall Of Fame was established by the Recording Academy’s National Trustees in 1973. The inducted recordings are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the Recording Academy’s National Board of Trustees. With 13 new titles, the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame currently totals 1,165 inducted recordings. The full list of past inducted recordings can be seen here.

2025 GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Inducted Recordings

#1 RECORD
Big Star
Album

“COLOR HIM FATHER”
Linda Martell
Single

“CONGA”
Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
Single

“HOW I GOT OVER”
Clara Ward
Single

J.D. CROWE & THE NEW SOUTH
J.D. Crowe & The New South
Album

“KNOCK ON WOOD”
Eddie Floyd
Single

“LAST KIND WORDS BLUES”
Geeshie Wiley
Single

NEVER TOO MUCH
Luther Vandross
Album

REASONABLE DOUBT
JAY-Z
Album

SUPERNATURAL
Santana
Album

TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN
Cat Stevens
Album

WRECKING BALL
Emmylou Harris
Album

ZOMBIE
Fela Kuti & Afrika 70
Album

DelFest Academy 2025 Announces Lineup Featuring The Travelin’ McCourys, Sister Sadie, and More

DelFest Academy is thrilled to announce its 2025 program, scheduled for May 19-21 in Cumberland, Maryland. This year’s academy boasts an exceptional lineup of instructors, including The Travelin’ McCourys, Sister Sadie, Ronnie and Garnet Bowman, Heaven McCoury and Shawn Lane of Blue Highway.

DelFest Academy provides a friendly, encouraging and intensive multi-day learning experience for musicians of all levels.

Students at DelFest Academy can expect instrument-specific workshops including guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin and fiddle, plus electives such as vocals and songwriting. Additionally, attendees are encouraged to join the various group jam sessions and Bluegrass Karaoke, as well one-on-one time with our panel of esteemed artists.

DelFest Academy fosters a collaborative environment, culminating in student performances that showcase the skills developed during the program.

Registration for DelFest Academy 2025 is now open. Musicians interested in refining their craft under the guidance of bluegrass luminaries are encouraged to enroll promptly, as spaces are limited.

For more information and to register, please visit DelFest Academy’s official website.

In addition to the Academy, the team at DelFest is happy to roll out the 2025 edition of the DelFest app. The app, available for both Android and iOS users, is an essential companion for the festival. Attendees can leverage the app for updates on schedule changes and event information. Plus, the ability to enable SMS alerts ensures that DelFest lovers and attendees will never skip a beat at the festival.

Founded by bluegrass legend Del McCoury and his family in 2008, DelFest is a celebration of bluegrass, Americana and roots music that has become a must-attend event for fans and musicians alike. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Allegheny Mountains, the festival offers a welcoming and family-friendly atmosphere where music and community come together

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That Eric Alper
6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week, a 16-time JUNO Award winner overseeing PR campaigns, and have also been truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

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