From the phonograph to the Discman, the iPod to TikTok, the music industry has always been about evolution. But few shifts have been as rapid—or as disruptive—as in the digital age. From SoundCloud breakthroughs to TikTok-fueled superstardom, the way we discover, share and consume music has been...

From basement shows to booking sets at Chicago’s Beat Kitchen, Harrison Gordon has put in the work to earn their place in the Midwest indie rock scene. Now, the band is bringing their signature sound back to Bloomington-Normal, headlining The Castle Theatre on Feb. 28—and if you haven’t seen them...

Tyler, the Creator’s eighth studio album, “Chromakopia,” proves that even after 15 years in the industry, the artist can still push boundaries. That is a tall task for an artist whose career has been defined by creation, innovation and reinvention, as the musician, born Tyler Okonma, adopts...

It was Valentine’s Day 2021 when Katy Perry fell in love with Benson Boone during the 18-year-old’s audition for the nineteenth season of “American Idol.” Boone would punch his ticket to Hollywood, with judge Perry predicting to the up-coming singer, “I see you winning American Idol if...

Each year, Spotify takes us on a trip down musical memory lane with a look back at the songs, the albums and the artists we had on repeat.  When Spotify Wrapped hit the app on Wednesday, Nov. 29, recapping our most-played music, the Inkspot couldn't help but wonder if Wrapped really encapsulated...

Mr. Stefen Robinson, in his interview for the Inkspot article 'Vinyl Revival' commented he “occasionally [likes] listening to curated playlists, especially when a friend makes it for me,” Robinson said. “You know, that's beautiful.” The Inkspot tasked Robinson and the two other main sources...

Once upon a time, to make someone a mixtape meant hours of dedication -- waiting in front of the radio for a certain song to come on, pressing record just after the opening notes played, inevitably cutting off a few seconds of the song. Each song was unique -- intros clipped, the DJs voiceover bleeding...

James Cameron’s epic, action-packed "Titanic" returns to theaters Friday, February 10, in celebration of the film’s 25th anniversary.  The box office sensation — a tragic romance set aboard the largest moving object ever built — the “unsinkable” RMS Titanic, hits theaters in 3D 4K High...

John, Paul, George and Ringo thought it was all we needed; Whitney Houston’s was undying. Rihanna and Calvin Harris found it. Elvis couldn’t help falling in it… Love. On top, in the future… Crazy in it. From “Love Shack” to “Love Story,”—we love songsabout love. Endless love,...

In honor of the release of Taylor Swift’s 10th original studio album, “Midnights,” Senior Staff Reporters Tyler Chapman and Marielsie Iglesias rank their Top 10 Swift songs in the first edition of “Off the Record.” The Inkspot staffers pressed shuffle--diving into the pop diva’s discography....

One Direction.  When those two magical words are spoken, they have the power to make minds jump to the products of the group's instant "X-Factor" successes. Songs like "What Makes You Beautiful" or "One Thing." Or to chart-topping singles -- "Sign of the Times" and "Slow Hands" -- songs that gave...

2020 was a monumental year in music. While the pandemic, political turmoil, and the underlying uncertainty in nearly every aspect of life could have served as distractions and hampered creativity --  artists did what they have always done best. They prevailed, releasing career-defining masterpieces...

A TikTok video set to a single from 1977 propelled a 90-year-old cranberry juice company and a band that has been around for more than half a century into the spotlight.  When 38-year-old Nathan Apodaca posted a video to TikTok from a sunset longboard ride, lip-syncing “Dreams” and drinking Ocean...