Arts & Culture: Music

Blame it on the good times

Michael Jackson’s genius lay in transmuting black pop music into a global form. His tragedy was that he forgot what made him great.

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Mama said knock you out

In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became prime minister – and a rap record was a hit for the first time. Mark Fisher reflects on how for three decades hip-hop has provided the perfect soundtrack to the brutality of the neoliberal world-view

Diary: Emily Eavis

Backstage at the Glastonbury Festival

The way I see it

Regina Spektor, musician

Horns of plenty

Nige Tassell on the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, a band of brothers with eyes on the people

The celestial jukebox

When the music streaming service Last.fm was sold to CBS in 2007, its geekish founders became poster boys for the east London tech scene – and overnight multimillionaires. Their departure from the company signals the end of a musical love story.

Sonic Youth: The Eternal (Matador)­

The alt-rock veterans’ new album shows them to be curators rather than innovators

Exclusive: Patti Smith interview

The legendary singer, who performs at this month's Meltdown, talks about the convictions that drive her

A label of love

Island Records, which turns 50 this year, helped shape the modern music business.

Island and the rise of black Britain

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