'The 2013 VMAs Were Dominated by Miley’s Minstrel Show'

Jody Rosen on Miley Cyrus's performance at the MTV Video Music Awards this week.

Here's another comment from Maurice McLeod about how the twerking isn't working.

Jon Caramanica in the New York Times on why the show was blah.

The Onion on the importance of 'Ratchetgate'. This is satire, just in case....

Ninjacate on point

A sexologist's two cents on the 2013 MTV VMAs

On the other hand, Molly Lambert on #MILEYTAUGHTME: The Lessons We're Learning From Mileygate

'The American Idol Audition Contract Is Insane'

It is

The gif that keeps on giving

Ian Curtis of Joy Division and Peter Saville's record sleeve design for the group's debut album Unknown Pleasures

Piha audiophilia (community radio)

Thanks to Brent Kennedy for the heads-up on this recent web series High Road about a guy who runs a community radio station from a caravan out west. It's written and directed by Justin Harwood, formerly of The Chills and also the group Luna. Six episodes about 8 minutes each. Some great tunes and even more great record sleeves. Viva la Radio.

'Sight dominates sound in music competition judging'

Here's a BBC story about research that demonstrates the look of the performance being more important than the sound of the music being played. Thanks to Brent Kennedy for this.

'Every Cultural Reference You Probably Didn’t Catch In Lady Gaga’s New Video'

Here's an example of a Lady Gaga scholar with some music video analysis, blogging the life out of/into 'Applause'

Music documentaries then and now

Thanks to Barnard Longbottom:

Music documentaries then and now

New Zealand's Pop Stars

New Zealand's popstars

Total eclipses of the heart

you may not believe this, but...

laptops in class might lower grades

Corporate celebrities

An article on Jay Z and Alicia Keys by Robin D.G. Kelley 

Songs for driving part 71

Failuresville

Stranded in Paradise

PJ Harvey releases Guantanamo song

For Shaker Aamer

Beyoncé in AKL

Opinion: I can’t fathom why you’d want to go to my concert

Blurred Lines?

Peter Robinson "Naked women in pop videos: art, misogyny or downright cynical?"

Phil Donahue on freedom of speech during wartime

Music Videos Without Music

CollegeHumor's Favorite Funny Videos