Media technology

Amazon moves aggressively into world of book publishing

As Amazon pushes harder into the world of book publisher, and not just seller, it’s making the big publishing companies nervous at the same time it reaches out to authors.

A grand piano left by the East River underneath the Brooklyn Bridge is pictured in the Manhattan on May 31, 2014.

The piano industry is slowly going out of tune

Music
Iraqi family

Islamic militants fighting in Iraq help boost the fortunes of FireChat, a new mobile app

Environment

Historic violins, long lost to history, get new life in France

Arts, Culture & Media

From Malaysia to major record deal via YouTube

Arts, Culture & Media

Musician plays through “open-head” surgery

Arts, Culture & Media

Eddie Adcock underwent surgery on his brain — while doctors were operating, Eddie was doing what he loves best — playing the banjo.

Sweden’s Anna von Hausswolff Draws Inspiration from Pipe Organ for ‘Ceremony’

Global Hit

Sweden’s Anna Von Hausswolff tells anchor Carol Hills why she recorded her latest album in a church and why she was particularly drawn to the pipe organ.

Memphis Meets Mumbai: Hindustani Slide Guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya

Global Hit

Marco Werman introduces us to the sound of Indian slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya.

The Sound of Birds, Whales, Elephants, Frogs, Published Online

Environment

Thousands of wildlife recordings at Cornell’s Macaulay Library in Itaca, NY, are now online. Audio curator Greg Budney samples the vast collection of field recordings collected worldwide.

China to Increase Internet Restrictions

The Chinese government has said it will impose even tighter restrictions on internet usage. This won’t just impact individual Chinese web surfers. It could also impact American companies that do business in China.