Is iTunes Radio Arriving a Little Late to the Party?

On Monday, Apple announced that it would soon be releasing a streaming radio service through iTunes. Starting this fall, iTunes Radio, which the company says has been in the works for a while, will be available on all Apple devices and on Windows-based devices that have iTunes installed.

Photo credit - Apple

The streaming radio service will be free (with advertisements), or can be subscribed to, eliminating occasional ads. It will feature genre stations, much like what Pandora Internet Radio and Spotify offer. According to Apple, what sets iTunes Radio apart from other music streaming programs and websites is that it’s a more “personalized experience,” that allows your stations to evolve with the music that you listen to. So, “the more you use iTunes Radio and iTunes, the more iTunes Radio knows what you like to listen to — and the more personalized your experience becomes,” Apple explains. Oh, and Siri can help you navigate the program and take requests if you have an iPhone.

This announcement from Apple about their new streaming radio program might seem slightly ill timed and underwhelming. After all, Pandora has been around since 2000, existing as a free music streaming website whose mission it is to play music people love with tailored radio stations and a vast number of genres and artists to choose from. An even newer streaming program is Spotify, which features radio options and even full albums from another enormous library of artists. Both programs are free with advertisements, but allow users to upgrade to a version where advertisements are eliminated for a small fee.

These advancements in music streaming and listening have forever changed the music industry and how people can enjoy and discover new music. So why has Apple, a pioneer in innovative and new technology, arrived so late in this radio streaming trend?

Only time will tell if iTunes Radio is superior to preexisting radio streaming websites and programs. Will you try out Apple’s newest product when it arrives in the U.S. this fall?

Rock and Roll Rebels of the Twentieth Century

In the twentieth century, Rock and Roll music was revolutionized by artists who pushed the boundaries of what that genre could be. Musicians often inserted radical politics into their songs, creating controversy by making important social commentary. Rolling Stone Magazine just released their list of 15 Rock and Roll Rebels , a sparse list, but an important one that highlights a few of the many powerful voices in punk, grunge, and folk rock. These often intersecting genres propelled iconic Rock and Roll musicians into infamy for their rebellious nature.

The magazine's list doesn’t honor rock stars who gained notoriety for trashing hotel rooms and being bawdy, eccentric musicians, but rather, those who weren’t afraid to challenge social norms through music. One artist who made the list is Elvis Costello, who once said, “My ultimate vocation in life is to be an irritant.” His musical style, originally formed from punk ideals, is what remains rebellious; Costello has mystified fans and critics by continuing to change his style of music.

Photo credit Flickr

The only female to make the list is Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor, who gained a rebellious reputation for her outspoken opinions about the government and organized religion. Rolling Stone wrote, “she will forever be remembered for shredding a photo of Pope John Paul II on the October 3, 1992 episode of Saturday Night Live...to protest the Catholic church's long suppression of evidence of sexual abuse among clergymen.”

Kurt Cobain of 90s grunge band Nirvana, also made the list. The magazine explains that “In his short life, the bandleader made it his duty to challenge beliefs – both his fans' and his own.” He often questioned society’s treatment of marginalized groups in lyrics and in interviews, which wasn’t always received well by fans. An artist who died young, Cobain is most rebellious for his beliefs, and his impact on the grunge rock genre.

Other notable names to make the list of Rolling Stone’s 15 Rock and Roll Rebels are: The Clash, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Fela Kuti.

Paul McCartney Implores Russia to Free ‘Pussy Riot’

People all over the world have been captivated by the public trials and subsequent prison sentencing of Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina. Tolokonnikova and Alekhina are band mates—members of the Russian punk rock group, Pussy Riot. It’s been over a year since their infamous guerrilla-style performance on the steps of a Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow, but their sentencing of two years of imprisonment continues to gain attention on a global scale as an issue that violates the women’s human rights.

The band, which has had a changeable membership of as many as eleven women since its formation in 2011, is made up of musicians who are equally passionate about activism. The content of their music is controversial; it often makes commentary on feminism, LGBT rights, politics, and social justice issues, as well as their opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Since their initial arrests in March 2012, there have been thousands of people and organizations that have protested the treatment of Tolokonnikova and Alekhina; since their sentencing, the amount of people invested in achieving justice for the women has grown immensely. Other musicians such as Sting, Patti Smith, and Madonna have made public statements in defense of the artist-activists, and the newest celebrity joining the cause is none other than Sir Paul McCartney of the Beatles.

Following the hospitalization of Alekhina, who was being treated as a result of her hunger strike, McCartney reportedly wrote multiple letters to Russian Authorities regarding the women and their incarceration. McCartney wrote, "My personal belief is that further incarceration for Maria will be harmful for her and the situation as a whole, which, of course, is being watched by people all over the world...”

McCartney’s polite reminder that the global scrutiny surrounding Russian policy and politics is immense, suggesting that it would be in the country’s best interest to reevaluate the sentencing of Pussy Riot band members. Indeed, justice for these women is a common goal that people all over the world are fighting for. With more endorsement from influential people like McCartney, the band might expect to reclaim their freedom soon.

For more information on Pussy Riot’s sentencing and how it impacts a greater fight for human rights, check out Amnesty International's efforts.