Washington, D.C.; May 30, 2025 — NPR Music celebrates Black Music Month 2025 with a month-long tribute honoring the anniversaries of landmark albums that have shaped the course of music and culture. This June, the platform will highlight 9 influential artists spanning a wide range of genres, recognizing their contributions to the global soundscape.
Throughout the month, NPR Music will feature exclusive programming that highlights historic milestones in Black music, spanning from classic soul to contemporary hip-hop. The celebration includes special Tiny Desk Concerts and the return of Tiny Talks—a series of short-form artist interviews for social media.
Celebrated album anniversaries include:
- Amerie with The Backyard Band – 20 years of Touch
- CeCe Winans – 30 years of Alone in His Presence
- E-40 – 30 years of In a Major Way
- Keyshia Cole – 20 years of The Way It Is
- Living Colour – 35 years of Time's Up
- Wiz Khalifa – 15 years of Kush & Orange Juice
- Stanley Clarke – 50 years of School Days
- Alex Isley – 10 years of LUXURY
- Beenie Man – 25 years of Art and Life
"The idea of celebrating anniversaries came to me as I witnessed Chaka Khan deliver one of the most outstanding Tiny Desk concerts of all time last year. She reminded us that she's been making music for 50 years. I tossed the idea around to my teammates, and they immediately came back with some heavy hitters reaching significant milestones in 2025," said Bobby Carter, Tiny Desk Concerts host and producer. "This year feels like the perfect time to stop and revere some of the greatest albums in Black Music. These artists might not be the first you hear in the Pop culture conversation, but they are crown jewels in Black culture. These are our icons."
Follow the celebration all month long atnpr.org/music and across NPR Music's social media platforms using the hashtag #BlackMusicMonth and watch performances at npr.org/tinydesk.The Tiny Desk Concert series reaches over 20 million viewers monthly, contributing to more than 45 million views each month.
About NPR Music:
For more than a decade, NPR Music has engaged millions of fans with diverse music journalism, live performances, and cultural storytelling. Signature projects include Tiny Desk Concerts, Turning the Tables, Jazz Night in America, and the podcasts All Songs Considered and Alt.Latino. NPR Music collaborates closely with NPR's news platforms, public radio Member stations, and an active community of listeners to celebrate exceptional music and elevate emerging artists. Visit NPRMusic.org and follow @NPRMusic on Facebook and Instagram.
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