The sprawling South by Southwest festivals are in full swing in Austin this week, with the music portion of events kicking off today. Can't be there? Do what I'm doing and listen online, courtesy of the newly supercool NPR Music. NPR is webcasting four concert programs from SXSW starting tonight. Tonight's lineup includes performances by Jonathan Rice and REM, while Thursday's all-day broadcast Read more

Still think NPR's uncool? Wait till you see the new NPR music Web site, which just launched this week. I've long been a fan of NPR's All Songs Conisdered podcast, but this site takes that show's coolness to a whole new level. Here are some of the many things I got sucked into on my tour through the site: An extensive archive of live concerts — many of them available for download — from the Read more

This one's for the moms in the house. Before my tots were old enough to tell me what they wanted to listen to in the car, we spent a lot of time with NPR playing in the background. Aside from the news I learned, I loved to hear the stories that were related on All Things Considered, Weekend Edition and News & Notes. Now, it's nursery rhymes, Dan Zanes, Justin Roberts and the like blaring Read more