LibGuides: Media Studies: Music

Getting Started: Music Research

Suggested Search Terms:

music
name of the artist
name of the record label
name of the work (song, album, EP, etc.)
genre (pop, rock, R&B, country, rap, folk, alternative, jazz, etc.)
words that describe an issue/theme (e.g. gender, women, power, race, racism, stereotypes, culture, diversity, etc).
formats (vinyl, streaming, digital, CD, etc.)
history
criticism
interpretation
music industry
sound recordings
production
music technology

Call Numbers:

Books beginning with the call number M have to do with Music and Books on Music.

American Music Awards (AMAs)
The American Music Award winners are chosen by fan-voting. Nominees are chosen based on Billboard tracked measurements throughout a year.
Billboard
Trade magazine for the music industry providing news and other resources such as the Billboard charts (i.e. Billboard Hot 100).
Billboard Music Awards
Starting in 1990, the Billboard Music Awards are held annually and are given by Billboard.
Gold & Platinum Database (RIAA)
Search the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) Gold & Platinum database to discover music sales achievements by artists - whether looking at a particular single or album.
Grammy Awards
The Grammys are the annual awards ceremony of the Recording Academy in the United States to recognize achievements in music. The Grammys were first held in 1959.
National Recording Registry (Library of Congress)
Beginning in 2002, 25 recordings are added each year to the National Recording Registry from a public nominating system. The selected recordings are meant to showcase "the range and diversity of American recorded sound heritage in order to increase preservation awareness."
Rolling Stone
Since 1967, Rolling Stone magazine has been providing news related to music, popular culture, and politics.
Variety
Variety magazine provides information and news on the film, television, and music industries.