Funk Radio

Today we discuss another possible case of stolen ideas between two songs, this time from the early 80s. Are their music videos just coincidentally similar, or was there something else going on?

Today we go down a rabbit hole of speculation surrounding two songs that use the same distinct music sample. Did one steal the idea from another? Does sampling even lend itself to ownership in the first place?

Today we compare a handful of songs with their original demo recordings. Demos are often recorded to pitch a song or work out the tune and lyrics, and are rarely released.

Today we celebrate 4 years of podcasting by discussing the many reasons why we still have no listeners. We also give some insight into how to create a podcast while managing realistic expectations for success.

Today we recap the funky adventures of "The Get Down," a Netflix original series that documents the budding years of hip hop music in the 1970s. While the story is fictionalized, it seamlessly blends with real people and events.

Today we briefly explain the idea behind "Paul's Extreme Sound Stretch" (Paulstretch), an open-source software that can beautifully stretch music by extreme proportions.

Today we discuss the growing role that AI plays in today's tech-driven music experience. How can computers determine what we should be listening to?

Today we examine the musical works of Wesley Willis, a singer with schizophrenia who garnered a cult following in the 90s with such hits as "Rock & Roll McDonald's" and "Suck a Cheetah's Dick."

Today we take a thorough look at the sophomore album by the Avalanches—a masterpiece of "plunderphonics" which has been nearly 16 years in the making.

Today we return from our summer hiatus with a couple of recent music news topics. Did Led Zeppelin steal "Stairway to Heaven"? Will your headphones suddenly become obsolete with the new up-and-coming plug standard?

Today we embark on a comprehensive overview of "hidden tracks" in musical albums. In the last 50 years, artists have found all kinds of creative ways to keep these Easter eggs out of sight. Some are harder to find than others!

Today we take a few minutes to highlight Larry Muhoberac, the musician behind the "Joy of Painting" theme song, who spent his career alongside some of the biggest names in music.

Today we cover the history of cardboard cut-out records, a quirky marketing ploy used by major cereal companies from the early 50s to the mid 80s.

Today we discuss the phenomenon of the "false ending," where a song will fade out as if it's reached the end, then keeps going for an extended duration. Why is this a thing?

Today we talk about chicken. Because it's delicious and we're out of ideas.

Today we're continuing our streak of reviews with a look at the latest mixtape by Poolside, an LA-based duo who master in chill-out summer music.

Today we share some very mixed feelings on Breakbot's sophomore album, "Still Waters" which was released on February 5.

Today we give our impressions of the recent album release by soul revivalist Charles Bradley.

Today we're celebrating 150 episodes by bringing together all four DJs from Funk Radio's original college radio show. Get ready for plenty of laughs as we recall the good times and bad times from those formative years.

Today we explore the many variations of compilation albums that are out there, and offer some explanations as to their purpose alongside studio albums.

Today we bring up a couple of conspiracy theories about the "shuffle" feature of iTunes and Spotify. Are they favoring the music that maximizes their profits, or is it based solely on our listening patterns? Also, can our subjective perception of randomness differ from something that is truly random?

Today we ask many questions about the purpose that a song plays in movie trailer. Does it actually help sell the film? Why might it not be featured in the film itself?

Today we examine what it means to be "musically compatible" with your partner. Are musical tastes enough to make or break your attraction?

Today we take a brief look at how political campaigns usually play songs without the permission of the respective artists, which frequently leads to issues.

Today we return to the land of television, this time for an in-depth exploration of advertisers modifying song lyrics to sell their products.

Today we share a good laugh over Shaq's short-lived rap career from 1993 to 2001.

Today we wrap up our 4-part miniseries with the Godfather of Soul himself, and his Black empowerment song that unfairly drove away his entire White audience.

Today we clear up some of the finer details behind Rosa Parks' famous protest of the Montgomery bus system in 1955, and introduce you to a song that pays tribute to her legacy.

Today we dissect one of Public Enemy's most politically charged songs, which was a response to Arizona repealing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 1990.

Today we kick off Black History Month with some fun facts about Stevie Wonder's hit song, "Happy Birthday," which was actually written to lobby for MLK's birthday to be made a national holiday.

Today we bring you a little history lesson on the notorious 8-track tape, an unreliable music format that only lasted about a decade before fading into obscurity.

Today we kick off 2016 with a handful of songs and other fun facts from half a century in the past.

Today we tell you all about Sharon Jones' brand new holiday album, which mixes the proven throwback-soul stylings of Daptone Records with the wintery cheer of the holidays.

Today we prepare for the end of 2015 with a review of our favorite albums from this last year: "All Possible Futures" by Miami Horror and "Magnifique" by Ratatat.

Today we honor an obscure little Afro-funk song from 1972 that gained unexpected popularity, and continues to be referenced in other songs to this day.

Today we have a little history lesson about TK Records, the Miami-based label behind many of the biggest acts of the disco era.

Today we talk about some funk/soul singers who filed for bankruptcy after their glory days. Sometimes it was their own fault, but interestingly there were often other factors at play.

Today we introduce you to a song from the pioneer days of rap music: "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick. While not the most catchy song in itself, it has provided immense lyrical inspiration to rap artists for 30 years.

Today we analyze just a couple of songs that have direct lyrical ties to other singers, usually in a tribute context.

Today we explore the catchy tunes that made flipping burgers and scooping chili fun and informative for Wendy's employees-in-training in the late 80s.

Today we give a thorough rundown of what to expect in the debut album by Leon Bridges, a contemporary soul singer quickly rising to the mainstream.

Today we talk about butts. If you need further explanation, this isn't the podcast for you.

Today we talk all about "The Wiz" (1978), a musical film adaptation of the Wizard of Oz starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, among others.

Today we celebrate our 125th episode with a countdown of 10 music videos that we hate, for songs that we legitimately like.

Today we have an educational discussion about how music royalties work. It turns out they're a lot more complicated than we thought, since there are several people involved and places the song could be used.

Today we have a rather serious discussion about the relationship between Top 40 radio stations and the handful of major corporations that basically control which music is deemed "popular."

Today we share a funny satirical article that claims that a McDonald's employee replaced Happy Meal toys with his self-recorded hip hop mixtape.

Today we hear Kyle and Tiff's experience seeing Motown the Musical, a contemporary production that chronicles the golden age of Motown Records.

Today we give you the dirty details on four funky men who fathered a total of over 40 children with over 25 women. Happy Father's Day!

Today we celebrate the 2015 inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.