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Soundcheck

Friday, September 08, 2006
  • WWE Wreckless Intent
    WWE Wreckless Intent

    Music Goes to the Mat

    Record labels and artists are striking deals with the pro wrestling business as they try to pin down new listeners. A new CD called "WWE: Wreckless Intent," features entrance music to World Wrestling Entertainment matches by bands like P.O.D., Three 6 Mafia, and Motorhead. Today, Neil Lawi, general manager of the WWE Music Group, discusses this unusual collision of pop music and pro wrestling. Also: Venezuelan-born pianist Gabriela Montero is making waves with her new CD "Bach and Beyond." She performs selections from the disc, which features improvisations on Bach's best-loved works. Finally, a look at how CBS News enlisted film composer James Horner when it needed a new theme song for its nightly newscast with Katie Couric.

Scoring Katie Couric

New York Times music critic Anne Midgette explains how CBS News' new theme music captures the oxymoronic expectations surrounding its new anchor.
» Katie Couric's New Groove by Anne Midgette

Rocking the Ring

Neil Lawi, general manager of the WWE Music Group, explains how musicians and labels are striking deals with the pro wrestling industry.
» World Wrestling Entertainment Web site

Gabriela Montero

Venezuelan-born classical pianist Gabriela Montero shares some of her music, including improvisations on Bach.
» Gabriela Montero's Web site

Irma Thomas

Soundcheck

August 22, 2008
New Orleans singer Irma Thomas has survived 50 years in the music business - and at least two hurricanes. She joins us to talk about her record, Simply Grand.

Bon Iver

Soundcheck

July 30, 2008
Singer-songwriter Justin Vernon spent a winter holed up in his father's hunting cabin in remote Wisconsin, recording songs about solitude that would be released under the name Bon Iver. He joins us to play some of them live.

Who's On Top and Who Should Be?

Soundcheck

August 14, 2008
Soundcheck looks at the artists who are reigning atop the Billboard albums chart -- and what their rankings tell us about the state of pop music.

The Next Big Things

Soundcheck

Paste magazine editor-in-chief Josh Jackson joins us to talk about Johnny Flynn, Janelle Monae, Bon Iver, Amy MacDonald and other must-hear artists who made Paste’s list of "The Best of What’s Next: 26 Emerging Artists You Should Know."