Chris Weingarten

In this episode: Daft Punk is no stranger to the Grammys. Since 1998, the French electronic duo has been nominated 13 times, and, five years ago, they won the awards for Best Dance Recording and Best Electronic/Dance Album. But this year, Daft Punk has managed to break into what’s known as the “Big Four” categories -- and has become the first group ever to be nominated for both Best Dance/Electronica Album and Album of the Year. Chris Weingarten, music editor at Rolling Stone explains why this is matters for dance music. 

Then, the moody and lovely British pop group London Grammar performs songs from its new album, If You Wait, in the Soundcheck studio.

And: Radio programmers at Top 40 stations are desperate to keep you tuned in and listening to ads -- that’s how they pay the rent. So they’ve done some homework, and they think they might have a way of competing with music streamers like Spotify: Play fewer hit songs, more often.

In this episode: Actress and soprano Audra McDonald recently starred in Broadway's revival of Porgy and Bess. Now, she's back with her first solo album in 7 years, Go Back Home, featuring songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein and Stephen Sondheim, among others.

Plus: Spin editor Chris Weingarten gives his take on the new Daft Punk album, Random Access Memories, which has spawned a heavy favorite for the “song of the summer” title.

And: Songwriter and Muppet pal Paul Williams recently teamed up with the masked men of Daft Punk to work on their new album. He joins us to talk about the results.