music

It’s well known that Spotify’s algorithms are state-of-the-art. It’s how they’ve accumulated 217 million active monthly users.

If you’re unfamiliar, Spotify’s algorithms are similar to how social media platforms choose posts for the top of your feed. Spotify picks the songs it thinks you want to hear and makes personalized playlists for you.

Their newest personalized playlist? Your Daily Drive. It mixes music and news, placing short-form podcast news updates from WSJ, NPR and PRI in between songs.

Updating throughout the day to keep things fresh, Spotify gives your commute a reprieve from dreaded station toggling.

– Logan Armstrong, The Pittsburgh 100

For some people, absolute silence is necessary to focus on tasks and be productive at work. However, for many others, listening to music is an effective way to concentrate while working on an assignment. If you fall into the latter group, choosing which song to listen to can be a daunting task.

Fortunately, Spotify has narrowed down its library of more than 40 million songs into many playlists specifically designed to help improve focus. Here are some to add to your listening rotation at the office:

• Brain Food

• Chill Lofi Study Beats

• Instrumental Study

• Just Focus

• Peaceful Piano

• Pop Study

– Zach Parker, The Arkansas 100

Music fans in Oklahoma have a lot to look forward to in the first few months of 2019.

The schedule of concerts coming to the state starts with Justin Timberlake’s “The Man of the Woods Tour,” coming to Chesapeake Energy Arena on Jan. 26. Taking a break from his coaching gig on “The Voice,” Oklahoma native Blake Shelton will be at Chesapeake on Feb. 14 as part of his “Friends and Heroes Tour.” Finally, Grammy Award-winner P!NK brings her “Beautiful Drama World Tour” to Oklahoma City on March 23, in support of her highly anticipated seventh studio album.

– Andrew Aston, Jones PR

The criminal couple whose story became a legend is making an appearance via musical at Upstage Theatre in Edmond on Jan. 18 to 21.

Bonnie & Clyde tells the story of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Chestnut Barrow, American criminals whose gang terrorized businesses and citizens during the Great Depression. After committing hundreds of felonies together, the pair was killed by law enforcement in Louisiana on May 23, 1934.

Showtimes for the musical are Jan. 18 to 20 at 7:30 p.m. each night and Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

– Kelly Hughes, Jones PR

Edmond’s own Armstrong Auditorium welcomes two dynamic performances to its stage this November.

On Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m., keyboard virtuosos Christopher O’Riley and Pablo Ziegler will team up on Armstrong’s two Hamburg Steinway grand pianos. The pair is set to perform Ziegler’s exotic tango compositions, a part of their Two to Tango tour. Rounding out the month, on Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m., charismatic violinist Ray Chen will take the stage for a classical concert, Journey Across Europe.

Tickets start at $23 for balcony and $48 for orchestra. For more information, visit www.ArmstrongAuditorium.org.

– Taylor Ketchum, Jones PR

Music enthusiasts can look forward to a high-energy night when “Rock of Ages” comes to Lyric Theatre.

Fans will hear a collection of classic rock songs from rock bands including Journey, Whitesnake, Styx, Bon Jovi and more. The worldwide hit musical will take rock ‘n’ rollers back to the times when the only thing bigger than the crowd was the hair and ego of those playing. The nostalgia sets in Wednesday, Oct. 11, and lasts until Saturday, Nov. 4. Tickets are on sale and range from $25 to $62.

Visit Lyric Theatre OKC to purchase tickets and learn more.

– Ashley Ross, Jones PR

It’s not often an Oklahoman has the opportunity to perform with music legend Elton John. You would think when it happened he would be a household name in his home state. Not so.

The assertion that “no man is a prophet in his own land” holds true for 23-year-old Parker Millsap, who joined Sir Elton on stage September 18th at London’s Roundhouse. Rolling Stone describes Millsap as “a bluesy, powerful rasp of a howl” on their “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know.”

Time to get acquainted: Parker’s album, The Very Last Day, is available on iTunes.

– Deby Snodgrass, Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce & Tourism

Seven-time Grammy winner and Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood returned home April 27 for a concert at Tulsa’s BOK Center, as part of her “Storyteller Tour.”

Carrie sparkled throughout her performance and gleamed with state pride. “I remember one day I decided to go try out for a reality TV show … I didn’t think I’d win the thing (American Idol). I thought they’d tell me no and I’d come back home.”

Carrie said, “I never thought I’d be on a stage like this in front of my hometown people … Thank you for staying with me for the past 11 years.”

– Jake Pasdach, Jones PR