January 16, 2009

Contact: Anna Christopher, NPR

NPR MUSIC “EXCLUSIVE FIRST LISTEN”:

NPR MUSIC TO STREAM ENTIRE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ALBUM,
“WORKING ON A DREAM,” BEGINNING JANUARY 19

NPR STATIONS TO CARRY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN PERFORMANCE SUNDAY
AT “WE ARE ONE: THE OBAMA INAUGURAL CELEBRATION AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL”



January 16, 2009; Washington, D.C. – NPR Music – www.NPR.org/music – will offer music fans an “Exclusive First Listen” to Bruce Springsteen’s forthcoming album, Working on a Dream, beginning Monday, January 19 at 11:59PM (ET), one week ahead of the album’s release. NPR will also be the only radio broadcaster of “We Are One: The Obama Inauguration Celebration at The Lincoln Memorial,” the opening celebration for the 56th Presidential Inaugural on Sunday, January 18, during which Springsteen is scheduled to perform along with dozens of the biggest names in the music industry. The concert will air on public radio stations nationwide, and be streamed live from www.NPR.org/music and from the Web sites of many stations.

Springsteen and the E Street Band recorded Working on a Dream during breaks from the group’s tour in 2007. The entire record will be available for on-demand streaming at NPR Music until its release January 27 from Columbia Records. This month, NPR Music is also offering “Exclusive First Listens” to Hold Time from M. Ward and Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion, available on the site as of January 19 at 11:59PM (ET). The series is available at: www.NPR.org/firstlisten

This Sunday, NPR’s special coverage of the “We Are One” event will air from 2:00-5:00PM (ET), with the official celebration scheduled to begin live at 2:30PM (ET). In addition to Springsteen, musical performers scheduled for “We Are One” include Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Jennifer Nettles, U2, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, James Taylor, will.i.am and Stevie Wonder. For information about the broadcast and updates about local NPR stations airing “We Are One,” visit: www.NPR.org/weareone

NPR Music, marking its one year anniversary, features content from NPR and 12 NPR Member public radio stations, and original-to-NPR Music features such as live performances, studio sessions, music lists, interviews, reviews and blogs. “Exclusive First Listen” joins NPR Music’s expanding sections dedicated to rock/pop/folk, classical, jazz/blues, world and urban music. The site culls from NPR’s and the stations’ extensive music archives to present thousands of features; more than 240 new features are added to the site every month.