The Kennedy Center Is Giving Bill Maher the Mark Twain Prize by Ben Sisario

The annual award that recognizes merit in humor is going to the satirist and talk show host who has been critical of President Trump and political correctness.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 9:30am on March 26, 2026☆⚑

'An Unbelievable Mess': Artists Are Stymied by Trump Travel Bans by Ben Sisario

Musicians, theater groups and others from overseas are facing visa challenges and rising costs, posing a looming crisis for the performing arts sector.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 2:54pm on January 21, 2026☆⚑

'Deliver Me From Nowhere' Isn't the Bruce Springsteen Biopic We Expected by Ben Sisario

Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong, the stars of "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere," and the director Scott Cooper on capturing a haunted rock icon.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 5:04am on August 28, 2025☆⚑

Bruce Springsteen Sells Music Catalog in Massive Deal by Ben Sisario

Sony Music Entertainment buys the Boss's entire corpus, including classics like "Born to Run," for an estimated $500 million or more.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:06pm on December 15, 2021☆⚑

Ruben Santiago-Hudson Brings 'Lackawanna Blues' to Broadway by Ben Sisario

The first performance of 'Lackawanna Blues' offered a reminder that Broadway is a home for plays as well as musicals.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 7:54pm on September 14, 2021☆⚑

Bruce Springsteen Will Return to Broadway in June by Ben Sisario

"Springsteen on Broadway" opens on June 26 at the St. James Theater; audience members will be required to show proof of full Covid-19 vaccination to enter.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 1:06pm on June 7, 2021☆⚑

25 Free Performances Come to Bryant Park Starting in June by Ben Sisario

The park will host events for live audiences of 200 with institutions including the New York Philharmonic, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Joe's Pub and the Classical Theater of Harlem.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 9:00am on April 14, 2021☆⚑

Podcasting Is Booming. Will Hollywood Help or Hurt Its Future? by Ben Sisario

A frothy adaptation market is just one sign of the rapid evolution of the industry. But some worry that big money will stifle the D.I.Y. spirit that has driven much of its success.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 8:06am on February 25, 2021☆⚑

'7 Rings' Is a Hit for Ariana Grande, and a Knockout for Rodgers and Hammerstein by Ben Sisario

The company that controls the composers' catalog cut a deal for 90 percent of the royalties for the singer's remake of "My Favorite Things" just weeks before its release.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 3:16pm on March 19, 2019☆⚑

Bruce Springsteen Is Bringing His Music and His Memories to Broadway by Ben Sisario

Tickets to the intimate shows at the Walter Kerr Theater will be sold via a new technology called Verified Fan in an attempt to cut down on scalping.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 1:06pm on August 9, 2017☆⚑

'The Hamilton Mixtape' Defeats the Rolling Stones in the Battle for No. 1 by Ben Sisario

Mick Jagger and company's latest album, "Blue & Lonesome," debuted at No. 4 and the Weeknd slipped to No. 2.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 1:04pm on December 12, 2016☆⚑

Streisand's 'Encore' Tops the Billboard Album Chart by Ben Sisario

Ms. Streisand's latest record didn't do well on streaming services. But strong sales gave her yet another No. 1 album, 52 years after her first.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 5:13pm on September 5, 2016☆⚑

'Hamilton' Album Surges on the Chart and Drake Holds on at No. 1 by Ben Sisario

The cast recording of the Broadway musical jumped to No. 3 after the Tonys while Drake recorded his seventh consecutive week at the top.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 1:58pm on June 20, 2016☆⚑

ArtsBeat: 'Hamilton' Cast Will Perform at the Grammys, via Satellite by Ben Sisario

Musical theater will return to the Grammy Awards for the first time since 2010.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:57pm on February 3, 2016☆⚑

Robert Stigwood, Impresario of Rock, Film and Stage, Is Dead at 81 by Ben Sisario

Mr. Stigwood's name was attached to films, albums and theatrical productions that identified an era in music.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 9:40am on January 7, 2016☆⚑

Best Buy Takes Its Brand to a Times Square Theater by Ben Sisario

The Nokia Theater in Times Square, a 2,100-capacity room owned by the national promoter AEG Live, will become the Best Buy Theater.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Lead Producer of 'Spider-Man' Hit With Lawsuit by Live Nation by Ben Sisario

The concert and ticketing company says Michael Cohl owes it more than $5 million.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Jimmy Buffett Injured in Fall From Stage by Ben Sisario

He reportedly fell face-first during a show in Sydney.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

'Barbra Streisand' Video Goes Viral by Ben Sisario

Appropriately for the YouTube age it is a roll call of musicians famous enough to shock a nation and underground enough for you to show off to all your friends, if you can recognize them.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Announcement of New Jackson Album Is Kind of a Thriller by Ben Sisario

An announcement about the album doesn't really announce all that much.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Another New Low Atop Billboard Chart by Ben Sisario

Sales continue to slide.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Boyle Knocks West Off His Perch Atop Chart by Ben Sisario

And the "Glee" franchise has two of the top five albums.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

From Cirque du Soleil, a Michael Jackson-Themed Touring Show by Ben Sisario

A show called "The Immortal World Tour," which takes place "in a fantastical realm where we discover Michael's inspirational Giving Tree," will begin in Montreal next year.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Ariana Grande Is No. 1 by Ben Sisario

Ms. Grande opened at No. 1 on this week's album chart with "My Everything."

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 4:20pm on September 3, 2014☆⚑

'Frozen' Soundtrack Sees Biggest Sales Week Yet by Ben Sisario

The Disney soundtrack held at No. 1 for an 11th week, with 259,000 copies sold.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 4:28pm on April 23, 2014☆⚑