WebProNews

National Public Radio has launched its own music site NPR Music.

NPR Music is being launched with 12 member stations, and will feature online and on-air content from NPR and other participating stations. The site will feature original content, interviews, blogs and live performances.

Specific sections of the site will focus on rock, pop, folk, classical, jazz, blues, world and urban music. Users will be able to search each category for interviews, studio sessions with artists, along with national and regional concerts, reviews and news.

NPR Music also features a new media player that allows users to create a playlist for video and audio (dating from May 2005 to present) on the site and makes recommendations for similar content depending on the user's selection.

The site will also offer two new blogs. The "All Songs Considered" blog, which will go behind the scenes and "Monitor Mix" which features music picks and music news.

Maria Thomas, Senior Vice President and General manager, NPR Digital Media, said, "In time, new tools will allow you to share and connect with others using the site.  We also hope to serve as a launch pad for new and original music content and to expand our already substantial free online music archive. For starters, we will be adding hundreds of music stories, interviews and performances every month."