Table of Contents
Reference works
Additional online encyclopedias:
These works are both online and in print.
On the reference shelf
These are useful titles in the Music Reference Room:
Books and articles
Books
Find books on pop music subjects and performer biographies in SearchWorks, the library catalog.
Browse the stacks at these call number ranges:
ML 420 | Individual artist biographies |
ML 421 | Performing groups |
ML 3470 | General works and subgenres |
ML 3475 | By region or country |
ML 3531 | Rap |
ML 3534 | Rock |
See also: | |
ML 82 | Women and music |
ML 3916 | Social and political aspects of music |
ML 3970 | The music trade |
Articles
Search for articles in these databases. Some results will link to full text entries; others provide the citation only--you'll want to look up the journal title in SearchWorks to find the printed copy.
Browse a list of popular music journals in the Stanford Libraries.
Databases and links
Databases
Links
Useful websites:
Recordings
Find circulating CDs and DVDs in the SearchWorks library catalog. They will be located in either the Music Library or in the Green Media & Microtext Center. While Stanford Libraries do not generally collect recent popular music releases in depth, an increasing number of significant recordings and concert videos are added to the collections each year.
Find historical recordings in the Archive of Recorded Sound.
The Archive also collects discographies and other supporting material, such as the Great Indie Discography; you may browse discographies online or in person.
Streaming music databases provide access to a small amount of popular music, primarily from non-Western traditions. A growing number of commerical sites allow access to streams for free or for a small fee. See this review of sites in PC Magazine.
Staff favorites include Pandora Internet Radio, Slacker Radio, and Spotify.
Printed music is generally represented by piano/vocal arrangements of popular songs. Search the catalog, or browse in the Music Library stacks, at ML 1630.18. More information may be found in the Songs & Singing topic guide.