Music

Clubhouse X Tiny Desk Contest

Published May 25, 2021 at 4:00 PM EDT

May 25th, 2021 Washington, D.C.-- With the2021 Tiny Desk Concert in full swing, NPR is celebrating the beloved tastemaking series with a Clubhouse event this Thursday, May 27th from 8:30PM-9:30PM. With panelists ranging from Tiny Desk's producers to performers, we'll dive into an hour-long conversation to explore the secret behind why Tiny Desk performances go viral - and if there's a way to make your entry to the Contest explode, too.

RSVP for the discussion using the room link here: https://www.clubhouse.com/join/NPRExtra/XtlmjStb/Mz3Z7q33

The Tiny Desk Contest and concert series have been a proven springboard for musicians from genres across the board, with past winners going on to become impressive forces in the music industry. The inaugural winner Fantastic Negrito won two Grammy awards. Folk musician Gaelynn Lea has built an enthusiastic fan base in the United States and across Europe, released a new album, and played at renowned venues like the Kennedy Center. The third-year winner, Tank and the Bangas, have brought their unique energy to sold-out crowds around the world, and were nominated for the "Best New Artist" Grammy in 2020. Naia Izumi, opened the national tour for The Lone Bellow, performed a TED Salon, and signed a contract with Sony Masterworks. 2019 winner Quinn Christopherson has joined Courtney Barnett, Portugal. The Man and Lucy Dacus on tour. Our most recent winner Linda Diaz released new music just last week, on top of hosting PBS's Sound Field, and judging this year's Tiny Desk Contest's entries.

Since the launch of the Tiny Desk concert series in 2008, more than 1000 performances have been recorded at the Tiny Desk — Bob Boilen's festive workspace at NPR headquarters — which is adorned with years of music mementos and memorabilia. Tiny Desk concerts attract 16.5M unique viewers each month and continue to unify a passionate community around the love of music discovery. The series has provided a unique stage for artists from across the genre spectrum and at every phase of their careers, including recent performances by Megan Thee Stallion, Taylor Swift, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Freddie Gibbs, iLe, Toro y Moi, Sesame Street, and more.

See below for a full list of panelists from NPR Music:

These are the minds behind some of the most-seen (and most talked about) editions of the Tiny Desk. They'll talk about the reach of the Tiny Desk Concert, how it affects communities and genres, and their favorite moments, memes, and tweets from their favorite Tiny Desks.

Bob Boilen / Stephen Thompson: (Confirmed)

Co-creators of the Tiny Desk. They'll be speaking on the genesis of the Concert, their ideas in getting it to publish on NPR, and where they thought it'd be headed.

Abby O'Neill: (Confirmed)

Abby O' Neill is NPR's head of Strategic Initiatives for NPR Music and a producer of Tiny Desk Concerts.

Bobby Carter: (Confirmed)

Tiny Desk producer and Tiny Desk Contest judge behind many pivotal moments at the desk such as #BHMXTDC and Insecure Week.

Felix Contreras: (Confirmed)

Co-creator and host of the podcast, Alt. Latino. Across his own show, he spotlights Latinx music, arts, and culture. In the purview of the Tiny Desk, he's made a splash with the hashtag #ElTiny, showing just how plural Latinx communities can be on both IG Live and through discussions with artists. He'll talk about what it means to expand the idea of the Tiny Desk even further - how it's used as not only a discovery machine for listeners to take in new art, but how it's got a radical spirit in educating and showing audiences the diversity of music that exists, too.

About NPR Music: For more than a decade, NPR Music's robust music journalism has engaged millions of music fans from all genres with feature stories, live performances, cultural analysis and interviews. Projects include the Tiny Desk concert series, Turning the Tables, the podcasts All Songs Considered, Alt Latino, and Louder Than a Riot; and Jazz Night in America. NPR Music collaborates with NPR's news magazines, public radio Member stations and the passionate listener community to celebrate exceptional music and discover emerging artists. Visit NPRMusic.org and connect with NPR Music onFacebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Press Contact

Leah Rozario, NPR Media Relations

mediarelations@npr.org