Mr. RAYMOND WILLIAMS (Trumpet, Hot 8 Brass Band): I'd like to just go back on the history of the music because coming up as a young musician, I didn't know much about the music - the history of the New Orleans' music or just music in general - how the music developed here in America.

NPR: Hot 8 Brass Band Play For A Living New Orleans

The University of Tennessee, meanwhile, will have faculty at its Martin and Chattanooga campuses work with Coursera to develop entirely online versions of first-year courses in English composition and masterpieces of music, both general education requirements (these courses won't be "open" to non-UT students, so aren't really "MOOCs, " but they will borrow from Coursera's technology platforms).

WSJ: Higher ed systems in 10 states turn to Coursera

On Sunday night Magherafelt band General Fiasco kicked off Belfast music week - 170 gigs across the city in the run up to the main event.

BBC: Eyes of the world fall on Belfast ahead of MTV EMA's

Among the hot topics at WOMEX this year were the ongoing nightmare of musicians trying to get travel visas post-Sept. 11 and the general woes of the music industry wrestling with digital distribution.

NPR: The Musical Worlds of WOMEX

One centre in Atlanta uses a hospital-wide music system to increase calm among patients and reduce the need for general anaesthetics.

ECONOMIST: Music as healing

Thanks to the web in general and social media in particular, we feel entitled to free music, free news, two-way communication with celebrities and instant gratification of just about every urge above all, the urge to have our egos stroked.

FORBES: Congratulations, You Voted: How Social Media Makes Us All Approval Whores