It can be tough for up-and-coming artists to get radio airtime, especially if their music won’t fit nicely into a popular genre.  Fortunately for aspiring musicians, and for us rabid music lovers, there are programs like World Café that highlight new music from diverse backgrounds.  Produced by WXPN in Philadelphia, and distributed nationally by NPR, World Café can be heard on radio stations across the country, and streaming online.

This month, World Café celebrates 20 years on the air by releasing a compilation called Next 20, jam-packed with tunes from 20 soon-to-be famous songsters and bands. The songs are available for free download at NPR Music’s website (link below). Some tracks not to miss: “Needles and Pins” by Superhuman Happiness, “Gone, Gone, Gone” by Nikki Lane, and “Vessel” by Zola Jesus. If your music bank needs a fresh deposit, this mix is gold.

The songs at NPR Music