FUV Essentials
There are many variables that determine what makes an artist or band “essential” — longevity, impact, influence, history, discography — and WFUV takes a deeper look with FUV Essentials. On-air and online, we celebrate musicians who have shaped our cultural soundtrack. Let’s love these artists while they’re here, and honor those who have departed too soon.
Regina Spektor
The Pretenders
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Pretenders' landmark debut album and Chrissie Hynde and Martin Chambers will be together again, touring with the 2020 lineup of the band with Journey this spring and summer throughout North America. We're celebrating the band (and Hynde as a solo artist) as an FUV Essentials again.

The Pretenders (photo by Joel Ryan/AP)
Soundtracks and Scores
Unplugged
Tom Petty
Had he lived, Tom Petty would have turned 69 on October 20 of this year. As Damn the Torpedoes turns 40 in October 2019 (and Full Moon Fever marked its 30th anniversary this past spring), we're saluting Petty as an FUV Essentials.

Tom Petty (Original photo by Takahiro Kyono from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
Steely Dan
[October 2019 update: The death of Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker

Steely Dan's Donald Fagen and the late Walter Becker (photo by Danny Clinch, PR)
Wilco
For their exploration, chutzpah, honesty, and for their ability to be dark, weird, and happily hooky at the same time, Wilco is and shall remain an FUV Essentials artist. The band's new album, Ode to Joy, is out now.

Wilco (photo by Zoran Orlic, PR)
Sheryl Crow
As an FUV Essentials artist, Sheryl Crow symbolizes not only great pop and rock songwriting, but the genuine power of a true activist.

Sheryl Crow (photo courtesy of the artist, PR)