As 2016 winds down and draws to a close, it is time to look back on the events – as well as the music – that helped shape and define a tumultuous year. Popular online music journal Pitchfork has shared their ranking of ‘The 50 Best Albums of 2016,” which features the bold and welcome return of A Tribe Called Quest after an 18-year hiatus, the final album from the otherworldly David Bowie, and not one, but both, of the Knowles sisters, who, in their albums Lemonade and A Seat at the Table, have redefined the modern protest song. Take a look to see if your favorite album of 2016 made the cut.

http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9980-the-50-best-albums-of-2016/?page=1

This past November, Blackfire Research founder and CEO, Ravi Rajapakse, was asked to speak about innovation in the music industry at Europe’s largest tech conference, Web Summit, in Lisbon Portugal. Joining him on stage was NWA member and founder of INOV8 NEXT, Arabian Prince. Watch them discuss their visions for the future of the music industry and what’s next for audio technology in their panel, “Innovate or Die” below.