ĭuring the COVID-19 pandemic, NPR Music enlisted artists to instead record their own virtual performances under the re-branded title Tiny Desk (Home) Concerts.
However, the series' musical focus has broadened in scope over time. The series has previously drawn criticism for narrowness in the musical genres it includes-described as focused on ' hipster-infused indie rock' by Zachary Crockett at Vox -to the exclusion of genres like country and hip-hop. The name is taken from Boilen's 1970s psychedelic dance band called Tiny Desk Unit. A month later Boilen arranged for her to do just that, making an impromptu recording and posting it online. Thompson joked that the musician, folk singer Laura Gibson, should just perform at Boilen's desk.
The first Tiny Desk Concert came about in 2008 after Boilen and NPR Music editor Stephen Thompson left South by Southwest frustrated that they couldn't hear the music over the crowd noise. Tiny Desk Concerts is a video series of live concerts hosted by NPR Music at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen in Washington, D.C.
