The Joy of Music (album)

The Joy of Music
Rector lying on his side on a piano with one leg and arm up, next to a person in red-haired creature costume making the same pose while standing
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 11, 2022 (2022-03-11)
Recorded2020
Length49:36
LabelOK Kid
Producer
Ben Rector chronology
A Ben Rector Christmas
(2020)
The Joy of Music
(2022)

The Joy of Music is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Ben Rector, released on March 11, 2022, through OK Kid Recordings. Rector co-produced the album with John Fields. The first draft of music was recorded in January 2020, but most of the album was scrapped and recorded throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and completed in December 2020. The pandemic cancelled his ongoing tour at the time and withheld other deadlines, leaving Rector to focus exclusively on the album's creation.

The album was designed to evoke joy in the listener; Rector also constructed the album around this philosophy, by writing music and collaborating with artists he would enjoy, and explore new ideas out of his comfort zone. He performed on various TV shows to promote the album and also issued a short film in December 2021 in the lead-up to its release. The Joy of Music was positively received by critics, who praised it for its diversity and lyrics. The album peaked at number 189 on the US Billboard 200, and appeared on multiple other Billboard charts.