Music journalism

Music journalism is a specialized branch of entertainment journalism — especially criticism and reportage about music. Ranging from lengthy profiles of singers and bands to brief album reviews, music journalism is at least several decades old. Magazines such as Rolling Stone, Urb, New Musical Express, and The Source are well known for their musical journalism.

Modern Music Journalism

The profession of music journalism, which started off without precedents, direction, or ground rules, found its feet in less than a century. The world of modern music journalism can be partially divided into — on the magazines’ side — recording and concert reviewers, interviewers, the usual magazine staff of publisher editor &cie keeping its body and soul together, and editorialists and other writers. A record label or musician’s promoters will often send free recordings, or demonstration copy to the magazine to be passed on to its reviewers for audition. Announcements of future expected recordings might be made available by some recording companies and published by some magazines (by Gramophone in classical music, for example).

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In a reversal of situation from the 19th century, a primarily music magazine such as Rolling Stone covers politics and is the place where several journalists, including Hunter S. Thompson are regarded as having gotten their serious start.

Related Topics:
Rolling Stone - Hunter S. Thompson

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