The hottest Music journalism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Music Topics

Towards an Alternative Canon of Millennial Pop

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 1244 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🎶 Music Music journalism
  1. Between roughly 2009 and 2018 a loose, internet-native wave of artists fused electronic production with strong pop songwriting to make some of the era's best, most timeless songs. Many of these tracks were anthemic and inventive but never became mainstream hits.
  2. There was no central curator like MTV’s 120 Minutes, and music media and industry shifts (including commercialization and 'poptimism') meant this music stayed scattered in niche corners instead of reaching wide audiences.
  3. Naming and defending this alternate Millennial pop canon matters — building new ways to curate and promote these artists could help the best music reach more people and alter contemporary pop culture for the better.

First Floor #201 – Down the Drain

First Floor • 609 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🎶 Music Music journalism
  1. Pitchfork, a prominent music publication, underwent major restructuring, signaling a dark moment for music journalism.
  2. The recent resurgence of independent newsletters, blogs, and podcasts is linked to the decline of professional music media.
  3. Quality music journalism is in danger, with a need for consumers to support and pay for it to keep it alive.

Audio Autopsy, 1984: The Difford & Tilbrook Duo LP, Labelled With Squeeze

Front Row & Backstage • 353 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🎶 Music Music journalism
  1. The album 'Difford & Tilbrook' was released in 1984 as a project by the key songwriters of the band Squeeze.
  2. The album was considered a mix of blue-eyed soul and synthesizer sounds, but failed to achieve commercial success.
  3. Despite its lack of commercial success, the album is still appreciated by serious fans of Squeeze for its consistency and unique sound.

Should Condé Nast Subsidize Pitchfork?

The Seat of Loss • 14 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
🎶 Music Music journalism
  1. Music sites can’t rely on ads the way they used to, so album reviews need subscription revenue to be sustainable. Putting reviews and commenting behind a paywall is a market response to that reality.
  2. Large publishers subsidizing cultural outlets insulated them from market pressures and warped expectations for readers, writers, and smaller competitors. That subsidy made it harder for scrappy innovators to compete and created an unsustainable bubble.
  3. Condé Nast shouldn’t be expected to keep footing the bill indefinitely; Pitchfork should try to build a real subscription product and invest in podcasts and short-form video. If it can’t find a viable business model, it may be better for the site to close so the people who work there can pursue sustainable opportunities elsewhere.
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Monday February 13 2023

S/FJ • 314 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🎶 Music Music journalism
  1. The latest radio show 'Busytown' features Mina Tavakoli and upcoming hosts on February 16th.
  2. Attend a screening of 'Riotsville, USA' at Light Industry on February 16th.
  3. Check out a playlist of music from 2022 and enjoy a variety of content beyond the paywall.

August 31 2023

S/FJ • 294 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
🎶 Music Music journalism
  1. Documentary film 'Blue Box' addresses legacy of harm by tracing the story of Joseph Weits.
  2. Paul Lansky's music explanation highlights Radiohead's use of his work in 'Kid A.'
  3. Svitlana Nianio's track 'Episode III' evokes emotions, similar to the band Księżyc.

Pitchfork’s Dead. Thank god for that!

Sounds Good! • 98 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎶 Music Music journalism
  1. The death of music journalism was influenced by various factors like streaming services and changing reader behaviors.
  2. Pitchfork's decline started when they shifted focus from writers to brand and relied heavily on their rating system.
  3. Critics like Bob Lefsetz shed light on modern music journalism challenges, with many expressing disingenuous sentiments about the demise of platforms like Pitchfork.

The Common Listener

Dada Drummer Almanach • 120 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🎶 Music Music journalism
  1. Music recommendations can be a fun way to explore new sounds. They don't have to follow a strict 'best of' list; just enjoy what you like.
  2. Listening to music should be for your own enjoyment, not just what critics or charts say is popular. Everyone has different tastes.
  3. You can connect music to your personal experiences and moments in life, like what you were cooking or doing at the time.

The New Cue #320 September 22: Bill Ryder-Jones, Mitski, Fontaines D.C, Viji, Emma Anderson, Talk Show, Dolores Forever, Nas & Lil Wayne, Sleaford Mods

The New Cue • 78 implied HN points • 22 Sep 23
🎶 Music Music journalism
  1. The post highlights new music releases and features various artists like Bill Ryder-Jones, Mitski, and Fontaines D.C.
  2. It discusses the story behind a song by the band Young Knives, revealing the inspiration and creative process behind its creation.
  3. The post introduces a guest recommender, Dorian Lynskey, who shares music recommendations for the audience.