Rock criticism in 2015 is in the crosshairs of forces beyond its control: of editorial dictates and the power of mass condemnation,of a type of music -EDM, that lends itself to technical jargon, and of an underpaid and undernourished set of writers that falls back fast on 21st century chitter chatter, of a social media filled world happy to attack at the slightest provocation, and an overwhelming humorless 2015 air of defeated populism
Spinmedia owns and manages over 40 websites including, obviously, Spin, Brooklynvegan, Pop Matters, Stereogum, I’ll stick em all up at the end. But it begs the answer to a question, how can they not be making money? I mean, surely if you’re looking for men in their twenties they can put em together like that, right?
“You can also check out individual ballots and read essays on Kanye, Miley, R Kelly, the emo revival, and others, not to mention loads of pithy blurbs and pie charts.”
Music writing is an instant mix of po-faced beat dissections and ass kissing and usually both, except, in an attempt to prove themselves above the fray, a major publication will dis a major work by a major performer (pace: Pitchfork).
