Music blogs can be a great source of information and knowledge, whether you are interested in songwriting or composition. They will help you to slowly develop and become the musician that you have always wanted to be. This article provides an overview of some of the best general and genre-specific music blogs that every musician, including you, should read.
Music blogs that are not specific
1. Music Business Worldwide
Music Business Worldwide may not be considered a blog, but it is one of the most important information services in the global music business. The website was launched in London in 2015 by Tim Ingham, a music business analyst and journalist. It explores the key issues and trends in the industry. The website offers the latest news, expert interviews and insightful critical analysis. It also has two podcasts – the MBW and Talking Trends Podcasts.
The MBW Podcast focuses on insider interviews with prominent figures in the music industry, while Talking Trends features Ingham diving deep into the latest headlines. The site is aimed at music professionals and showcases the most recent job openings with the world’s leading music companies.
The website is also known for publishing reports on the industry. The website has published industry reports, including the calculation of the money that is generated by three major record labels – Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony Music Entertainment (SME) and Warner Music Group. The publication has also spoken out against the promotion and existence of pseudonymous ‘fake artists’ on streaming platforms like Spotify.
Music Business Worldwide has more than 500,000 unique monthly visits. In 2020, Alexa Internet ranked it 22,845th among the top global websites. In 2019, the site had over 7 million pageviews.
2. Digital Music News
Digital Music News, an American online publication based in Santa Monica and founded by the same name, is a daily magazine of music news. A large part of its content is directed at music industry executives, which is its main audience. Content ranges from daily reports to important stories.
Digital Music News is a blog that focuses on the technology used in the music business. You can learn about emerging technology trends in Music (AI, VR, Machine Learning, etc.). You can read about the latest electronic innovations or platform features related to Music or social media.
The publication also covers more general issues such as talent development, live concerts, and music streaming. Subscribe to the free newsletter if you are a fan of Digital Music News but feel that you don’t get enough news from them. Daily Snapshot is the name of this newsletter, and it is sent to subscribers every day.
3. iMusician Blog
The iMusician blog is a great source of information for independent musicians, record labels, and all things Music. It’s a site devoted to the needs and interests of independent musicians.
Our articles cover everything from DAWs, other songwriting and composition software, to streaming Music and social media. They are all designed to help you navigate the music industry and grow.
The guides will then take you through the more complex but equally important topics such as music law (e.g. licensing, contracts, etc.), online promotion or monetisation, and building your music brand. Our Webinars allow you to learn more directly from experts in the industry about these topics. You can also discover other independent musicians through our Artist Spotlight.
We also target this audience with our blog since we distribute to the largest range of digital shops worldwide. Do you want to learn how to create electronic Music? Our guide How to Master Electronic Music can help!
Do you want to know more about Beatport and how it works? Check out our guide on. Do you have any specific topics that you would like to learn more about? Please tell us what you’re interested in in the iMusician community forum!
4. EARMILK
EARMILK has a reputation as a popular online music blog with an international audience. Content is divided into six main categories: New Music Reviews, Industry News Reviews, Gear Reviews, Interviews and Features. You can focus your search on the genres you are interested in when you discover new Music at EARMILK. You can also explore different fields of expertise in ‘Industry News,’ from music gear, Music & fashion to technology and more.
There is also a column in the blog called ‘Opinion,’ where you can find long and detailed editorials as well as other articles written by journalists who work for EARMILK. The ‘Features” column focuses on exclusive stories, music lists or festival news. It also showcases the ‘best of’ collected by editors. There is also a section called “Series” that is inactive.
5. Pitchfork
In 1995, Ryan Schreiber, a writer from the United States, launched Pitchfork as a music blog, Turntable. The publication has been active for almost 30 years and is considered to be one of the most influential music magazines in the world. In 2015, Schreiber remained as editor-in-chief of the magazine, which was sold to Conde Nast.
Pitchfork began as a blog that covered mostly indie rock. Since then, it has expanded to cover all genres of Music, including the current pop scene. It is well-known for its daily music reviews, which shaped the industry in the 1990s and 2000s. In the past, it was said that a Pitchfork review could even make or break a music career.
The reviews are still a valuable component of the publication’s content, even if they may not have the same influence as in the past. Pitchfork has released retrospective reviews of music classics every Sunday since 2016. In addition to reviews, Pitchfork is also an excellent source for music news. It is known for its “best-of” lists and yearly features.
6. Stereogum
Stereogum, another American music blog, was created 21 years ago in 2002 by Scott Lapatine. The name was inspired by a line from the French electronic and pop duo Air’s song “Radio #1.” Stereogum, originally an independent music magazine, was acquired by Hollywood Reporter, Billboard Media Group, in 2016 as part of their media group. In 2020, the founder bought it back and made it independent.
It is considered one of the first MP3 blog sites and has won several awards over the years. These include the Plug Award for Music Blog Of The Year or the OMMA Award for Website Excellence in the Entertainment/Music Category. Stereogum, which focuses on music reviews, news, and interviews, has had a major influence in the industry. Stereogum was among the first music websites to cover Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, and Billie Eilish. These artists have gained international recognition since.
The magazine is also known for its popular music events, which showcase both established and emerging artists. Their shows have featured musicians and artists like Sky Ferreira, St. Vincent, Rico Nasty, and Benjamin Gibbard, who have all performed at their shows.
7. Hypebot
Hypebot is a blog that has been active since 2004. It is similar to Digital Music News in that it focuses on the technology and scientific knowledge of the music industry. (Specifically, NFTs and Web 3 are its current areas of interest. ) Hypebot offers much more than that!
This blog is also a great resource for other aspects of the music industry, including live performances, songwriting and publishing. It has daily content geared towards independent artists and record label owners (you can see this in their DIY section). Hypebot is owned and published by Bandsintown, the world’s most popular live music discovery platform.
8. For the Love of Bands
For the Love of Bands was launched in 2016 by Roel Welsink. It is a music blog that focuses on contemporary indie Music and the best up-and-coming indie bands. The main focus of the blog is to explore and discover new Music. It covers reviews and interviews with artists in a wide range of genres, including Indie, Garage, and Americana.
The blog also aims to provide valuable music industry information and tips for independent musicians, create YouTube compilations, and, like the iMusician, curate its own Spotify playlists.
9. New Music Express
New Musical Express, a London-based brand and music website (also called NME), was first published as a paper in 1952. It was called a “rock inkie” back then. It became Britain’s best-selling music paper in the 1970s and was strongly associated with punk. It evolved from a free music magazine to a brand of online entertainment with its radio station and website.
The publication is now a global source of information on everything from gaming to TV and film. It also provides a look at current celebrity culture around the globe. NME is particularly well-known for its reviews of both new releases and live performances.
NME has also, over time, become a major influence on new Music, just like Stereogum. It helped pave the path for new artists such as the White Stripes and the Strokes. The magazine has given a lot of support to the last band.
It was announced in 2018 that NME would cease to print its publication after 60 years. The print version of NME was kept on the market one year after BandLab Technologies, a Singaporean company, purchased the brand. The NME Network also includes the NME.com main website and an online music publication currently available in the UK and Australia.
10. The Father
The Fader, a music magazine based in New York City, was founded by American Music and entertainment executives Rob Stone and Jon Cohen in 1999. It is known as the first print magazine to be released via iTunes. This website is dedicated to all things Music, culture, and style. It focuses on the latest industry news, with an emphasis on new music releases.
Fader Media Group also owns Fader Film, Fader TV, and Fader Label, an independent record label.
11. Spin
Spin, an American online music publication founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Junior, was established almost 40 years earlier. After ceasing its print edition in 2012, the magazine is now published as an online music magazine and a website.
Spin is known as the home of all things new. We think that it’s a magazine whose main focus is to make new music discovery fun. It does this by classifying releases in witty categories such as Difficult Fun or Blast Rites. They also cover interviews, industry news and reviews. And they compile their lists of the best Music.
12. Lines of Best Fit
The Lines of Best Fit is a music magazine that focuses on new Music, just like Spin. It was founded in London in 2007 and is an independent online magazine that publishes music reviews, features, and interviews. It promotes itself as pro-passion, pro-care, and anti-nonchalant. Its reviews are particularly relevant as they are frequently used on review aggregate websites such as Metacritic and AnyDecentMusic.
The magazine publishes curated playlists and podcasts, new Music, live performances, and premieres. Its name is taken from a Death Cab for Cutie song that appears on a demo called You Can Play These Songs with Chords.
13. AllMusic
Like Music Business Worldwide, Allmusic is not a music blog per se but a comprehensive online music database. The database was established in 1991 and catalogues more than 3,000,000 albums and 30,000,000 tracks. It also includes reviews and other information about releases and artists. The source is an excellent place to explore and discover new Music. The database was made public for the first time in 1994.
All Music covers news and interviews with artists, but it focuses on streaming Music and videos. It is also known for compiling and showcasing contemporary Music.
The best music blogs for each genre
1. Classical-Music.com
The Classical Music blog, as its name implies, is the number one international source of classical Music online. It’s run by BBC Music magazine and published. The blog covers everything in classical Music, from reviews to news.
The blog also posts educational content daily in its “Features” section. It covers a wide range of topics, from composers, artists, and key musical terms to instruments, recordings, works, and other Music. The blog also has its classical music podcast called “Music to my ears,” which features great discussions and conversation from the world of classical Music.
2. Resident Advisor
Resident Advisor is a popular destination among electronic music lovers. It champions the culture, artists and events of this genre. RA’s events page is the best place to learn about electronic music festivals and shows happening around the world. It also serves as a database for artists and venues.
The blog was founded in 2001 and is proudly independent. It aims to be the leading platform for electronic culture and music discovery worldwide.
3. Metal Injection
Metal Injection is a leading authority for metal music. As a blog, the site is pretty straightforward. The ‘Artists’ column will give you more information about the biggest metal musicians. At the same time, the News section will keep you up to date on all things metal (including interviews, new Music, upcoming concerts and tours, lists and more).
There are also a variety of metal-themed Spotify and Apple Music playlists and reviews for the newest metal releases.
4. Dancing Astronaut
Dancing Astronaut, like RA, is one of the leading portals for dance music and electronic Music. You can find the most recent news, Music, and editorials from the worlds of dance music and culture (under the “Features” column). The blog also showcases and promotes popular events in the field through its ‘Photos section’.
The main purpose and mission of the blog are to promote electronic and dance Music and support emerging and new artists in this genre.
5. This is R&B
This Is R&B, a music blog dedicated to R&B music, features daily content, including new Music and reviews, videos, lyrics, interviews, editorials, live performances, playlists, and news.
The blog, founded in 2008, is said to be influential in the music industry. It has introduced and promoted some of the most famous R&B artists today, including Bruno Mars , Emeliande Kehlani , and Frank Ocean.
6. Hip Hop Wired
Hip Hop WIRED is the premier destination for Hip Hop lovers. It covers everything Hip-Hop and features the latest industry news, as well as highlighting the most notable and upcoming artists in the genre. The blog covers a wide range of topics, including tech, world affairs, politics and news. It also features editorials and stories from these fields.
7. Ultimate Classic Rock
Ultimate Classic Rock has a similar focus to Metal Injection but is geared towards rock music instead of metal. The blog also includes the latest industry news, reviews of rock music, music lists, videos, and songs. It also has a section devoted to the history and development of rock music. You can learn about the history of rock music while exploring the latest acts in the industry.
8. Loudwire
Loudwire, an American online publication, is dedicated to bringing you news about heavy metal and hard rock artists. The blog, which was founded in 2001, is known for its exclusive interviews, including those with Iron Maiden and Ozzy Osbourne. It also features Slipknot and Metallica. Loudwire premiered exclusive new material and releases from many of these artists and others.
Loudwire’s ‘Gear Factory,’ a section that covers news, interviews with artists, and new Music, also includes playlists, lists of Music, and information on rock and metal instruments.
9. Marlbank
The Marlbank is a jazz music blog that we’d like to conclude our list with. The blog has a variety of content, from interviews with artists, relevant books and past and future live shows to the latest jazz music releases. We’ve found that the columns may appear empty when you scroll through them.
We have a suggestion for you. Please stay on the main page and read all of their articles, lists, interviews, reviews or other content. You can then truly appreciate the content that they produce.
The conclusion of the article is:
Blogs are still relevant information sources. We have compiled a list of 22 blogs that are related to Music. These will provide you with all the information you need. Please let us know about other blogs you enjoy in the iMusician community. We love learning about new things as much as we love sharing our knowledge.
