Whether you’re a casual fan or a diehard devotee who lives and breathes music, an artist looking for proven tips to break in and move up, or an industry insider who needs to keep track of what’s hot and what’s not, here are some blogs that our team and our business partners recommend.
Pitchfork: The granddaddy of music blogs
Pitchfork calls itself “the most trusted voice in music,” and fans have been turning to it for more than 25 years to keep up with indie, experimental, metal, electronic pop, and hip-hop sounds. If that’s where your passion lies, bookmark the blog because it publishes new reviews, interviews, features, news, and information on upcoming music events daily.
Best. Saxophone. Website. Ever. The name says it all
Best. Saxophone. Website. Ever. Doron Orenstein, whose gigs range from tours with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra to reggae master Half Pint, compiles this astonishingly compete resource complete with insights from and about the great saxophonists, business wisdom, and the elements of saxophone mastery.
CMU Insights: Valuable resource for up-and-comers
The CMU Insights blog features regular seminars, webinars and masterclasses, current trends and best practice in the business of music, and updates on its conferences and events. It presents its popular speed briefings, providing attendees with access to research and training expertise.
Music Business Ahead: Information for music store owners
Owners of music stores are underserved in the blog space. Music Business Ahead delivers timely and authoritative information for music store owners who are looking for tips, tricks, and trends to help their businesses thrive.
Hypebot: Music technology and much more
Hypebot is updated daily with news, views, and do-it-yourself content from the intersection of music, technology, and business. It is definitely bookmark-worthy for anyone who wants to stay on top of trends and technologies that are changing how music produced, discovered, consumed, marketed, and monetized.
International Clarinet Association: Top blog for clarinet geeks
The International Clarinet Association’s blog is dedicated to fostering communication and fellowship of clarinetists on a worldwide basis through publishing a quarterly scholarly journal, The Clarinet, producing an annual clarinet festival, ClarinetFest®, and more.
Ditto Music blog: Helpful info for indie musicians
Indies of the world unite! Ditto is your one-stop shop for answers to all your questions about music distribution, getting an official YouTube channel, marketing, promoting, and—most important—how to get paid.
Music Business Worldwide: Leader in global music industry info
Established in 2015, MBW provides news, insight. and jobs to the worldwide business and gets more than 300,000 unique users every month—with a total of 7-million-plus page views between them in 2019. Musicians, managers, and publishers often check this blog out before making career and business decisions. It can also be a great place to look for jobs.
The Music Crew: Top blog for music teachers
The Music Crew is the go-to resource with teaching tips organized by topic (rhythm, pitch, assessment, composition, for instance), seasonality, music appreciation, and pedagogy.
Pigeons & Planes: Cutting-edge new music resource
Pigeons & Planes is a part of COMPLEX.com and covers everything from the best new artists in hip-hop, pop, indie rock, and electronic music to in-depth interviews with the biggest names in the genres.
Stereogum: Best for finding new bands
The self-proclaimed “world’s best music blog,” Stereogum has been covering the industry for two decades. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in breaking news, new music, informed opinion writing, interviews, and lists.
Resident Advisor: The electronic music showcase
Resident Advisor (RA.co) has evolved in the past two decades to become the premier resource for people who are passionate about electronic and dance music. Staffed entirely by dance music aficionados, RA.co is dedicated to shining light on the people and communities who make electronic music tick at the local, national, and global scene.
Hip Hop Wired: Everything you need to know about hip hop
Hip Hop Wired documents all the facets of the Hip-Hop Nation with respect and verve. Fans love it for its unique and accurate perspective on the Hip-Hop landscape and its advocacy topics it believes in, and meaningful discussion and debate on critical issues.
Billboard: The senior statesman of top 40
Billboard is the blog associated with the still-in-print Billboard Magazine. If it has anything to do with the music industry, it’s in Billboard. ‘Nuff said.
Your EDM: Alternate guide for e-music
House music. Bass. Trance. The Discord open community for fans of electronic dance music. Find it on Your EDM. The blog delivers the trends, who’s who, and fresh features from the EDM landscape.
The Music Entrepreneur: Helpful information for all types of music pros
The Music Entrepreneur appeals to musicians, label owners, producers, managers, and everyone else in the music industry. The blog offers information about marketing, music promotion, instrumentation, tech, and playing techniques, as well as tips and tricks to help artists build long, profitable careers.
Bob Baker’s The Buzz Factor: Marketing how-to for musicians
The Buzz Factor is unique. Bob Baker is a musician, lecturer, and author of Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook and the Music Marketing 101 course offered through Berklee School of Music’s online continue education. If you’re looking for proven ways to break in and step-up, bookmark Bob’s blog.
Ledger Note: Music playing tips and more
Ledger Note delivers on its promise to advance the skills, knowledge, and competency in performance for all musicians. Through rigorous study and experience, it provides access to the most pertinent information possible regarding all aspects of music.
Consequence of Sound: Top resource for live performances
Consequence of Sound is a Chicago-based pop-music resource for breaking music news, the latest rumors, song premieres, album reviews, exclusive playlists, and more. There’s also a section where you can find information about tour dates and festival line-ups.
Brooklyn Vegan: Great for sharing your opinions.
Brooklyn Vegan covers metal, punk, rap, dance music, and throws in news and views from the world of comedy and film to keep things interesting. It encourages readers to chime in on its articles but like the borough it’s named for, you better bring some edge to the party.
While this is by no means a complete list of all the music blogs out there, it provides a nice mix of reputable blogs that are publishing great content across music types, audiences, and interests. Stay up to date by following ones that provide information about the topics you care about.
