While social media and shared playlists have become the most popular ways to find new music in 2022, music blogs still remain one of the best channels for learning about new music from new or largely unheard-of bands and artists. No matter what genre you’re interested in, there’s a space online where music aficionados are talking about the best new and emerging artists across the world.
Music blogs not only help you stay up-to-date with emerging artists and new music coming out across genres, but they can also provide important insights for musicians who are looking for a way to break into the music business. In addition to album reviews and news, these blogs provide a look at new music technologies and trends that are changing the way the music business operates.
Here are just 10 of our favorite music blogs you should follow:
1. Pitchfork
Founded in 1996, Pitchfork is one of the most popular music resources on the web. This online music magazine, which has come to be known as the most trusted voice in music, covers a variety of genres from indie rock, metal, and experimental music to electronic, pop, and hip-hop. The site publishes daily reviews, interviews, features, and real-time news coverage. They also include plenty of entertaining videos, listicles, and information on upcoming music events.
2. Hypebot
Hypebot is a great source of information on music, music technology, and the music business. This music blog provides a lot of interesting news and insight on new technologies that musicians can use to publish their music and improve their reach, so Hypebot is definitely for people a bit more interested in the industry, behind-the-scenes. The blog also publishes in-depth articles that offer helpful advice for musicians across genres. Readers can also find helpful tips and insight in the comments section to learn from other musicians’ experiences.
3. Music Business Worldwide
If you want to better understand the music industry, Music Business Worldwide is a good place to start. Established in 2015, this online music blog allows you to keep your finger on the pulse of the music business by bringing you the latest news, reviews, and in-depth industry analysis across the global music industry. This is a great music blog to find the type of important insights that help musicians, managers, and publishers make strategic decisions.
4. Consequence of Sound
Consequence of Sound is a Chicago-based online publication that publishes content on music, television, and movies, including news, editorials, and reviews. In addition to music news and album reviews, you’ll also find tour dates and festival line-ups. In fact, the publication site also features the Festival Outlook micro-site, which is an online database and your go-to spot for learning about music festival news and rumors.
5. Brooklyn Vegan
Independent music blog, Brooklyn Vegan encourages readers to chime in by giving them the opportunity to engage with content in the comments section. In addition to leaving your own comments and opinions on the site, you can also catch up on the latest news and gossip in the international music community. This blog offers content on music across genres, including information on tours and festivals.
6. Pigeons & Planes
Pigeons & Planes is a part of COMPLEX.com that brings readers the latest music and music news across genres. Their goal is to be the go-to for new music discovery in hip-hop, pop, indie rock, and electronic. Whether established artists or up-and-coming bands, Pigeons & Planes aims to bring readers the very best in contemporary music as well as the latest industry news and what is going on with your favorite artists.
7. Stereogum
Popular online music magazine, Stereogum publishes daily content that focuses on music news, new song premieres, and commentary on what’s going on in music today. This site introduces new bands to look out for in their “Band to Watch: Pitchfork” column, which has predicted the success of many of today’s popular indie bands. Often, popular indie musicians can be found on the site offering their commentary in the comments section, providing new insights into your favorite indie songs and bands.
8. Resident Advisor
Resident Advisor is well-known in the music world as an online music magazine and a community platform showcasing electronic music, artists and events across the globe. The blog publishes diverse written and video content, which not only includes music news but information on venues, event listings, ticket sales and more. Their coverage also expands around the globe, so you will always be hearing about emerging artists in every scene imaginable.
9. Hip Hop Wired
Hip Hop Wired keeps readers informed about the latest on hip hop news and culture and rap entertainment news as well as up-to-date information about the industry’s most popular and talked about rappers and hip-hop artists. In addition to real-time news on hip hop music and artists, the site also regularly publishes new video content on different stories coming from the world of hip hop. The blog also offers information on politics and tech surrounding hip hop culture.
10. Billboard
Billboard – The Blog counterpart for the print Billboard Magazine, Billboard.com, now serves as a very popular news source for all Top 40 music news. Billboard is unique in that is reports on the charts and the latest trends in music, showing new artists what is popular and charting at the moment. And let’s face it, as a musician, you probably want to have your future songs show up on a chart somewhere, so it’s always good to be ahead on your research.
11. Your EDM
One of the most popular electronic music blogs, Your EDM offers all of the latest news, reviews, and event information in the world of electronic dance music. With over 50 new posts a week, this site is one of the best places on the web to keep up with what’s going on the EDM scene. With editorials, industry spotlights, interviews, event photos, and giveaways, there’s no shortage of exciting content on Your EDM.
While this is by no means an exhaustive list of all the music blogs out there, it does provide a nice mix of reputable blogs that are publishing great content across genres and interests. If you want to keep up with the latest news, bands, albums, and culture surrounding your favorite genres and artists while also staying up-to-date with the latest trends, technologies, and insights into the music business, these online music publications are a great place to start.