“I read the news today…oh boy” Taking the pulse of Popular Music Journalism

As soon as young people began producing ‘pop’ music, other young people were critiquing it. From the emergence of the countercultural music press in 1960s America with Rolling Stone and Creem to the power of the weekly “inkies” in the UK the following decade, the key moments in popular music history have always been matched and mirrored by the responses of music writers and journalists, stood just to the side of the stage.

It has, admittedly, been a more difficult and distanced relationship of late, with artists and their critics separated by the digital imperialism of the internet, a Pandemic that took down great music titles like Q, and the changing shape of the music industry.

So where are we at with music writing in 2024? And what of those young people looking to get into the industry, and those studying degrees in this area? Is the love affair between music and the written word finally over? Well… almost as soon as music media evolved, people have always sought to announce its demise… and every announcement has been premature. For instance, a letter published in one of those inkies, the New Musical Express complained that that the magazine had lost its way and was not as good as it used to be. That letter was sent in 1953… a year after the title came into circulation.

This panel will look at the current state of popular music journalism, and suggest some possible ways forward. The panel is chaired by Louder’s Dr Simon A. Morrison. Simon has made his living from music for over 30 years… without ever really making any music… before becoming Programme Leader for the University of Chester Music Journalism degree. The panel also draws on his chapter of the same name for the upcoming Bloomsbury book Rock & Roll Writing. Joining him on the panel will be a range of music writers, editors and industry experts, along with music journalism students from the University of Chester.

Together, the panel members will take the pulse of popular music journalism in 2024, offer advice for budding writers and also make themselves available for networking opportunities (it’s all about working the room!)

There is a lot of noise streaming through the digital airwaves – we need music critics more than ever, to cut through the noise and find out what rocks. We need to ensure the magical relationship between music and the written word endures.

That pop culture defibrillator will be applied to the patient on Saturday lunchtime, at Louder.

Host or Publisher Louder Than Words Festival