Welcome to Long Reads, a new series that collects some of the feature length content recently published on Hypebot so you can have something deeper to add to your weekend reading list.
TDE Is Touring Black Universities Right Now. Here's What's Going Down...
What If a Tour Gave Back as Much as It Took?
TDE’s current HBCU tour brings performances to college campuses, but along with them, studio time, mentorship, scholarships, and opportunity.
Jeremy Young
Are There More Trademark Lawsuits Now Than Ever?
The Music Industry Has Become a Trademark Minefield
In the new digital, and global, fan economy, once-separate names and trademarks are now valuable (and contestable) commercial territory.
Hypebot Editorial Desk
What This Artist Learned About Playlists After Becoming a Curator
5 Playlist Pitching Regrets From an Artist Turned Curator
Why concise, personal pitches, careful playlist vetting, and investing in your own fan community matter more than mass outreach in 2026.
Guest Author
An Explanation of a Funding Model That Should Be More Common
Why the Levitt Foundation Model Should Not Be an Outlier
Combining free admission with paid artists, local control, and sustained investment in public space, Levitt’s model should be replicated... everywhere.
Jeremy Young
A Piece on Why Local Resident DJs Do More to Power a Club's Reputation Than Celebrity Guests
Celebrity DJs Bring a Venue Sales, Residents Define Its Legacy
Celebrity guest DJs draw a crowd once, on a single high-profile night. Resident DJs build the reason a venue’s regulars keep coming back over years.
Midnight Rebels
An Introduction to the Internet's Newest Obsession
Who Are LATIN MAFIA?
Fred again.. introduced millions to the Monterrey trio, but they’d already built an arena-sized community by making music that follows emotion wherever it leads.
Jeremy Young
An Editorial on Indie Music Marketing
A Stream Is Not a Fan: What Independent Artists Should Measure Instead
The music industry is very good at measuring exposure. The harder question is whether any of it changed what the listener did next.
Guest Author
Our Exclusive Interview with Aidan Gallagher
Aidan Gallagher on Following the Song’s Lead to Access Emotion
We chat with the actor-turned-songwriter about his newly released single (off his forthcoming full-length album), his writing process, and... love.
Jeremy Young