Ask The Readers: Should We Write About Music?
Recently, it was pointed out to me in the comments section that for all our coverage about the industry of music and the technology that's changing it, Hypebot doesn't write about any music. For minute, I paused and thought rather seriously about the potential of writing about music on the blog and how it might be kind of fun. I really love music; it's how I ended up here. The main reason that I'm so passionate about it is that I love lyrics. From age fifteen to whenever reality set in, I wanted to write lyrics.
Arguably, I got decent at it, having spent every night from the time I got home from work until the moment when I either had to sleep or consider missing school the next day. And don't let my contribution to the Hypebot Hit Song Contest fool you, I took the craft very seriously and developed over the course of years and hundreds of lyrics. I stopped, mostly because I write essays now. That, and there's less to be dramatic about when you have a full-time job and things are going reasonably well. Primarily, I wrote about life, girls, and the intersection of trying to find myself in that world. Growing up and coming of age at a time when many of the standard assumptions that defined precious generations faded into the backdrop. These days, I still have words in my head. I just don't pursue them. Or, I guess you could say that I pursue them in different ways. But, that's my only background in music. I don't have even the slightest clue how to play any instruments. This means that I also lack the vocabulary to describe, in any way, what I'm listening to and how the musicians are creating those specific sounds.
Therefore, if I did choose to write about music on the blog, I would be doing so from a lyricists perspective. The emotions that the words convey and the meaning that I derive from them. I couldn't tell you about much else. Not only that, but where would I find music to write about? I'm familiar with all the ways to discover music and follow blogs and other influential publications. I know how to find music. That's not what worries me. What I fear is that it would take too much time to sort through all the music out there in order to find something to write about. And when I say find something to write about what I'm really saying is that I would need to find something that is safe. Songs that wouldn't immediately spur hate e-mails and comments that speak of my horrible taste in music and inability to write about it. The other option is that we could accept reader submissions.
That all takes time. Time away from my core tasks, such as writing and finding news items of interest. I don't want a nightmare of song promos to look forward to when I open my Gmail. I get enough press releases about widgets and sites the way it is. So, where this fits into our coverage isn't something I foresee. Now, there are many other ways to incorporate music into the blog. For instance, semi-weekly, we could let artists and agents plug there music and we could feature the players with the best music. But, whether that's something that everyone involved would benefit from is the other question. We could also let everyone plug what they're listening to once and awhile. I'm willing to experiment and let some music on the blog. It's just not going to come from me. I don't need to be shamed for the things I find delightful. Should we feature music on the blog? In what ways? Do you want chances to plug your latest songs?
I don’t think it’s at all strange that Hypebot doesn’t cover music. That’s not what it’s here for, and unless you hired a horde of writers to cover every stylistic base, you’d wind up overextending yourself.
Aside from Tight Mix, I don’t think any industry blogs evaluate the worthiness of releases, and with good reason. Everybody has different tastes, and really all you’d be doing by writing about rising artists (and by writing, I mean celebrating or cheering for, because you can’t use a blog – especially a blog like this one – to trash releases that you think are terrible or even just mediocre) is exposing a bias toward particular genres or sounds.
And really, what does anybody gain from that? That said, you and I really ought to dig in and tackle this question in a larger way.
I come here regularly because of your coverage about the industry of music and the technology that’s changing it. Just love this blog because it’s best source of information these topics in my opinion.
Although I love music, I don’t necessarily want to read about it here because that’s not why I come here in the first place. So if you do want to post about music I think it should be separate from industry/technology section or at least I should have a way to follow latest posts for industry/technology only (I follow you via twitter).
And actually, rather than read about music I’d be more happy to have a playlist in the sidebar and check out a playlist once in a while.
Stick to the industry stuff cuz that’s what we’re here for.
Write about music in another blog.
I read your blog daily and subscribe to exactly zero music tastemaker/review blogs. If it ain’t broke…
Please don’t.
I can read about music so many other places, but this is the only industry-blog that’s worth reading
No, don’t do it, there are enough music blogs available already.
“Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” Be great at one thing (music biz/tech) rather than good at two things.
I actually think it’s not a bad idea. IF and ONLY IF you’ll have a different section for that stuff (NOT on the homepage), and if you can somehow differentiate it from the other gazillion music blogs out there…But it might be a little tricky.
There are so many blogs that review music, but relatively few that discuss the music business. There’s no need to add music reviews here.
Please stick to what your doing. I love hypebot for it’s simple layout and informative homepage.
There is too much music and there is really no reason for anyone to agree with anything someone else says about their favorite music. That’s the task for music blog communities.
I like the fact that you write about the common battle ground.
No, please don’t, for all the reasons already given.
The extreme genrefiction of music these days means that any one music article will only appeal to a very small minority of your readership and will just be spam for everyone else.
I only think it’s a good idea if the material ties into the nature of the blog….if it’s music relevant to the changing industry. For example, if there is an artist that rises above the masses on an independent level because of their savvy approach to social media or viral content, it would be great to shine a light on the actual music itself. That or if a song has some lyrical relevance to the focus of the blog.
Knowing that those scenarios will be few and far between…it would allow for occasional music to be featured while maintaning the core concept of Hypebot.
I agree with all reasons above – this is a brilliant blog in that it is actually timely, keeps us ahead or on the tip of the game of whatever is happening, its free, its objective… something mainstream media forgot about a long time ago! Thank you for existing, please consider all comments before changing what you do cos like Paolo said, if it ain’t broke… However, if you decide and find a way of reviewing or mentioning music with a slant perhaps put it out there for subscribers to write these for you by country or state or town by genre tying into what the blog maybe highlighting for that day/week. Set guidelines, online interview submission etc.
Stick with the current format. You stand out for what you do now. If you make it an every-know-and-then thing…and make that damn good…it will add value. Otherwise it will become fast food.
Nope. As a student interested in the music business, this site is a valuable resource where nobody spits holier than thou reviews of artists. If I want to hear/read a review, I’ll hit NPR or the Hype Machine.
Word.
I’m here for the industry insights, not music recommendations. Rather than cover the music, cover the blog landscape that covers the music. Or cover the process of getting music covered and heard.
Anyway, you’re good at what you’re doing now.
Nope, please don’t do it. I already find there’s a lot of stuff here, almost too much in context with all the other blogs I read. The cross posting with MTT is a little annoying as well.
There’s some really useful content here so please don’t polute it with writing about music.
Basically if you start writing about music I’ll stop coming here.
Don’t write about music unless you hire people who are music writers – find the Lester Bangs of this generation, not another bored Pitchfork hipster doobag.
Thanks Erik,
It was me who suggested there be some actual music coverage, and you summed it up better than I did as to what I actually intede…I by no means was suggesting just standard music reviews
thanks again,
LA