Category: Music Journalism Economics
Regional Press and Alt-Weeklies: How Local Scenes Shaped Music Journalism
Discover how regional press and alt-weeklies shaped local music scenes and launched legendary critics. Explore the rise, fall, and digital evolution of alternative weeklies.
1990s Hip-Hop Entrepreneurship: How Clothing Lines Built Billion-Dollar Brands
Discover how 1990s hip-hop artists built billion-dollar clothing empires. Explore the rise of FUBU, Phat Farm, and Rocawear, and learn the business strategies behind their massive success.
Payola Explained: Radio Ethics, Legal Boundaries, and Modern Streaming
Explore the history and current state of payola, from 1950s radio scandals to modern streaming playlists. Learn how FCC rules and FTC guidelines enforce transparency in music promotion.
1980s Tour Merch: How T-Shirts and Programs Built Rock Revenue
Discover how 1980s tour merch transformed from simple souvenirs into a multi-million dollar revenue stream. Learn about the rise of branded T-shirts, the impact of MTV, and the economic strategies behind rock tours.
The Business of 1990s Beef: Sales Spikes and Chart Battles
Explore how the 1990s East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry drove billion-dollar revenues. Analyze sales data from Death Row and Bad Boy, the impact of media amplification, and the economic mechanics behind the Tupac and Biggie beef.
Publicists vs. Journalists: The Real Game of Spin, Access, and Gatekeeping
Explore the complex dance between publicists and journalists. We break down the myths of spin, the reality of gatekeeping, and how negotiation shapes the news you consume.
How 1980s Icons Manage Legacy: Estates, Catalogs, and Holograms
Explore how 1980s music icons manage their legacies through billion-dollar catalog sales, strategic estate partnerships with firms like Primary Wave, and controversial hologram tours that blend technology with nostalgia.
Interview Transcription and Editing: Crafting a Voice on the Page
Master interview transcription and editing for music journalism. Learn clean verbatim techniques, ethical quoting, and workflows to craft an authentic voice on the page.
Napster's Legacy: What the 1999 File-Sharing War Teaches Us About Regulating AI and Social Media
Explore how the rise and fall of 1999's Napster offers critical lessons for modern platform regulation, including AI and social media. Learn why enforcement fails without viable alternatives and how architecture dictates liability.
How 1990s Piracy Destroyed the Album Era and Rewrote A&R Rules
Discover how 1990s piracy, led by Napster, shattered the CD boom, forcing labels to overhaul A&R scouting, abandon album-centric releases, and pivot to single-driven, tour-heavy business models.
The Rise of Photojournalists in Music: Access, Aesthetics, and the New Road Rules
Explore the evolution of music photojournalism, from gaining backstage access to balancing artistic aesthetics with journalistic integrity in the digital age.
Awards in Music Journalism: How Industry Honors Shape Reporting and Careers
Explore how journalism awards shape music reporting standards, careers, and ethics. Learn about key honors like the Pulitzer and IRE prizes, their economic impact, and the challenges of prestige in a changing media landscape.