Drowned in Sound

Elijah is a profound thinker and this conversations draws on his influential grime nights with Stormzy & Skepta, writing about music, DJing and to his Yellow Square instagram posts, which are a form of community-building journalism that act as prods and prompts that agitate thoughts into focus. DiS021 | S2: The Future of the Music Press EP13 From his experience as a pirate radio DJ to running Butterz label & clubnights to being a musician and artist manager, Elijah considers yellow squares to be a former of journalism and the conversation explores the ecosystem that feeds into it and swirls around it. In this conversation with Drowned in Sound founder Sean Adams, we discuss mediums and spaces, online platforms and club cultures. The conversation sways from curation as a form of journalism, the YouTube mindset, Twitter, 10 minute or 10 hour radio shows. We also try to deconstruct the gatekeeper and the creative challenges facing people working in music, journalism and anything that involves publishing online. We also discuss the joy of Tumblr, yow electronic music in the UK clusters around its pirate radio, BBC media structures, and why not all clubs closing is a bad thing. Quotes out of context: “What’s the musical equivalent of a community note?” “Some people say ‘I don’t make any money’. Well, what do you sell?” “Imagine if a review is all the possibilities that the album lays down” “It's one bit of work. With all these different mediums, but it’s just the language hasn't adjusted to, to serve that yet, you know what I'm saying?” “…there's a hundred thousand, ten thousand histories happening at once. And that's like something that music journalism, the box, cannot fully capture.” “People just think, ‘oh, that's their job to write about music.’ And it's like, no, their job is to sell advertising space wrapped around the coverage of music. That's what magazines have been historically. Right?” Links Eli1ah on Instagramhttps://linktr.ee/Eli1ahSuper Eyepatch WolfNathan Zed Make The Ting albumEli1ah's Resident Advisor Takeover"Close The App, Make The Ting": Elijah's Yellow Squares are making a difference by cutting through the noisePodcast referenced with Bandcamp founder Please note, this conversation took place in November 2023. If you're enjoying this podcast, please sign up and support our new newsletter at DrownedinSound.org. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

How do you become a magazine editor that can put Kate Bush on the cover? And what’s it like running a genre-specific title in 2023? In a world where the digital age is rapidly redefining media, Sean Adams (@seaninsound) meets a titan of the magazine world, Jerry Ewing, editor of PROG magazine for a rare interview. From his roots starting a Marillion-inspired fanzine to being at the helm of genre-defining publications such as Classic Rock and Metal Hammer, Jerry's journey is a testament to the enduring power of specialist knowledge and passion-driven journalism. Episode Highlights: The Genesis of a Genre Journalist: Jerry recounts the serendipitous moments that led him from crafting a fanzine to steering the course of iconic music magazines. The Art of Magazine-making: Delve into the craft of curating content for a niche audience, the evolution of magazines in the internet era, and the potential resurgence akin to vinyl's comeback. Defining the Undefined: What is progressive rock? Jerry challenges the conventional confines, advocating for a broad, idea-driven definition that encompasses the innovative spirit of the genre. Adapting to the Beat of Change: The discussion turns to the seismic shifts in media consumption and the strategies for staying relevant in a landscape transformed by technology. The Human Touch: Jerry envisions a future where the human element is not just a feature but a proud declaration in magazine-making. Notable Quotes from Jerry Ewing: "Progressive music's reach is quite wide... It's the ideas and the approach to making music that sets them apart." "Understanding your readers is crucial... Be comfortable with your readership, and they'll feel comfortable with you." "The editor guides the magazine... decides what goes in it, helps point the tone." "For our readers, it's the music that matters... They're not interested in sex, drugs, and rock and roll." "Communication between human beings is at the root of journalism." Further Insights: From Court Jester to PROG: Jerry's DIY beginnings and the transition from fanzine to professional journalism. The Inclusive Vision of Prog: Embracing a wide spectrum from prog metal to experimental indie, Jerry's editorial direction is as diverse as the genre itself. The Editor's Role: Setting the tone and creating a dialogue with music aficionados, Jerry's editorial philosophy is about crafting a space for in-depth musical exploration. The Vinyl Moment for Magazines: Speculating on the tangible allure of print in the digital age, and the unique value it could regain. Links: PROG MagazineJerry Ewing on TwitterSubscribe to Drowned in Sound on Substack --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

How do you become a magazine editor that can put Kate Bush on the cover? And what’s it like running a genre-specific title in 2023? In a world where the digital age is rapidly redefining media, Sean Adams (@seaninsound) meets a titan of the magazine world, Jerry Ewing, editor of PROG magazine for a rare interview. From his roots starting a Marillion-inspired fanzine to being at the helm of genre-defining publications such as Classic Rock and Metal Hammer, Jerry's journey is a testament to the enduring power of specialist knowledge and passion-driven journalism. Episode Highlights: The Genesis of a Genre Journalist: Jerry recounts the serendipitous moments that led him from crafting a fanzine to steering the course of iconic music magazines. The Art of Magazine-making: Delve into the craft of curating content for a niche audience, the evolution of magazines in the internet era, and the potential resurgence akin to vinyl's comeback. Defining the Undefined: What is progressive rock? Jerry challenges the conventional confines, advocating for a broad, idea-driven definition that encompasses the innovative spirit of the genre. Adapting to the Beat of Change: The discussion turns to the seismic shifts in media consumption and the strategies for staying relevant in a landscape transformed by technology. The Human Touch: Jerry envisions a future where the human element is not just a feature but a proud declaration in magazine-making. Notable Quotes from Jerry Ewing: "Progressive music's reach is quite wide... It's the ideas and the approach to making music that sets them apart." "Understanding your readers is crucial... Be comfortable with your readership, and they'll feel comfortable with you." "The editor guides the magazine... decides what goes in it, helps point the tone." "For our readers, it's the music that matters... They're not interested in sex, drugs, and rock and roll." "Communication between human beings is at the root of journalism." Further Insights: From Court Jester to PROG: Jerry's DIY beginnings and the transition from fanzine to professional journalism. The Inclusive Vision of Prog: Embracing a wide spectrum from prog metal to experimental indie, Jerry's editorial direction is as diverse as the genre itself. The Editor's Role: Setting the tone and creating a dialogue with music aficionados, Jerry's editorial philosophy is about crafting a space for in-depth musical exploration. The Vinyl Moment for Magazines: Speculating on the tangible allure of print in the digital age, and the unique value it could regain. Links: PROG MagazineJerry Ewing on TwitterSubscribe to Drowned in Sound on Substack --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

Award-winning reporter Julia MacFarlane explains what the music press can learn from traditional news journalism. As Drowned in Sound's podcast season looking at the future of music media continues, we wander into the world of international journalism with award-winning reporter Julia MacFarlane. With a wealth of experience reporting on major global events for the BBC to ABC News, Julia shares her unique insights into the art of covering huge stories and the challenges of conveying truth in an age of misinformation. DiS018 | Season 2: The Future of Music Journalism EP10 Highlights: From Beirut to Brexit:The 'One Decision' Podcast:Challenges of Modern Journalism:Self-Shot Journalism:The Power of Personal Stories: Key Quotes: Timestamps: More: "One Decision" podcastLinkedinInstagramXThreadssubscribe to our Substack newsletter Hosted and Produced by Sean Adams. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

Award-winning reporter Julia MacFarlane explains what the music press can learn from traditional news journalism. As Drowned in Sound's podcast season looking at the future of music media continues, we wander into the world of international journalism with award-winning reporter Julia MacFarlane. With a wealth of experience reporting on major global events for the BBC to ABC News, Julia shares her unique insights into the art of covering huge stories and the challenges of conveying truth in an age of misinformation. DiS018 | Season 2: The Future of Music Journalism EP10 Highlights: From Beirut to Brexit:The 'One Decision' Podcast:Challenges of Modern Journalism:Self-Shot Journalism:The Power of Personal Stories: Key Quotes: Timestamps: More: "One Decision" podcastLinkedinInstagramXThreadssubscribe to our Substack newsletter Hosted and Produced by Sean Adams. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

Meet the YouTube music critic who runs whilst reviewing records. Probably not all of them, but there are some people evolving music criticism onto new mediums. To understand what it's like to be a "creator" on YouTube, we spoke to Jimmy Watkins, who gave up his career as an athlete (he reached the 800m final in the World Indoor Athletics Championships in 2006 and set a Welsh indoor record!) to play guitar for DiS favourites Future of the Left. After leaving the band, he started a project called Running Punks with a friend which has become a community of music-lovin' runners. A spin off of this has been his videos where he reviews records, whilst running in the Welsh countryside. In this conversation, Drowned in Sound founder Sean Adams continues his search for where music journalism is headed and explores where the idea for 'running reviews' came from, how Jimmy approaches them, when music writing got under his skin from (spoiler: it was music biographies and reading magazines in Tesco). We also touch upon Jimmy's upcoming documentary running across America and his new music project Joyce, which you can listen to on Bandcamp here. Timestamps The Art of Losing Links Jimmy's channel on YouTube hereRunning Punksdrownedinsound.org --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

Meet the YouTube music critic who runs whilst reviewing records. Probably not all of them, but there are some people evolving music criticism onto new mediums. To understand what it's like to be a "creator" on YouTube, we spoke to Jimmy Watkins, who gave up his career as an athlete (he reached the 800m final in the World Indoor Athletics Championships in 2006 and set a Welsh indoor record!) to play guitar for DiS favourites Future of the Left. After leaving the band, he started a project called Running Punks with a friend which has become a community of music-lovin' runners. A spin off of this has been his videos where he reviews records, whilst running in the Welsh countryside. In this conversation, Drowned in Sound founder Sean Adams continues his search for where music journalism is headed and explores where the idea for 'running reviews' came from, how Jimmy approaches them, when music writing got under his skin from (spoiler: it was music biographies and reading magazines in Tesco). We also touch upon Jimmy's upcoming documentary running across America and his new music project Joyce, which you can listen to on Bandcamp here. Timestamps The Art of Losing Links Jimmy's channel on YouTube hereRunning Punksdrownedinsound.org --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

The Quietus' John Doran reflects on the demise of Pitchfork and whether music journalism is now destined to be a hobby or can writing/thinking/talking about music thrive in a reader-funded era? DiS020 | S2: The Future of the Music Press EP12 In his widely-shared piece for The Guardian, this episode's guest John Doran, co-founder of the esteemed music publication The Quietus, wrote about the importance of music criticism: "I think a good analogy for writing about music is like composing poetry about the weather. You could spend an entire lifetime writing verse about thunderheads and tornadoes and not come within a mile of creating something that was as literally sublime, but once in a while the writer will connect with the rhythms, the flash of lightning, the spatter of rain, and if they are really focused they will discover entirely new rhythms and be inspired to write something unique." Beyond the beauty and power of words, this discussion with Drowned in Sound founder Sean Adams covers a lot of ground including: As with the rest of this season, the conversation also looks ahead to what the future holds, and whether there will be enough voice like Neil Kulkarni's (RIP). Key Timings 03:40 Exploring the Definition of Journalism 16:38 The Impact of Populism on Music Journalism 29:01 Exploring Music from Different Parts of the World 47:08 The Interconnectedness of Music Scenes 48:49 The Influence of Algorithms on Music Discovery 01:07:19 The Importance of Diverse Voices in Music Journalism About The Guest John Doran is the co-founder of award-winning website The Quietus. He has written for a range of publications including Bang!, The Guardian, NME, BBC, Vice, The Wire, Metal Hammer and more. His "misery memoir" Jolly Lad is out now. You can hear his BBC Radio 4 series New Weird Britain on BBC Sounds. Watch his British Masters series for Noisey on YouTube here. You can find him on Twitter @JahDuran. About The Host Sean Adams founded Drowned in Sound, which recently relaunched as a weekly newsletter here. Alongside hosting, he does all the production on this solo project podcast and wrote a little more about the process here. You'll find him on all social media platforms as @seaninsound. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

The Quietus' John Doran reflects on the demise of Pitchfork and whether music journalism is now destined to be a hobby or can writing/thinking/talking about music thrive in a reader-funded era? DiS020 | S2: The Future of the Music Press EP12 In his widely-shared piece for The Guardian, this episode's guest John Doran, co-founder of the esteemed music publication The Quietus, wrote about the importance of music criticism: "I think a good analogy for writing about music is like composing poetry about the weather. You could spend an entire lifetime writing verse about thunderheads and tornadoes and not come within a mile of creating something that was as literally sublime, but once in a while the writer will connect with the rhythms, the flash of lightning, the spatter of rain, and if they are really focused they will discover entirely new rhythms and be inspired to write something unique." Beyond the beauty and power of words, this discussion with Drowned in Sound founder Sean Adams covers a lot of ground including: As with the rest of this season, the conversation also looks ahead to what the future holds, and whether there will be enough voice like Neil Kulkarni's (RIP). Key Timings 03:40 Exploring the Definition of Journalism 16:38 The Impact of Populism on Music Journalism 29:01 Exploring Music from Different Parts of the World 47:08 The Interconnectedness of Music Scenes 48:49 The Influence of Algorithms on Music Discovery 01:07:19 The Importance of Diverse Voices in Music Journalism About The Guest John Doran is the co-founder of award-winning website The Quietus. He has written for a range of publications including Bang!, The Guardian, NME, BBC, Vice, The Wire, Metal Hammer and more. His "misery memoir" Jolly Lad is out now. You can hear his BBC Radio 4 series New Weird Britain on BBC Sounds. Watch his British Masters series for Noisey on YouTube here. You can find him on Twitter @JahDuran. About The Host Sean Adams founded Drowned in Sound, which recently relaunched as a weekly newsletter here. Alongside hosting, he does all the production on this solo project podcast and wrote a little more about the process here. You'll find him on all social media platforms as @seaninsound. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

Does the music industry still need the music press? Do new acts still care about media coverage? Explore the shifting landscape of music promotion in the digital era with Atlanta Cobb, the award-winning Music Business Coach and manager of multi-platinum selling artists. In this episode, Drowned in Sound's founder Sean Adams delves deep into the existential questions surrounding the relevance of traditional music press in a time of TikTok. Atlanta shares her journey from Florence + The Machine fan site creator to consultant and coach, aiding hundreds of artists in navigating their evolving careers. DiS017 | Season 2 - The Future of the Music Press | EP9 Key Topics and Time Stamps: 00:0000:1300:5101:3402:1503:4805:0506:4409:5810:1921:2228:1029:5130:5536:5551:0057:1058:18 Insightful Quotes from Atlanta Coombs: About Atlanta Cobb: Atlanta's rich background includes roles at Island Records and Columbia Records, working with artists like Post Malone and Drake. Atlanta was recently a day-to-day Artist Manager at Crown Talent & Media Group, working with artists such as Becky Hill, Ella Henderson, and Camden Cox. Links: Atlanta on TikTokLearn more about Atlanta's mentoring for new artistsSubscribe to Drowned in Sound's Substack newsletter for thoughts and advice on the modern music industry Subscribe and Follow: --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

In a digital world awash with advertising money, why are music publications and media outlets facing extinction? As we explore the future of the music press, we take a detour into the world of marketing to help make sense of the economics of the media landscape. Especially as the brilliant Jezebel closed last week and so far this year we've seen huge amount of job cuts across the media (especially at media behemoths VICE and Buzzfeed) and the closure of publications like Gal-dem. Drowned in Sound's founder Sean Adams invites Darren Hemmings, mastermind behind Motive Unknown and a trailblazer in music marketing, to unravel this paradox. Together, they dissect the perplexing reality of a booming online ad industry ($600 billion a year according to this piece for Harvard Business Review) juxtaposed against the decline of traditional ad-supported music press. From the intricacies of connecting with music fans to the future of music media in the digital era, this episode promises an enlightening journey into the heart of the industry's current conundrum. DiS016 | Season 2 - The Future of the Music Press | EP8 Episode Highlights Notable Quotes - "Marketing is about connecting with people in a way that doesn't treat them like a cash cow." - Darren Hemmings. - "There's a misconception that marketing for big artists like Robbie Williams is challenging, but in reality, they are the easiest to market due to their established fanbase." - Darren Hemmings. - "We've reached a point where you don't need to buy banner ads on music websites because you can target their readers on Facebook." - Darren Hemmings. - "I've become that person where every headline I write is a question. It's playing the game almost inadvertently." - Darren Hemmings. Related Links - Motive Unknown - Darren Hemmings' Network Notes Newsletter - Subscribe to Drowned in Sound on Substack Darren Hemmings is at the forefront of digital marketing in the music industry as the founder and managing director of Motive Unknown, a strategic marketing consultancy. With a keen eye for the evolving landscape of digital advertising and a deep passion for music, Darren has led innovative marketing campaigns for a diverse array of artists and labels. His impressive roster includes influential acts like The Spice Girls, Wolf Alice, Jungle, Moby, Run The Jewels, Robbie Williams, Underworld, alt-J,, and prominent labels such as Sony Music, Dirty Hit, AnjunaBeats, AEI, Partisan Records, Warp Records, AWAL, LuckyMe, Lex, Platoon, Because Music, Mass Appeal, and B-Unique. Darren's expertise and insights offer a unique perspective on the intersection of music, marketing, and digital media, making him a sought-after voice in the industry. This episode was produced, researched, and hosted by Sean Adams. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

NBC News' tech and culture reporter Kat Tenbarge has her finger firmly on the pulse of internet culture and the influencer economy. She honed her expertise at Insider through investigative forays into the complexities of digital fame. Her coverage is much more than product launches and squillion dollar deals, and touches upon MeToo, fandoms, exploring how internet mobs chill free speech, and so much more. In this episode, we explore what the music press can learn from technology journalism. Related links Kat's reporting on NBC herehow Kat reported on the David Dobrik allegations for Insiderabout Angelina Jolie and Amber Heardtweets about Evan Rachel Wood and others cases against Marilyn Manson here 'Free Britney' organizers and influencers took over a bar, threw a drag brunch, and blasted Britney Spears in a weekend devoted to the pop starFollow Kat on Threads hereHow Tory Lanez trial bloggers are shaping the conversation around Megan Thee StallionCheck My Ads Stop Funding HateOffline by Crooked Media Episode Highlights: "The Influencer Economy": Sean and Kat unravel the fabric of online influence, pondering its implications on cultural consumption and the MeToo movement's resonance within this sphere. "Music and Memes": They delve into the curious interplay of internet culture and the music industry, where virality can be both a career catalyst and a capricious whirlwind. "Ethics in the Age of Exposure": The conversation takes a contemplative turn, probing the moral compass guiding journalists amidst the relentless glare of the digital age. "The Future of Influence": Kat shares her prognostications on the influencer culture's trajectory, contemplating its impact on the internet's burgeoning denizens. This podcast was produced, researched, and hosted by Sean Adams (@seaninsound), the founder of Drowned in Sound website (est. 2000). For more deep dives into cultural currents and explorations of the musical zeitgeist, tune in and subscribe to DiS' Substack. Quotes from this episode: --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

From revolutions in Iran to the pleasures of Lana Del Rey journalist Emma Garland has written for Vice, Huck, The Quietus, The Face, Crack, Dazed, Sunday Times, Rolling Stone and many more great publications. Emma's interviewed everyone from Emily Ratajkowski to Lingua Ignota, capturing their essence in a style of writing inspired by the journalists from a more literary tradition like Joan Didion and Hunter S Thompson, so who better to talk to about music writing that's intersectional, encompassing far more of life and what it means to be human than 50 word reviews of the latest major label debut. The conversation begins about the differences between journalism, culture writing and music criticism, before spiralling in a range of directions from psychoanalysing the cast of Love Island to the way the culture war means interviewees are now a lot more guarded because they're speaking far beyond the readers and their fans. Emma Garland shares insights into her creative process, using humour to tackle weighty topics and how she spotlights underrated artists and big ideas, often at the same time. We discuss concerns over limited career pathways for emerging writers and calls for more sustainable funding models for music publications (if there are any rich benefactors out there, please get in touch). Additional topics include: Guest Bio: Emma Garland is a writer, editor, and journalist with a knack for capturing the zeitgeist of contemporary music and culture. With a career spanning over a decade, Emma has become a voice for countercultural narratives and a champion for the kind of editorial that combines fun with serious critique. Her upcoming book, "Tell All Your Friends," promises to be a seminal work in understanding the cultural history of mainstream emo from 2000-2013 (more info). Read Emma Garland's article on women's role in music's political revolution, ⁠here⁠. Read the Vice and Gal-Dem MeToo coverage, here. For a monthly dose of cultural insights, subscribe to Emma Garland's newsletter, ⁠here⁠. Visit: ⁠⁠Emma Garland's Website⁠ About The Host: This podcast was produced, lightly edited, researched and hosted by Sean Adams (@seaninsound) who founded the Drowned in Sound website. Want to keep up to date? Sign up for DiS' Substack here. A Few Publications Mentioned in This Episode: ⁠Vice⁠⁠Gal-Dem⁠⁠Huck⁠⁠Rolling Stone⁠⁠NME⁠⁠Rock Sound⁠⁠Creem Magazine⁠ Shoutouts in this episode include investigative journalist Sirin Kale, Craig Jenkins (writer at Vulture), and Zing Tsjeng (editor in chief at Vice). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

What's it really like to edit a music website? DIY Magazine co-founder Emma Swann joins DiS founder Sean Adams on season two of the Drowned in Sound podcast about the future of music journalism. We journey from the early days of the website to its current print & online format with a discussion that contrasts and compares DiS & DIY's stories, the thrills, the challenges, building a trusted voice, how brilliant the new Bully album is, some White Stripes fandom, a fair few mentions of Wolf Alice, red carpets, and much more. We explore DIY's origin story, the value of human curation versus algorithms, and whether print magazines could make a comeback. Emma shares her unique perspective from the front lines of music media. "Music journalism isn't just about reviews; it's about making connections, about showing the humanity behind every note." "Print magazines have their own magic; they offer a pause, a moment of engagement you won't find online." DIY MagazineTwitterEmma's photography website the new Bully album they raved about --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

Journalist, podcaster and climate communicator Greg Cochrane shares how interviewing ANOHNI changed his life, what it was like editing NME’s website, the joy of being involved in Loud & Quiet magazine plus a little bit about writing for The Guardian, interviewing Lady Gaga for the BBC, and plenty more. The focus of our conversation is around the importance of understanding the intersection between the climate emergency and culture. “We need more stories about what’s happening” said Greg, in a really moving section of the podcast involving his hopes for the future of journalism. Toward the end, we also touch upon the economics of media and the creative economy as a self-sustaining ecosystem, including a shout out to Novara Media’s subscription model where people are encouraged to donate an hour of their salary. Related Links Read Greg’s life-changing interview with ANOHNI https://www.loudandquiet.com/interview/anohni-hoping-for-a-miracle-cover-feature-interview/ Greg’s coverage of Billie Eilish’s recent “solutions focussed” Overheated event can be found here https://www.nme.com/news/music/overheated-billie-eilish-mother-maggie-baird-interview-london-climate-event-3491598 Rebecca Solinit on hope in an age of climate boomers is here https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/26/we-cant-afford-to-be-climate-doomers Subscribe to the Sounds like a Plan music & climate podcast that Greg co-hosts with Fay Milton (from Savages, co-founder of Music Declares Emergency and new music project Goddess) https://linktr.ee/soundslikeaplanpodcast Learn more about Greg’s work with Heard - the communications charity who support individuals and organisations to tell better stories on climate. https://heard.org.uk/articles/climate-stories-that-work-turning-awareness-into-action/ Listen to Loud & Quiet’s podcast and subscribe to the magazine https://www.loudandquiet.com/podcasts/ Learn more about the Reuters Institute’s Oxford Climate Journalism Network https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/oxford-climate-journalism-network --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

Kickstarter's co-founder Yancey Strickler shares lessons from Fugazi's label and Beastie Boys' Grand Royal magazine and discusses the forward-thinking ethos of The Royal Society, a prestigious fellowship of the world's most eminent scientists. Yancey is a big thinker, a music lover, writer and a 'zine publisher. He wrote about music for Pitchfork, Village Voice, eMusic (with many of the current Bandcamp Editorial team) and more, before becoming a notable figure in creative project funding at Kickstarter and now Metalabel. He shares a wealth of insights on the intersection of music journalism and the quest for authentic creative expression in the digital age. ystrickler.com Twitter @ystricklerThe Royal SocietyYancey's viral essay on The Dark Forest TheoryMeta LabelGrand Royal's fleeting yet impactful existence Some Yancey Strickler quotes from this episode: "To use the most obvious example, but you know, what if Taylor Swift had a magazine, right? Like, what if? What if Taylor Swift wanted to create a space to platform things that she celebrated, the things that she cared about, things she thought her fans wanted." "Frank Ocean has been on that, you know, I think a lot of people in the hip-hop space have done a lot of creating wider platforms for themselves through fashion. Through other lines of cultural output that I think have proven to be extremely meaningful." "...what is music journalism? I'm just gonna say it's ethnography and I'll go to your cartography comment. To me it's explaining lineages... What are the connections? What are the origins? What is the broader sweep in which this work appears? ...like, take me inside a world I wouldn't know otherwise. Help me appreciate that world the way people inside do. And I would say any, any, any piece, anybody that can do that I'm interested and that I think is a, true service and not that music journalism needs to be a service, but if I think it, how do you elevate above sharing an opinion, which is something that anyone can do. And so that has been rendered... Mapping the context, making that context, something that people can appreciate, that I think is maybe the highest form it can attain." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

The Big Issue's Culture Editor Laura Kelly on their campaigning work, like Venue Watch to help save grassroots music venues across the UK. As Laura says, "Across the UK, there was more than two venues closing every single week." Through Venue Watch, The Big Issue is raising awareness of the challenges facing venues and driving action by "telling the story of a venue" each week. As part of Drowned in Sound's new season of podcasts about where music journalism is headed, we explore how sharing these stories and putting "values to the fore" allows The Big Issue's activist journalism to kickstart national conversations and create change. We asked Laura how music journalism can go beyond entertainment to activism, and she responds "I think music journalism is about building that bridge between the art and the artist and the world around." Laura offers an insightful look into The Big Issue's unique social mission and using journalism as "a force for good." We also shoutout James O'Brien, The Skinny, Music Venue Trust, Beyond the Music Festival, Duran Duran, Nick Cave, and Smash Hits. Sign up to Venue Watch here: https://www.bigissue.com/venuewatch Read Laura's writing: https://www.bigissue.com/author/laura-kelly/ Follow Laura on Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurakaykelly In this episode we mentioned that 16% of people working in the creative industries are working class, you can find the data behind that study here. The Big Issue is a British magazine that provides a platform for homeless and vulnerably housed individuals to earn a legitimate income by selling the publication on the streets. It features a mix of social and cultural content, and its mission is to empower disadvantaged people through employment while raising awareness about homelessness and poverty-related issues. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

Where is music journalism headed? Sean Adams (@seaninsound) introduces season* two of the Drowned in Sound podcast in the style of an editor's letter meets a meandering, unscripted voice memo. TL;DR? To mark 23 years of Drowned in Sound, I decided to embark on a series of interviews with TikTokkers, rock writers, tech reporters and more to try to figure out whether things could be headed. * = series?! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

Everyone from Radiohead to Sugababes to industry insiders are raving about a new book by therapist and live music expert Tamsin Embleton. It's an extraordinary body of work entitled Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual, which includes contributions from a series of mental health experts providing insights and advice covering everything from breath-work to nutrition, and resilience to rest. The book contains interviews with people who live and work on the road, alongside musicians including Pixies, Pharoahe Monch, Nile Rodgers, Radiohead, Four Tet, Lauren from Chvrches, Will Young, Justin Hawkins from The Darkness, and many more. In this conversation with the author you'll learn more about the realities of the road, how touring with Nick Cave & Anna Calvi fed into the initial stages of this book, and why Live Nation has bought 3000 copies of it to put in dressing rooms. We discussed some of the topics in the book such as dressing room environments, dealing with the media and some simple changes the industry can make. This is what Nile Rodgers had to say about the book: “The life of a musical artist can be a magnificent thing when you’re on stage experiencing the enthusiasm and appreciation for your work and seeing first-hand the incredible impact it can have…. There are however another 22 and a half hours in the day when you are not performing. Being away from home and the watchful eye of your loved ones can be incredibly hard work mentally as you go around the world at a pace dictated by the tour. Having what is effectively a mental health wellness manual to keep yourself in check is a wonderful initiative.” Learn much more about the book over here touringmanual.com and you'll find @TamsinEmbleton on Twitter here. Host: Sean Adams (@seaninsound) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message

Our series of conversations about Artificial Intelligence and music continues with a look at the ethics and legal implications of these new forms of technology that inhales creativity and spits out creativity using everything that has been fed into it. And not everything has gone in with permission, let alone consent. At the spring 2023 budget, the UK government announced that they would be allowing AI firms to more easily access copyrighted material.... this seemed somewhat alarming to us as people who run a record label, manage musicians and care about the creative industries. Should be be worried?! We asked Dr Hayleigh Bosher, a leading expert on intellectual property to help us understand the law and the bigger philosophical issues with Artificial Intelligence technology using existing music to create new music. Dr Hayleigh Bosher (@BosherHayleigh) is the author of Copyright in the Music Industry, is a senior lecturer in Intellectual Property Law at Brunel University, and hosts the brilliant Who's Song Is It Anyway? podcast. Related Links Here's the 'Daddy's Car' Beatles AI trackListen to Who's Song Is it Anyway wherever you get your podcastsHear more from Jeremy Hunt about the AI SandboxCheck out previous AI episodes with Endel and ChatGPT Prompt Generator David Boyle --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drownedinsound/message