Music Journalism Is Just PR Now — And That’s a Problem

Once upon a time, music journalism meant discovery, critique, and context. Now? It means copy-paste press releases and artist-approved narratives. The lines are blurred — and the industry likes it that way. Because music journalism isn’t journalism anymore. It’s marketing. And everyone’s pretending that’s normal.

The Disappearance of Honest Criticism

In an age where access is currency, real critique is a liability.

If a writer is too honest, the label blacklists them. If a blog passes on covering the new release, they lose the traffic. So what we get instead is:

• “Rising star” profiles with no substance

• “Track breakdowns” that feel like press kits

• Reviews that read like a brand collaboration

• No real analysis, no real stakes, and definitely no risk

What’s left is content, not criticism. Promotion, not perspective.

When the Labels Control the Narrative

Here’s how it works: A major artist has a new album. The label sends press materials, access, maybe an interview (as long as the questions are pre-approved).The outlet runs a “feature” that’s really just a cleaned-up bio. The result? Everyone wins — except the reader.

You don’t learn anything new. You just get the version of the artist the team wants you to see. And the outlet gets clicks without ever digging deeper. That’s not journalism. That’s PR in a hoodie.

The Loss of Local Voices and Independent Thought

We used to have city-based zines, alt-weeklies, and music blogs run by people who actually cared.

Now, most of them are gone — replaced by influencer playlists, Spotify-generated blurbs, or AI summaries of albums no one actually reviewed.

The result?

• No regional coverage

• No platform for emerging scenes

• No alternative to the label-driven machine

You either have mainstream hype or digital silence. Nothing in between.

Why This Matters

When music journalism becomes PR, we lose:

• Context: Nobody explains why something matters — just that it dropped.

• Accountability: No one calls out bad contracts, label abuse, or exploitative practices.

• Culture: We forget how music connects to identity, politics, and everyday life.

And artists suffer too. Because without real critique, there’s no room to grow — only to sell.

So What Now?

It’s time for artists and listeners to demand more:

• Support independent blogs and writers who still say what they mean.

• Push back when an “interview” reads like an ad.

• Start your own zine, column, or substack if you have to.

• Remember that good music writing should challenge you — not flatter you.

Real Stories > Safe Takes

We don’t need more five-paragraph rewrites of a press release. We need stories. We need honesty. We need music journalism that actually has something to say — not just something to sell. Because if the only voices left are the ones paid to speak, then no one’s really listening.