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Musicians Are Surviving the Pandemic by Giving (and Receiving) Virtual Lessons
In the absence of live music, touring musicians have taken to Zoom to share their knowledge and craft with a flood of new students. Imperfect as it may be, this exchange has become a financial and creative lifeline.
How Musicians Are Fighting for Streaming Pay During the Pandemic
With concerts on hold, it’s abundantly clear that most musicians can’t live off streaming income alone. How could the system be fixed?
How to Buy the Best Record Player and Stereo System for Any Budget
Your one-stop guide to choosing the right record player, amplifier, speakers, and everything else necessary for an awesome vinyl setup.
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How Loops Are Changing the Sound and Business of Rap Production
With rappers recording at a nonstop clip, and sampling more difficult than ever, hip-hop producers are increasingly outsourcing their melodies to a global network of loopmakers.
Why Do We Even Listen to New Music?
Our brains reward us for seeking out what we already know. So why should we reach to listen to something we don’t?
You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Buy Your Favorite Band’s Gear Anymore
The rise of online gear stores has spawned a middle class of music memorabilia that benefits both bands and fans.
The Best Music of 2019: Pitchfork Readers’ Poll Results
Featuring your picks for the best albums and songs of the year
The XXXTentacion Documentary That Never Was
More than a year before the rapper’s death, the woman at the center of his domestic battery case granted a rare interview for a documentary about his life. Will the footage ever see the light of day?
Dance Dance Revolution: How EDM Conquered America in the 2010s
A decade in dance music that changed pop forever, according to Skrillex, Zedd, Boys Noize, and more.
22 Musicians on Their Favorite Albums of the 2010s
The records that defined the decade for Courtney Barnett, Denzel Curry, Carly Rae Jepsen, Disclosure and more
The Chorus of #MeToo, and the Women Who Turned Trauma Into Songs
Artists who have released poignant music about their sexual assault and harassment talk about what they’ve learned and what it’s like to come forward.
How Future Rewrote Rap in His Own Image
It isn’t hyperbole to claim that the rapper is one of the 2010s’ most essential artists.
How Indie Went Pop—and Pop Went Indie—in the 2010s
Ten years ago, a collaboration between an indie act and a pop artist was something to marvel over. Now, it’s just how things are.
Best of the 2010s: Pitchfork Readers’ Poll Results
Your picks of the best songs and albums of the decade
11 Songs That Define Chicago Drill, the Decade’s Most Important Rap Subgenre
From Chief Keef to Polo G, these tracks defined drill
How Tumblr Helped Queer Mainstream Pop
The look and language of pop this decade took notes from queer users on the microblogging site.
How Twitter Changed Music
Hashtag rap! Kanye rants! Terrifying stan pile-ons! For better and worse, Twitter has forever altered the music landscape.
How Chillwave’s Brief Moment in the Sun Cast a Long Shadow Over the 2010s
Washed Out, Neon Indian, Toro y Moi, and what happened after the genre’s bedroom pop sounds hit the indie mainstream
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Activism, Identity Politics, and Pop’s Great Awokening
From Beyoncé to Kendrick to Kesha, pop’s turn to political activism produced some of the decade’s most memorable moments.
The Rise of Conceptronica
Why so much electronic music this decade felt like it belonged in a museum instead of a club
Remembering the Weirdest Album Launch Stunts of the 2010s
From parody streaming platforms to cryptic street-art campaigns, every band was desperate to seize your attention.
The Strange Evolution of Viral Music Stardom
From Kitty Pryde to Lil Nas X, going viral has gone from a quirky phenomenon to the new normal.