Longform
The Endless Life Cycle of Japanese City Pop
Boosted by the YouTube recommendations algorithm, and now TikTok memes, an American-influenced strain of vintage Japanese music has become a perennial cult hit online. The trend says more about Western perceptions of the East than the other way around.
How SOPHIE’s Music Inspired a Generation of Underground Artists
Five musicians and SOPHIE fans, from Mykki Blanco to Lyra Pramuk to Backxwash, reflect on what made the artist’s work so arresting, and what it illuminated in its gleam.
Sample Snitching: How Online Fan Chatter Can Create Legal Trouble for Rap Producers
By publicly identifying and discussing unlicensed samples, hip-hop fans on websites like WhoSampled and YouTube may be unwittingly putting their favorite producers at risk.
The 2020 Club Bangers That Could Have Been
Electronic artists ranging from Jayda G to Roísín Murphy to Lorenzo Senni sound off on a year without dancefloor catharsis for their songs, and themselves. These are their imagined raves.
The Year Live Music Stopped
Most musicians’ primary source of income is gone, venues everywhere are struggling, and the government hasn’t come through on an aid package. It’s hard not to lose hope, but in talking with professionals across the industry and looking to regions around the world, we gain perspective on how to rebuild live music from the ground up.
The Best Music of 2020: Pitchfork Readers’ Poll Results
Featuring your picks for the best albums and songs of the year
The Year Megan Thee Stallion Became a Symbol
In a time marked by a series of collective and personal tragedies, Megan turned “protect Black women” into a rallying cry and stood for something bigger than herself
Meet Shameika Stepney, Inspiration to Fiona Apple on Fetch the Bolt Cutters
The unlikely story of how two childhood schoolmates changed each other’s lives.
Rock the Vote: How the Music Industry Built a Youth Voting Movement
Over the last 30 years, the nonprofit has registered 12 million voters (and counting) via its platform and played a significant role in the election of two presidents. They couldn’t have done it without the pop, rock, and rap stars who were willing to use their fame for a cause.
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Rethinking Appropriation and Wokeness in Pop Music
Over the last decade, the language and aesthetics of social justice have become the social currency of the music industry (and pop culture at large), ultimately yielding the myth that representation solves everything. This is one story of how we got there, and where we carefully go from here.
How to Buy the Best Home Recording Studio Equipment
With an endless amount of gear out there, setting up your first home studio can seem like a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be.
What It’s Like to Be Black in Indie Music
Black artists and professionals discuss the roadblocks they’ve faced and offer ideas on how independent music scenes can change for the better.
Enya Is Everywhere
How the unlikely star became a phenomenon hidden in pop-cultural plain sight, influencing a generation of groundbreaking artists.
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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.