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Welcome to Music Journalism History

MJH documents and analyzes the evolution of popular music journalism from the advent of sound recording through the era of streaming. 

Excellent music writing is an art form that gives readers a better understanding of themselves and their world. Music journalism matters.

Music Journalism History tackles narrow topics within a broad scope. It covers the music press of all genres—the evolution of that press from the dawn of recording through today. The spectrum of texts related to pop music includes periodicals, books, and liner notes. Criticism and fan-oriented writings are both addressed.      

Music Journalism History stands on three principles:    

  1. Music writing is part of the broader cultural discourse of its time and shapes society’s assumptions, beliefs, and opinions about the meaning of pop music.
  2. Music writers act as cultural intermediaries with the power to support new artists who challenge the mainstream (or critique artists who maintain the status quo).
  3. The critical tool in a music writer’s toolbox is their aesthetic, a set of principles used to assess the music they write about.

Discourse, mediation, and aesthetics are the key themes of Music Journalism History

Your part? 

  1. Go to Posts and dig in
  2. Share posts on social media and with colleagues
  3. Join the Music Journalism History Facebook Group and participate by posting and commenting

You can start with “Flashes of Defiant Unwilling Beauty: The Transcendent Power of Great Pop Music Writing.” This post makes a case for the importance of music journalism. In addition, check out “Why the Early Pop Music Press Matters.”

On a lighter note, there’s “Kool Kapers and Real Scorchers: Rhythm and Blues #16,” part of a series of posts about the role of a little-known publishing house, Onyx, that created the first rhythm and blues press.

Music Journalism History presents its content in a form inclusive of all readers. The story of the music press contains moments of jubilation, tragedy, and humor. MJH strives to hit all three notes.     

© 2022 Donald E. Armstrong, Jr.

 

Don Armstrong writes Music Journalism History. He’s a freelance academic writer whose idea of a great time is tracking down a rare book or magazine to read, say, a 1964 review of “The Ostrich” by the Primitives.    

 

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2 replies on “Home”

Dear Donald Armstrong, thanks so much for saying my name should go down in musical history! Best compliment I’ve had in a long time or maybe my entire life!

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