Music Journalists

Any experience working or volunteering as a writer or editor will be useful for aspiring music journalists.

In order to succeed as a music journalist, it is crucial that you have typing and computer skills to write stories under tight deadlines. Although not essential, knowledge of shorthand or speedwriting makes note taking easier, and an acquaintance with photography is an asset. Many music journalists also write for Web publications, so knowledge of researching and writing for the Internet is beneficial. Experience with social media platforms, such as YouTube, Bluesky, Instagram, among others, is also important in this field. Many musicians use these and other platforms to promote their work and connect with people.

Music journalists must also be inquisitive, aggressive, persistent, and detail-oriented. You should enjoy interaction with people of various races, cultures, religions, economic levels, and social statuses. For some jobs—on a newspaper, for example, where the activity is hectic and deadlines are short—the ability to concentrate and produce under pressure is essential.

Music criticism is a highly specialized field, one that blends music knowledge and expressive writing skills. The glamour of attending concerts and meeting musicians is an undeniable benefit. However, the journalist's job also includes possible stress and irregular hours. To succeed as a journalist, you have to have passion about the subject in which you write. You should be able to appreciate (if not like) all forms of music and have in-depth knowledge of the evolution of music trends, scenes, and sounds to place artists in their historical context.