step one of a plan

Sign in Subscribe

criticism

on intentional communities + framing of internet content

on intentional communities + framing of internet content

While I was sitting at my desk this morning for a class with the dullest title you could ever imagine, I got an email notifying me that Trace Mountains uploaded a new work-in-progress song to their (well, just Dave’s, I guess) Patreon. A lot of the music that made

on tiktok + content creation being framed as journalism

on tiktok + content creation being framed as journalism

Everybody’s favorite, totally relevant and cool music publication Rolling Stone put out an article recently about TikTok creators who do music reviews. It’s mostly a profile on a few different young people that do it and that’s great. I think music focused content is great and connecting

spotify playlists, discovery, + the failure of national coverage indie music journalism

spotify playlists, discovery, + the failure of national coverage indie music journalism

We in the music sphere talk about playlist culture a lot and I think it’s fascinating the way playlists have corporatized music. Spotify is the king. Playlist placement can make an artists’ career. They’ve successfully created a 1-2 punch of algorithmic playlists that play to listeners’ desire to

financialization of music: technology, ownership, + american exceptionalism

financialization of music: technology, ownership, + american exceptionalism

This week the master recordings of Taylor Swift’s first six albums were sold by noted scummy fuck Scooter Braun. The acquisition and sale of catalogues isn’t unique to Taylor, of course, but she’s loud about 1. how much she hates Scooter Braun, which rules, and 2. how

on political art + equating taste with ethics

on political art + equating taste with ethics

Alternate Sub-Heading: When introducing Jeff Rosenstock, Seth Meyers said, “what we need now is great punk music” and, well, that feels just a little too close to “well at least we’ll get great music out of the next four years!” I’ve been thinking about some recent platitudes to

on youtube + music criticism

on youtube + music criticism

I love youtube. I love youtube more than music. Despite my affinity for music writing, I’d take a good willne video over listening to any album. I love to talk about youtube and know a lot about youtube because of the kind of stuff I watch there so whenever

on grappling with harm + ethics of support

on grappling with harm + ethics of support

This newsletter deals with the concept of sexual assault. Nothing is described graphically but it is the central factor to this discussion. Please be warned and take care of yourself. I’ve been thinking about this newsletter for weeks. If you know me, you know I have always had one