11.28.2009 | 1:45 pm

Real Talk On The State Of Music Criticism

Christopher R. Weingarten of hero-Twitter @1000timesyes lays the smack down about music writing 2K9 in an Eye Weekly interview:

There’s not enough interest in music to warrant an economy based on writing about it… If you hire someone who’s really bright and incisive, they’re still not going to get enough Google traffic as someone who writes Lady GaGa’s name all day. What does that mean for smart, incisive music writers? That we’re a dying breed. People don’t read Pitchfork, Stereogum or Vice magazine because they think the writing’s incredible… it’s lifestyle marketing, in that it captures the essence of what a generation wants. Music writing today is about web traffic.

His opinions on chillwave and Green Day are less defensible, but dude pretty much nails his chosen career. Shit’s depressing. Should we start a Rawkblog Kickstarter all Put This On style?

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  • Kyle

    Very true, that’s why I don’t visit Pitchfork anymore, they only anger me.

  • David Greenwald

    In many ways, even if the writing were to really elevate itself, I think they’ve painted themselves into a corner they’ll never escape from. Which is fine. I think they’re actually a generally positive thing in the indie-verse and they do a solid job of putting MP3s/reviews/videos/news in one spot — the quality of all that is up for debate.

  • David Greenwald

    And frankly I think Stereogum’s great. Its audience is the problem.

  • http://www.thedaysoflore.com Mark

    It’s depressing that Pitchfork can still make or break a band. And Stereogum? I do check it daily, but there’s usually maybe one thing out of all the day’s posts that is even remotely of interest–I don’t give two shits about Zooey Deschanel and Ben Gibbard getting married. And I agree with you about its audience…while it’s very broad, it’s also kinda ridiculous.