Music newsletters have revived serious music writing. Critics, musicians and obsessive listeners cover new releases, scenes, history and the economics of the industry, often with playlists attached.
Genre-specific writers are well represented, from jazz to electronic music. Music criticism is the neighbouring page for the more analytical essays.
50 newsletters below, ranked by editorial quality and how recently they published.
Billboard's newsletter covers the latest music chart results, including Billboard 200 and Hot 100 rankings, plus industry news such as RIAA policy efforts on AI deepfakes and copyright. Readers get weekly chart highlights and analysis of major artists and labels.
A fan-run newsletter covering Bob Dylan's concerts, with detailed opening-night and tour reviews of the 2026 'Lights of Autumn' dates and guest contributions. It also offers a paid archive of show reviews and a zine about Dylan's 1976 Rolling Thunder tour.
Evil Speakers is a music newsletter by Steven Hyden covering albums, artist catalogs, and reader-question columns about rock and Americana. Readers get album reviews, deep dives into artists like John Prine and Car Seat Headrest, and recommendations for music discovery.
Ted Gioia's newsletter offers essays on music, books, arts, media and culture, including recommended YouTube videos, critiques of pop music trends, and commentary on the entertainment industry's business side. Readers get informed, opinionated analysis and curated recommendations aimed at culture-minded listeners.
A music newsletter from Berlin-based writer Peter Margasak covering contemporary, experimental and jazz releases, live shows and interviews. Each issue combines album reviews with close, reflective listening notes and event previews.
Herb Sundays is a weekly newsletter pairing a curated music playlist with an artist interview, feature, or personal note from a rotating guest curator. Recent issues cover electronic music figures such as Larry Heard, Bullion, and Anastasia Kristensen, with a focus on deep house, textured dance music, and independent, algorithm-skirting selections.
Recomendo is a weekly newsletter of six brief personal recommendations of cool products, apps, websites, sounds, and books, each drawn from the editors' own experience. Readers get short, curated finds they can try right away, plus a Christmas issue featuring subscriber picks.
Violinist and songwriter Andrew Bird shares behind-the-scenes accounts of writing songs, including a collaborative piece with drummer Ted Poor, and discusses technique and the process of turning ideas into finished music. The newsletter mixes practical craft notes with personal reflections on the wider world.
Soundfly Weekly is a creative newsletter with essay-style love letters on the creative process, music, and learning, often weaving science, history, and personal anecdotes into musical ideas. Readers get reflective, idea-driven writing about experimental and minimalist music and the craft of making sound.
A weekly music newsletter by Chicago writer Josh Terry that champions independent artists and rejects algorithmic recommendations. Each issue offers album picks, a 15-song playlist, artist interviews or band deep dives, and local Chicago show listings.
Bandcamp Notes is a free music discovery newsletter from Bandcamp that spotlights a featured "Cool Band Alert" artist with a detailed write-up and links to their album. It also includes Bandcamp Daily highlights, merch news, and a reader advice column called The Helpline.
Long-form reporting and cultural criticism on music, fashion, art and nightlife, with a focus on the business and politics of subculture in Asia. Issues combine on-the-ground scene reporting with broader arguments about where culture and the creative industries are heading.
Nick Hornby's personal essays cover music, books, football, TV and film, written with wry self-deprecation and close attention to memory and teaching. The excerpts show a clear, witty voice that connects his own experiences to broader cultural observations.
A music newsletter offering new album recommendations, monthly best-of lists, and essays on music journalism and taste, aimed at listeners who don't keep up with new releases. It pairs accessible picks with a welcoming, snob-free approach to discovering music.
Greil Marcus's Letter in the Ether is a personal newsletter of rock criticism and cultural reflection, mixing a weekly-style top 10 of live shows and songs with reader-question essays. Readers get Marcus's distinctive, associative takes on music history, performance and everyday culture.
Singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer shares reflections on music, poetry, community, and spiritual life, including news about her album Murmurations and a book event. Recent issues mix personal updates, event reminders, and essays on fear and current political events.
A music and pop culture newsletter from The Line of Best Fit, a volunteer-run independent publication. It offers essays on overlooked artists, music history, award coverage such as the Mercury Prize, and artist interviews.
zensounds is a Substack-style newsletter by Stephan Kunze covering ambient, vaporwave, slushwave and experimental electronic music, with long-form artist interviews and playlists. Readers get album context, artist conversations and curated listening recommendations.
Flow State is a daily music newsletter that features one artist and two instrumental albums chosen as good background music for focused work. Each issue includes streaming links, short artist notes, and sometimes episode track lists or interviews.
Line Noise is a music newsletter by Ben Cardew and Anna Jane McIntyre that pairs long-form artist interviews with album reviews across dance, electronic and rock music. Readers get in-depth conversations with producers and artists plus critical takes on new releases and archival revisits.
Music criticism of recent album releases, with reviews that weigh influences, songwriting and production in a candid, opinionated voice. Readers get detailed, honest assessments of indie, power pop and dream pop records.
A Toronto-focused music newsletter by Michael Barclay that mixes personal essays on Canadian rock history, especially around the 25th anniversary of the book Have Not Been the Same, with reviews, artist bios and weekly Toronto live music listings. Readers get insider reflections on Canadian music writing and recommendations for new records and shows.
A weekly music newsletter pairing playlists with album recommendations and artist interviews, leaning toward experimental, folk, jazz, and retro-leaning sounds. The writing is reflective and essayistic, often connecting new releases to cultural history and memory.
Hearing Things is a worker-owned independent music publication delivering album reviews, artist features, interviews, podcasts and weekly song picks. Readers get original music criticism and profiles outside of corporate media, with some content reserved for paid subscribers.
Essays and interviews, mostly about music, written by a critic with a long listening history across metal, punk, jazz, hip-hop and electronic genres. It also covers the author's record label releases and occasional commentary on TV and literature.
Robert C. Gilbert writes long-form essays on jazz and rock history, individual albums and artists, alongside roundups of new and upcoming records. Readers get thoughtful, well-researched music writing that favours overlooked recordings over algorithmic hits.
A music and data newsletter where the writer and a friend share weekly album rankings, interviews with music writers, and data-driven pieces on popular music history. Readers get quirky listening takes, insight into how pop music has changed, and interactive datasets built from chart history.
Protein XYZ is a cultural newsletter of essays on social class, design and aesthetics, and the creative industries, drawing on sociology and critic-style commentary. Readers get long-form, idea-driven pieces plus announcements for the publisher's events and studios.
Nelson George's newsletter covers Black music, Black culture and American society through personal essays, interviews and reflections on figures like D'Angelo and Saul Williams. Readers get an insider's perspective from a long-time critic and filmmaker on his own projects and the artists he has known.
A podcast-style newsletter from musician Ben Lee and actress Ione Skye covering music, nightlife, art, culture and politics, with episode recaps, guest interviews and tour updates. Readers get candid conversations, behind-the-scenes stories from touring and Tokyo trips, and links to watch or listen to new episodes.
A personal diary-style newsletter from musician and memoirist Amy Rigby about touring, family life, moving house and the day-to-day realities of promoting a book and performing. Each issue mixes candid anecdotes with warm, self-aware reflections on music and motherhood.
Dada Drummer Almanach mixes literary prose poems with essays on music and art. Its recent issues argue against generative AI in music and critique the financial bubble around AI, with a strong personal voice.
A podcast host and songwriter shares personal essays and conversations about creative life, craft, and loneliness, alongside updates on live shows at his East Nashville studio. Issues mix promotion for events with reflective, conversational writing about faith, emotion, and risk-taking.
Jeff Tweedy's personal newsletter shares weekly song demos, covers, and recommendations, along with Wilco and Uncle Tupelo tour history and short personal musings. Readers get a glimpse into his songwriting process, music picks, and anecdotes from his career.
Patti Smith's personal newsletter shares short, informal notes and photos from her daily life, travels, and literary and art-historical interests, such as visits to libraries, museums, and cafes. Readers get a diary-like glimpse into her creative world, with reflections on art, Franciscan history, and French literature.
Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes shares personal stories, demos, and songs from his band's world, including tributes to Benmont Tench and collaborations with Goose members in the side project Rainbow Body. Readers get behind-the-scenes insight, early demos, and recommendations from a working LA musician.
A personal Substack by Leo Moraes blending essays on urban kindness, community projects, and jazz history with reflections on music and photography craft. Readers get stories about grassroots public-space initiatives and deep dives into jazz figures, recording gear, and creative process.
A Brooklyn-focused music newsletter that pairs weekly listings of live shows with critical commentary on improvised, experimental, dance and global music. It also promotes the author's own Dada Strain concert series and record-playing nights in Greenpoint.
A personal songwriting newsletter by a working musician who reflects on the creative process, memories of studio life, and the emotional forces behind songs. Each issue pairs personal essays with cover versions and discussion of artists like Townes Van Zandt.
A music newsletter featuring album write-ups, artist interviews and a fortnightly gig guide focused on Irish and Northern Irish scenes. Readers get personal, opinionated recommendations and listings for upcoming live shows.
Will Hermes, a longtime music critic, shares new songs of the day, playlists, record reviews and personal essays on music history, with a focus on new releases and rediscovered older music. Readers get curated listening picks with informed context and anecdotes about Afropop, Irish punk-folk and New York scenes.
Essays by composer and singer Gabriel Kahane on music, literature and politics, moving from the genesis of a new song cycle to reflections on American art's reception in Europe and the nature of creative play. The writing is personal and literate, weaving historical reference (Martin Luther King Jr.) with concrete travel and family anecdotes.
A curator's newsletter that shares carefully chosen soul, funk, jazz, boogie and world music releases, often with personal commentary and links to listen. It offers a slower, human-picked alternative to algorithmic music discovery on social media.
A personal music writer shares essays on guitar music, from solo guitar records and Sandy Bull to Bill Callahan and Jeff Parker. The posts blend listening notes, memories of live shows and reflections on how music resists being put into words.
Opinionated essays and reflections on music, covering its politics, artist controversies and the state of grassroots music culture. Readers get a personal, community-minded perspective from a long-running UK music publication and podcast.
This newsletter from A Prairie Home Companion revisits a classic archived show each week, with videos, photos, and interviews from the program's 40-plus year history. It also shares news about the show's regulars, upcoming live tour dates, and new merchandise.
No Tags is a conversational podcast-and-newsletter by Chal Ravens and Tom Lea covering underground music culture, from interviews with jungle promoters to critiques of the protein-fuelled state of dance music and festival culture. Readers get sharp, opinionated episode write-ups, interview transcripts and listening-session and release news.
Concrete Avalanche is a music newsletter by Jake Newby covering independent and experimental music from China, with reviews of new releases, artist features and playlists. Each issue pairs a few deep-dive write-ups on specific albums and artists with brief notes on other releases and compilations.
Personal essays and anecdotes from a Brooklyn-based writer, podcast host and record label executive, drawing on his decades in the music world. Readers get firsthand stories about 1990s Seattle music, record stores, author events and the writing of a new novel.
One short email a week with hand-picked newsletters from the index. Free, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
