What is the role of the music journalist today?

In this day and age it is felt that music journalism is on it's way out, heading further and further out of the public eye, due to numerous factors. The day of the taste maker is long gone, leaving us with a drivel of poorly driven opinions about todays 'Hot 40 UK'. "Historically, the critic has served various roles. As entertainer, specialist advisor, risk-manager, archivist and public whipping boy." However, music journalists and critics are still predominantly necessary to guide us towards good music and steer us away from something that's hardly worth listening to. 

"To be a music journalist back then was to be important - not only to the record companies, but to the artists and the record-buying public." The role of the music journalist has certainly changed... I divulge...

The role of the music journalist is to inform and share opinions and thoughts of present, past and up and coming artists/bands, live events, genres and styles; anything entirely relating to the music industry to a relative audience of common interest or even perhaps opposing interest. We are here to discover music trends, discuss them, divulge into all depths of music and to share our opinions with others. We act as the opinion leaders, we are the rock interpreters.Sadly over the years, the personalised, quirky style and more emotively, the passionate style of writing has some what diminished. The great writers of the 1960's; Lester Bangs who was launched as writing in the style of 'Gonzo journalism', and Barry Miles who truly worked his way up the tiresome media ladder, had a distinct style of writing and sadly that is extremely rare to find in today's music press.We are now left with magazines that are more consumer lead, with less inspirational writers, with a less indirect role, no ambition to traipse, trawl and discover new exciting music. Thus the role of the music journalist is at the most crucial point it has been at for decades.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4137382-kissing-without-the-sex-%E2%80%93-the-role-of-the-music-critic