With music magazines vanishing and online sites expecting free contributions, how is a music writer to survive in the 20-10s? Is there a future for music critics in the world of tweeting and blogging? Successful writers from Brooklyn, San Francisco, upstate New York, and New Orleans offer their two-cents-worth, as well as some hands-on advice, as does a Manhattan literary agent who specializes in music books.
HOLLY GEORGE-WARREN is the coauthor with Michael Lang of The Road to Woodstock. Her previous works include Public Cowboy No. 1: The Life and Times of Gene Autry, Punk 365, and Grateful Dead 365, among other books.
tweets @bourgwick, DJ on @WFMU, writing book about @TheRealYLT (due 2012 via Penguin/Gotham), 1/3 of @RealSloppyHeads.
BEN SANDMEL is a New Orleans-based journalist, folklorist, drummer, and producer. His published work includes numerous liner notes and articles, a book about zydeco, a Michelin travel guide to New Orleans, and a forthcoming biography of R&B singer Ernie K-Doe entitled The Emperor of New Orleans. Sandmel has produced and played on albums including Boogie Bill Webb’s Drinkin’ & Stinkin’, and The Hackberry Ramblers’ Grammy-nominated Deep Water. He produces the oral history/interview stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
