PopMatters is looking for talented music critics and music feature writers.
We are especially interested in applicants with expertise in electronic, hip-hop, R&B, world and country at the moment, but will consider all applications. We will also consider all international applications.
We are recruiting for staff writer positions at the point, not contributors. That means we need people who can commit to at least one 500-word review per week and occasional 100-150-word capsule reviews and keep up with tight deadlines.
We're looking for talented writers with deep genre knowledge of music and its history alongside a cultural generalist perspective with strong interests in many areas of culture.
Regular CD reviews should run 500-800 words and display a knowledge of music history and real genre expertise, rather than simply "I like this" or "I hate that". They should employ a smart look at the music within its larger cultural contexts. Capsule reviews run between 100-150 words and writers are expected to write both long reviews as well as capsules.
Feature pieces are in excess of 1,200 words and look at a particular artist, genre, trend or happening within the music world. They also look at the intersection between music and other cultural forms such as film, TV, multimedia, fashion, and politics. These pieces can include artist interviews and profiles of an exceeding smart and critical nature.
For Reviewer Consideration:
Please send a e-mail describing your background, along with two recent music-related writing samples (preferably reviews) that are each at least 500 words, and one 500-800 word review of an album not in our review archive that would be your first published PopMatters piece if you are accepted, to:
Patrick Schabe, Music Reviews Editor [schabe at popmatters dot com], AND
Sarah Zupko, Editor & Publisher [editor at popmatters dot com].
The subject line should read: PopMatters Music Application.
We need all three of these things before we can consider your application.
For Feature Writer Consideration:
Please e-mail pitches (100-250 words, including your subject, your prospective source material and the gist of your approach to it) you'd like us to consider along with a brief description of your writing background (with links to clips or published samples if possible) to:
Rob Horning, General Features Editor [features at popmatters dot com].
The subject line should read: PopMatters Features Pitch.
Note: We are unable to pay you for your work at this time, but you will not go entirely uncompensated; your 'pay' is the opportunity to address our readership, currently 1 million-plus unique readers per month and counting, along with getting free music, concert passes, and the chance to interview artists. Some of our writers have been called upon for their opinion by such media outlets as the BBC, NPR, MSNBC, Radio Australia, and VH1. Also, the New York Times, USA Today.com, Alternet.org, and Movies.com have regularly picked up links to PopMatters articles and posted quotes from PopMatters writers.
