
How streaming services are beginning to win the battle for the hearts and minds (and wallets) of music fans.
Scribblings, musings and assorted published wisdom

How streaming services are beginning to win the battle for the hearts and minds (and wallets) of music fans.
All over the country, soldiers who are suffering from the physical and emotional ravages of war are learning to deal with their pain by writing songs and playing music. Even more surprising: It’s working.

The Numero Group has become the world’s greatest reissue label by tirelessly chasing dead-ends, following every detour and ringing doorbells at their own risk. David Peisner trails the label’s founders through Louisiana as they sniff mold, rifle through trash, and maybe expose a few lost geniuses.

For a new breed of tourists and tour operators, travel advisories are merely strongly worded invitations.

Once invited to the party, today’s long-haul bus drivers are taken for granted and under threat of extinction as the music industry continues to slash costs. David Peisner meets the veteran wheel-men (and one woman!) who drove Mariah, Creed, Wu-Tang Clan, Poison, ‘N Sync and everyone else to your town.
As the world gets smaller and more connected every day, Cuba remains isolated and repressed, mired in poverty and outdated technology. It’s no wonder that the country is responsible for some of the angriest, most extreme metal on Earth.
Spin, May/June 2012 [PDF]
In March, I went to Cuba to write a story for SPIN about the metal scene there. The story is out in the May/June issue, which is available in most places already, though not in Cuba, or on SPIN’s website (yet). PRI’s “The World” was kind enough to talk to me about the story during pledge week, when most public radio listeners are frantically searching the dial for something else to listen to that won’t make them feel guilty. Also, enjoy the photo and see if you can possibly guess which one of those frightening-looking men is me.
Amnesty International’s 4-CD collection, Chimes of Freedom, and the twilight of benefit albums