Before recorded music was made possible after the invention of the first sound recorder in 1877, music journalists only reviewed music that is now considered as classical music. These highbrow reviews could rarely be questioned as there were no sound recordings and the journalists were well respected by the public. They were trusted with an authority to give reliable opinions as it was their job to do so.
Music magazines have been around since music journalism began. "Der Getreue Music-Meister" by Georg Philipp Telemann began in 1728. It was the first magazine that was dedicated to reviewing music. This was written by music specialists and was aimed primarily towards musicians however so it was unlikely to be understood by the general public.
Since the 1840s, journalism altered to appeal to the general public as well as musicians. Music critics didn't need to be professional musicians in order to write reviews anymore.
Pop music was, and still is by many, regarded as a less sophisticated style of music. Since The Beatles hit success in the 1960s, pop music was embraced by journalists and so reviews gradually changed to fit the popular culture. Reviews for classical music declined and journalists began focusing on up and coming artists and big name bands. There was more money to be made by targeting a younger demographic who were more likely to visit concerts and buy music. Popular music fans also wanted to know more about artists themselves, as well as the music they created and performed. Press conferences were broadcast on television with famous artists answering questions about their songs, their lives and anything else that may have been of interest to the public.
By the 1990s, reviews for albums and concerts were recurrent within the media. 30 years since the breakthrough of rock bands and popular music was still the main focus for music journalists. There was still the most money to be made by keeping these artists in the public eye.
Nowadays, the internet has become a key tool for promoting and reviewing music. With most households across the UK owning at least one online device, the internet seems to be the ideal place for journalism. It has become possible for anybody to post blogs, videos and music online for anyone to see and as a result, professional music journalists may find it tougher to be noticed. Music fans now post reviews of albums, concerts and celebrities within the media without the intent of making money. This means that rather than just a few reviews written by journalists in magazines, there could be thousands of reviews written about one album. People are unlikely to spend money for a review if they can see a variety online for free.
Since music and video streaming came into popularity with websites such as Youtube, music consumers have the choice to listen to an artist's music as well as watch live performances that have been recorded by fans at previous concerts. This means that they can make up their own mind on whether to purchase music or visit a concert without having to rely on somebody else's opinion. All music is subjective which means no review is 100% factual.
Although music is mostly advertised and reviewed online in the modern age, there are still ways for journalists to lead a successful career. For example, newspapers and magazines still have regular buyers and there is always space for music sections. Web 2.0 may have become detrimental to an aspiring music journalist's hopes but people will always be interested in music. Journalists may just need to find more innovative ways to get their views across.
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