Browse newsletters about music history

Ethan teaches you music

by Dr. Ethan Hein

Dive into music theory, songwriting, and analysis with Dr. Ethan Hein, exploring pop concepts, chord progressions, and iconic songs.

De La Soul

by De La Soul

De La Soul is a legendary hip-hop trio pioneering jazz rap and alternative hip-hop with innovative sampling and quirky lyrics, known for Grammy-winning tracks.

Critical Conditions

by Wayne Robins

Critical Conditions offers weekly 1,500-word stories on smart pop culture, music, and influential people, presented in a unique, memoiristic voice.

A Year of Bach | Evan Goldfine | Substack

by Evan Goldfine

Evan Goldfine, a CFO and real estate developer, shares his deep passion for music, embarking on a year-long journey exploring Johann Sebastian Bach's works.

Allison Hagendorf | Substack

by Allison Hagendorf

Allison Hagendorf, former Spotify Global Head of Rock, explores music, meaning, and human stories behind songs through audio, video, and reflection.

Talking Guitar ★ Jas Obrecht's Music Magazine

by Jas Obrecht

Jas Obrecht's Music Magazine delves into the world of guitars and explores the stories of iconic musicians and musical history.

New Bands for Old Heads | Gabbie | Substack

by Gabbie

Gabbie's New Bands for Old Heads helps music lovers discover new artists. She connects contemporary sounds to what you grew up with via curated recommendations and genre guides.

Musical Chairs

by Steve Bradley

Steve Bradley, a musician and former journalist, shares weekly stories from music's frontline: legendary gigs, classic albums, and career highs and lows.

Roberto Barahona Puro Jazz | Substack

by Roberto Barahona

Roberto Barahona comparte su vida y pasión por el jazz. 'PuroJazz' difunde el género en español, conectado a su programa radial.

Slouching Towards Birdland (Will Friedwald's SubStack)

by Will Friedwald

Will Friedwald's Slouching Towards Birdland covers jazz, the Great American Songbook, and diverse aspects of popular culture including film, theater, and comics.

Jazz and Coffee | Syd Schwartz | Substack

by Syd Schwartz

Music industry veteran Syd Schwartz explores album backstories, deep diving into jazz & other genres. Expect personal anecdotes & insights from his decades-long career.

Chronicles | Vinnie Sperrazza | Substack

by Vinnie Sperrazza

Drummer and composer Vinnie Sperrazza's Chronicles features informative essays on jazz and jazz drummers, updates on his musical activities, and personal reflections.

Talk Back | Dawes | Substack

by Dawes

From Dawes band members Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith, this newsletter shares 'behind-the-music' stories, song histories, tour updates, and personal observations.

Rolling Stones Data Newsletter | Substack

by Rolling Stones Data

For Rolling Stones fans, this newsletter delivers daily articles from the Rolling Stones Data fan website. An unaffiliated, community-driven project offering fresh content.

The Music Week | Substack

by The Music Week

The Music Week shares deep dives, reviews, and stories about beloved artists and new independent talent, exploring music history with passion.

Evil Speakers

by Steven Hyden

Evil Speakers by Steven Hyden explores culture, focusing on where the bands are and the world of music.

Can't Get Much Higher | Chris Dalla Riva | Substack

by Chris Dalla Riva

Chris Dalla Riva, a musician and data analyst, offers weekly, data-driven analyses of music trends from pop history to current industry insights.

Flagging Down the Double E's | Ray Padgett | Substack

by Ray Padgett

Ray Padgett's Flagging Down the Double E's explores Bob Dylan concerts via essays, interviews, and bootleg downloads, covering shows from the '60s to today.

Line Noise | Ben Cardew | Substack

by Ben Cardew

Line Noise by Ben Cardew explores dance music's past and future, mixing historical takes with new recommendations and celebrating overlooked legends.

The Land That Time Forgot

by Chuck Prophet

The Land That Time Forgot: Musician Chuck Prophet shares unique insights into music, culture, artists (Alex Chilton, Lucinda Williams), and art exhibitions.

Gabriel Teodros: Worldwide Underground | Substack

by Gabriel Teodros

South Seattle artist Gabriel Teodros curates Worldwide Underground, a weekly mix show and newsletter. He shares music and stories blending personal narrative and social justice.

Listening Sessions | Robert C. Gilbert | Substack

by Robert C. Gilbert

Robert C. Gilbert explores the joy of music with deep dives into albums and artists, blending analysis with historical context. He covers 60s/70s and new releases.

The Line of Best Fit | Substack

by The Line of Best Fit

The Line of Best Fit delivers independent music writing, photography, and video. It celebrates new artists and offers unique perspectives on cultural figures.

The Rat House | Shannon & The Clams | Substack

by Shannon & The Clams

Shannon & The Clams open The Rat House, sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes content: album making, tour stories, ancient demos, rare photos, and direct chats with fans.

Mick Mercer's Panache

by Mick Mercer

Mick Mercer's Panache continues his 1976 fanzine, diving into music, Punk archives, gaming, comics, books, and quirky takes from a seasoned writer.

Bass Culture Music Magazine | Dubmatix | Substack

by Dubmatix

Juno Award-winning producer Dubmatix explores reggae, dub, and bass music. Known for heavy basslines and charting remixes, he's a global force in the genre.

Patrick Hicks Music Stories | Substack

by Patrick Hicks

Digital creator Patrick Hicks brings his viral mini music documentaries and deep dives into music history, sharing untold stories behind favorite artists.

deep cuts

by Oliver Kemp

Oliver Kemp's `deep cuts` offers weekly articles on music history, niche genres, and artist interviews. Paid subscribers receive exclusive weekly reviews and community access.

Dada Drummer Almanach | Damon Krukowski | Substack

by Damon Krukowski

Artist Damon Krukowski explores sounds in music, art, and everyday life, covering drums, records, sonic experiences, and his unique musings on vegetables.

The Playlist Club

by Curated By Elliott Wilson

Elliott Wilson curates exclusive playlists and fosters a community for enthusiasts of shared interests.

Ray Harmony | Substack

by Ray Harmony

Award-winning music lecturer Ray Harmony teaches a fast, easy, and fun way to make music. Founder of Hack Music Theory, he's collaborated with top artists.

Nowhere Street

by Peter Margasak

Peter Margasak shares unpublished vintage interviews and content from his forthcoming book on Chicago music (1992-2002), plus his takes on new and old music.

Fluxblog: Music Blog

by Matthew Perpetua

Matthew Perpetua's Fluxblog newsletter delivers weekly music posts, curated playlists, and podcast episodes, building on his active music blog since 2002.

Low Down and Dirty

by Alan Paul

NYT bestselling author Alan Paul offers musings on current music and culture, and career highlights from his extensive writing.

Shatter the Standards | Substack

by Brandon O'Sullivan

Shatter the Standards unearths musical gems, promotes diverse music discussions, and champions overlooked genres via reviews, podcasts, and lists.

The Music History Club | Substack

by The Music History Club

Maxine's The Music History Club offers weekly deep-dives into music history: events, album anniversaries, artist profiles across all genres, from decades past.

Word & Song by Anthony Esolen | Substack

by Anthony Esolen

Anthony Esolen's Word & Song opens a treasure trove of goodness, beauty, and truth by exploring classic films, poetry, hymns, and forgotten words and songs.

Make Believe Mailer | Patrick St. Michel | Substack

by Patrick St. Michel

Patrick St. Michel, a Tokyo-based writer and music journalist, explores Japanese music from mainstream J-pop to the independent scene, sharing essays and weekly round-ups.

Jagged Time Lapse

by Dan Epstein

Dan Epstein explores musical obsessions, celebrating music's role in our lives, its ability to transport us through time, and offer perspective on life's challenges.

Love Songs Etc | Pete Droge | Substack

by Pete Droge

Singer-songwriter Pete Droge shares new songs, unearthed rarities, and intimate insights into his creative process, documenting his return to songwriting.

Remember The Lightning | S.W. Lauden | Substack

by S.W. Lauden

S.W. Lauden shares his eclectic tastes in music and books, offering a window into the inspirations and topics central to his newsletter, Remember The Lightning.

Will Hermes: New Music + Old Music | Substack

by Will Hermes

Music critic Will Hermes offers deeply curated reviews, playlists, and concert news spanning new and old music across all genres, from indie rock to Afrobeats.

Long Live the ABB: Conversation from the Crossroads | Substack

by Long Live the ABB

A historian delves into the Allman Brothers Band's enduring legacy, exploring its pivotal role in Southern music, history, and American culture.

Loud And Quiet | Stuart Stubbs | Substack

by Stuart Stubbs

Loud And Quiet, by Stuart Stubbs, delivers quality music journalism: weekly news, reviews, interviews, and essays for serious music fans.

ZERO CRED | Dan Ozzi | Substack

by Dan Ozzi

Music author Dan Ozzi's ZERO CRED newsletter offers deep dives, interviews, and rants on indie rock, punk, emo, hardcore, and music industry failures.

The Art of Cover Art | Rachel Cabitt | Substack

by Rachel Cabitt

Photographer and designer Rachel Cabitt explores album cover art. Delve into subgenres, design trends, artist discographies, and how culture shaped its importance.

Who's afraid of classical music?

by Mr Figaro

Demystifying classical music for all. A former opera singer shares recommendations, stories, and listening tips, explaining jargon without gatekeeping.

Black Music and Black Muses | Harmony Holiday | Substack

by Harmony Holiday

Harmony Holiday explores Black music and its muses, practicing deep listening to defy market-driven criticism and develop her American songbook memoir.

Tone Glow | Substack

by Tone Glow

Tone Glow features interviews with artists in experimental music and film, alongside historical capsule reviews and a focus on independent and avant-garde film screenings.

Revista Jedbangers | Tienda Jedbangers | Substack

by Tienda Jedbangers

Revista Jedbangers keeps you updated with news from the world of metal music, delivered directly to your inbox.