Music critic

A music critic is someone who reviews music (including printed music, performances and recorded music) and publishes writing on them in books or journals (or on the internet). Some music critics also write books analyzing musical styles and discussing music history, thus verging on the field of musicology.

Many composers of classical music were also notable writers on, and critics of, music, including Hector Berlioz, Richard Wagner and Robert Schumann. Amongst modern practitioners of the classical music tradition who also write (or wrote) on music may be included Alfred Brendel, Charles Rosen, Paul Hindemith and Ernst Krenek.

In the realm of rock music (as indeed in that of classical music)^[1], critics have not always been respected by their subjects. Frank Zappa declared that, "Most rock journalism is people who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, for people who can't read." In the Guns N' Roses song "Get in the Ring", Axl Rose verbally attacked critics who gave the band negative reviews because of their actions on stage; such critics as Andy Secher, Mick Wall and Bob Guccione, Jr. were mentioned by name.

External links

• International Federation of Music Journalists - an international group of media professionals who treat any aspect of music on any media. Publishes the "Directory of Music Journalists" and confers "Music Journalist Award".
• Who cares what critics say? - Jay Nordlinger

References

1. ^ see e.g. many examples of insults in both directions in Nicholas Slonimsky's Lexicon of Musical Invective, ISBN 978-0393320091

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