Who actually writes concert reviews for the newspaper?

Music journalists or editors report from concerts and inform about the news of the music industry and its artists. As a music journalist, you have the opportunity to package sound knowledge of the music industry in a cultural journalistic way and become a valued expert for your readers or listeners.

Your role as a music journalist is to put music into words and give your readers a deeper understanding of the art form. You write concert reviews, album reviews, interviews and features that bring the musical experience to life. You can also work as a music editor on radio or television and take care of the programming for a programme. Through your work, you can share the fascination of music with others and promote understanding of different genres.

Besides the technical skills as a journalist, you need other qualities and knowledge to be successful as a music journalist. A comprehensive knowledge of different genres and their representatives is essential to write authentic and perceptive articles. In addition, research skills and a good ear are important to create well-founded articles. Your curiosity and openness to the background of a work or the description of a live experience will allow you to cover a wide range of topics.

A degree in (music) journalism, communication or musicology facilitates entry into music journalism, but is not a prerequisite. As long as you have a keen interest in music and a sound knowledge of current topics in the industry, music journalism also offers good opportunities for career changers. You can gain practical experience, for example, through your own writing projects, radio programmes or freelance work. You'll notice that a soft spot for a particular genre or a significant trend can be a good unique selling point to set you apart from other experts.

At the REEPERBAHN FESTIVAL JOB INSIGHTS you can find out even more about entering the job market and everyday working life (in German):