Reading & Writing Lounge

Springsteen, Sting or Schubert.

Whether you like rock, pop, classical or heavy metal, writing for music magazines is no different than writing for other publications. You don’t really need to play an instrument or have a record of your own to be a music writer. What you need is some knowledge of the industry and of course, a love of music.

A quick glance at the Music section of your local news-agent will demonstrate the variety of music related magazines in the market. There’s one for every kind of music and geared to different levels of readers - from beginners to the experts.

So, what can you, as a freelance writer, write about? Here are some ideas:

• Profiles : Flip through your almanac, browse the internet or get your calendar out for those milestones. Magazines love anniversary pieces. Choose one of significance and profile your chosen musician. If you are not a well-known writer, remember that profile pieces of well known musicians are more likely to be assigned to regular freelancers. The usual advice applies to a newbie in this area: Find an unusual angle, find a less-written about musician and you have something new to pitch. Don’t forget to read the publication to get an idea of the tone and the possible audience.
• Look for the unusual: Depending on the magazine, look for opportunities to profile fans of the type of music the magazine writes about. If your granny loves the Beatles or your neighbor is a somewhat famous DJ, consider writing about them. Ask your local music shop to keep you in mind if they come across interesting people you could profile.
• Reviews : Choose to review music you like. That way, your review will be honest and will reflect the enthusiasm (or disapproval) of a genuine listener. Let your review be as objective as possible. Study the magazine for past reviews and use a similar format for yours. Include information on the album price, artists and availability.
• Music writing in general magazines: If you want to write about music (which is different from writing from music magazines, I know),  don’t limit yourself to the music magazines alone. There are hundreds of opportunities in every other kind of publication. Newspapers, women’s magazines, children’s magazines, religious publications, sporting mags - the list is endless. Find an angle and you can write about music for any kind of publication. How-to pieces work well with this segment. For example, if you play an instrument, list tips for parents or students on how to make the most of the instrument. Or give readers recommendations on what to buy for a certain age group. If your children like a certain kind of music, write about how it influences their lives.

A reminder: If you’re pitching a music magazine, check a recent issue (or three) to gauge the experience of their writers. Some magazines use only writers who are musicians themselves; save yourself a lot of time and effort by doing your homework. Guidelines for writers may be available on their websites or in publications such as Writers Market.