Wrapped or Warped? The State of Music Criticism

Unpack how criticism, taste and cultural authority are shifting in an era shaped by algorithms, platforms and endless opinion. As music listening and discovery have shifted online, so too has the question of who gets to decide what is worthy. In this rapidly changing landscape, three music journalists come together to unpack what it means to write music criticism today. Social media has opened up criticism to anyone with an opinion, while traditional publications that once acted as gatekeepers have all but collapsed. What is at stake when writing that interrogates, contextualises and challenges begins to fade from view? Broadcaster Sosefina Fuamoli, music and pop culture reporter Al Newstead and writer and critic Sarah Smith join moderator Simon Winkler for a conversation about the past, present and future of music criticism.