The Importance of Honesty and Fairness in Music Criticism

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Music criticism should prioritize honesty and fairness over personal gain or favoritism towards artists. The key is to be the 'honest broker' who can be trusted by readers to provide accurate and persuasive critiques. Writers must ask themselves if their work is fair, accurate, and convincing to all fair-minded observers. Temptations such as telling readers what they want to hear, pleasing editors, becoming friends with musicians, or seeking personal benefits should be set aside in favor of serving the reader with honesty and fairness. The ultimate goal is to establish a trustworthy relationship with the reader, prioritizing their expectations above personal gain or connections with influential individuals.

You may know Ted as a music historian, and the go-to expert on jazz. Or, you may know him as The Honest Broker on Substack. Either way, he’s the most erudite guest this show has ever seen.

Ted gives a masterclass on the state of our culture at large. What’s up with our obsession with minimalism? Why do we value speed over beauty? Do we even realize that we’re distracting ourselves into oblivion? And, of course, what does this mean for us as writers?

This episode zooms out to look at where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. It’s an upheaval of mediocrity, a call-to-arms for the pursuit of excellence. If you’ve been wanting to reclaim the magic, the beauty, and the awe-struck wonder of the written word, this episode is for you.

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

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SPEAKER LINKS:

Website: https://www.tedgioia.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tedgioia

Newsletter: https://www.honest-broker.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTuRY58GauTM6wHA3_PPWRw

Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ted-Gioia/author/B001ITVXZS

PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos