"Perhaps most music writing deludes itself about the function it fulfills in the music industry and the culture at large. A rock magazine's power, and by extension that of its writers, is based on being able to pick up on and then accelerate the momentum of hype. Most rock writers are motivated by a real love of music, and see themselves as legitimate critics of an important art form and cultural force. But the role of criticism in popular music is entirely different from the role of criticism in forms of high-brow culture like literature, or fine art. Part of this difference is caused by the sexiness of pop music, the cult of personality that surrounds musicians, and the aura of cool and desire that plays off them. Writing about music inevitably seeks to approach and explain the charisma that surrounds musicians."

Sebastian Ischer on "Rock n Roll Inc.", march magazine, looking at buzz  ¶ 1/27/2003 11:08:00 PM