Format Internet Editor-in-chief Scott Lapatine | Owner(s) Eldridge Industries Language English | |
Type Popular culture, music, news, reviews Founded 2002; 15 years ago (2002) | ||
Stereogum is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, song premieres, and irreverent commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine.
Contents
Stereogum was the first "MP3 blog" and has received several awards and citations, including the Plug Award for best music blog, Blender's Powergeek 25, and Entertainment Weekly's Best Music Websites. The site was named an Official Honoree of the Webby Awards in the music category and won the Omma Award for Web Site Excellence in the Entertainment/Music category. In 2011, Stereogum won The Village Voice's Music Blog of the Year.
History
The site was named after a lyric from the song "Radio #1" by the French electronic duo Air.
Through its Band To Watch column, Stereogum was the first website to write about many now-popular bands like Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, Sleigh Bells, and Real Estate.
Stereogum's first SXSW event in 2006 was hosted by the then-emerging comedian Aziz Ansari and featured a headline performance from Ted Leo. In the years since, Stereogum's events have included sets from Ben Gibbard, Sky Ferreira, Savages, Beach House, St. Vincent, Deerhunter, Cults, and other popular indie acts.
In late 2006, Stereogum received an influx of capital through Bob Pittman's private investment entity The Pilot Group. In November 2007, it was purchased by Spin Media (FKA BUZZMedia). April 2008 saw the launch of Videogum, a sister site focused on television, movies, and Web videos. Videogum later closed.
In December 2016, Eldridge Industries acquired SpinMedia via the Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group for an undisclosed amount.
"Band To Watch" honorees
Since 2004, Stereogum has given many now well-known artists their first media exposure through its Band To Watch column:
Music releases
In July 2007, Stereogum released OKX, a tenth anniversary tribute to Radiohead's OK Computer. Cover songs were solicited from fourteen indie rock artists including Doveman, Vampire Weekend, John Vanderslice, David Bazan, Cold War Kids, My Brightest Diamond, Marissa Nadler, Chris Funk of The Decemberists, and Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie. The album can be heard free of charge at http://www.stereogum.com/okx.
Other free Stereogum compilation albums include: Drive XV, a tribute to R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People (featuring Rogue Wave, Meat Puppets, Sara Quin, and Dr. Dog); Enjoyed, a tribute to Björk's Post (featuring Liars, Edward Droste, Dirty Projectors, Final Fantasy, Atlas Sound); Stroked, a tribute to The Strokes's Is This It (featuring Real Estate, Owen Pallett, Peter Bjorn & John, and The Morning Benders); and MySplice Vols 1-4:, an annual mashup collaboration with team9.