BrooklynVegan

BrooklynVegan BrooklynVegan is an online music and culture publication based in Brooklyn, New York, covering indie rock, metal, hip hop, electronic music, and live performance. Founded in the early 21st century, the site developed alongside online communities and music festivals, intersecting with artists, labels, venues, promoters, and media outlets across North America and Europe. Its coverage spans concert reviews, album premieres, tour announcements, and cultural reportage, engaging readers alongside publications, venues, and festivals worldwide.

History

BrooklynVegan emerged during a period marked by the rise of blogs, peer-to-peer file sharing, and independent labels, intersecting with scenes represented by Merge Records, Sub Pop, Matador Records, XL Recordings, and Domino Recording Company. The site’s growth paralleled the rise of platforms like Myspace, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Consequence of Sound, and NME, as well as the emergence of festivals such as South by Southwest, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Primavera Sound, Glastonbury Festival, and Lollapalooza. Early coverage often centered on Brooklyn venues including Music Hall of Williamsburg, Knitting Factory, Bowery Ballroom, Terminal 5 (venue), and Mercury Lounge, while also reporting on tours involving artists associated with Sub Pop and Rough Trade Records. Over time, the site intersected with record labels, booking agencies like William Morris Endeavor, and ticketing platforms such as Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster.

Content and Coverage

BrooklynVegan’s editorial scope includes concert reviews, album premieres, interviews, news briefs, and photo galleries. The site has published pieces on artists ranging from legacy acts associated with Columbia Records and Warner Records to underground acts tied to Secretly Canadian, Saddle Creek Records, and Captured Tracks. Coverage often references tours connecting cities like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, and Berlin, and venues such as Madison Square Garden, The Roxy Theatre (West Hollywood), Apollo Theater, and Royal Albert Hall. Features and interviews have involved musicians, producers, and collaborators who have worked with figures from Rick Rubin to Beyoncé Knowles, Kendrick Lamar, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Kanye West, and Björk. Photo and video coverage has documented performances at events linked to promoters like AEG Presents, Dirty Hit, and Sub Pop Records showcases. The publication’s news coverage frequently intersects with record release calendars from Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and independent imprints.

Events and Festivals

BrooklynVegan has been involved in festival reporting and event promotion tied to major and niche festivals, including on-the-ground reporting from SXSW, Coachella, Primavera Sound, Glastonbury Festival, Riot Fest, Pitchfork Music Festival, Green Man Festival, and Electric Daisy Carnival. The outlet has co-presented showcases and club nights in collaboration with booking entities such as Booking Agent UK, CAA (Creative Artists Agency), WME (William Morris Endeavor), and independent promoters associated with venues like Brooklyn Steel and Elsewhere (Brooklyn). Its festival guides and stage-by-stage coverage have featured lineups including artists affiliated with Sub Pop, XL Recordings, Domino Recording Company, 4AD, and Ninja Tune.

Editorial Staff and Contributors

Contributors and editors have included writers, photographers, and videographers with ties to broader music journalism networks and institutions such as The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Billboard, Spin (magazine), and Noisey. Photographers and staff have collaborated with independent labels and artist management teams associated with Rostrum Records, Dead Oceans, and Frenchkiss Records. Guest columns and interviews have featured figures connected to production studios like Electric Lady Studios, management firms, and artist collectives spanning scenes in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, London, and Toronto.

Reception and Influence

BrooklynVegan has been cited and aggregated by mainstream and niche outlets including Billboard, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, NME, and Consequence of Sound, influencing tour coverage, ticket demand, and festival discourse. The site’s live photography and reporting have been used by promoters, venues, and record labels to document touring cycles and festival appearances by acts ranging from indie stalwarts to major-label headliners. Its role in the online music ecosystem places it alongside long-standing publications such as Spin (magazine), Uncut (magazine), MOJO (magazine), and digital outlets like Stereogum and The Fader.

Category:Music websites