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Music Discourse Has Migrated to Instagram
With social media posts promoting content often attracting more attention than the content itself, what is the "real" work of a modern-day music…
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor #268 – Someone Has to Ask the Hard Questions
The impotence of the traditional music press, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh crop of new track recommendations.
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Shawn Reynaldo
Music Journalism Desperately Needs More Muckrakers
In the face of unceasing corporate consolidation and the normalization of extractive business practices, the traditional music press shows little…
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Shawn Reynaldo
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First Floor #248 – Another One Bites the Dust
 • Shawn Reynaldo
The Music Business Is Broken, and Everybody Knows It
 • Shawn Reynaldo
Liz Pelly Wrote a Book About Spotify and the "Systemic Grift" of Streaming
 • Shawn Reynaldo
A Music Industry That Doesn't Sell Music
 • Shawn Reynaldo
Not a Great Year for Dance Music
 • Shawn Reynaldo
The Music Press Has Decided to Pivot
 • Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor #267 – A Bright Spot Among the Bad Vibes
Takeaways from the growing controversy around the Sónar festival, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh bundle of new track…
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Shawn Reynaldo
With Sónar and Superstruct Still Spinning Half-Truths, a Headliner Has Pulled Out and Palestinians Have Called for an Official Boycott
In the face of intense public outcry, high-profile artist cancellations and an official PACBI boycott, statements from KKR-affiliated entities are being…
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor #266 – Exploring Parallel Worlds
a.k.a. An interview with novelist Aria Aber, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh slate of new track recommendations.
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Shawn Reynaldo
Aria Aber Was Born to a Refugee Family and (Partially) Raised in the Club. Both Shaped Her Debut Novel.
An interview with the German-born Afghan writer, who reflects on her new book, her relationship with dance music and life as an outsider among…
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor #265 – It Doesn't Have to Be This Way
Looking for alternatives to an increasingly corporatized music culture, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh batch of new…
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Shawn Reynaldo
The Cowardice of Sónar
Asked to meaningfully engage with its own complicity in genocide and occupation, the esteemed Barcelona-based festival has chosen instead to hide behind…
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor #264 – Money Talks
The inescapable business-ification of dance music, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh crop of new track recommendations.
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor
First Floor
A newsletter about electronic music and the culture / industry that surrounds it.

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