"As close as rock scribes get to the Oscars" wrote Rob Harvilla of the Village Voice about Best Music Writing in 2010. The book is not just the home for rock scribes, but for the best music writers who cover genre and style of music. It's been that way since 2000 when music-loving editor Ben Schafer launched the title at Da Capo Press.
The book has been edited by a who's who of music writers and writers who love music: Matt Groening, Alex Ross, Robert Christgau, Mary Gaitskill, Mickey Hart, Jonathan Lethem, Nelson George, Ann Powers, Nick Hornby, Peter Guralnick, and Greil Marcus. (And even one persona, JT Leroy!) We have published hundreds of the finest writers of all backgrounds, interests, and worldviews in the anthology, and many of these writers consider placement in the book as a career highlight.
One of the great things about the anthology is that it changes as does music, technology, and publishing. What started out as a book of features, essays, and long reviews has become a collection of an increasingly diverse range of written work about music and music culture, from Tweets and blog posts to news stories and online conversation. The book serves as a yearly snapshot of the cultural conversation had through music and is essential reading for music lovers and general fans of great writing.
Just as music changes, so changes the book. I look upon the shift from Da Capo to independent publishing of the series as an opportunity to reappraise the goals and values that underpin the project, to expand its scope to include more English-language writing from around the globe, and restructure the editorial structure to be more democratic and inclusive.
This project is evolving, and I welcome suggestions from readers, writers, publishers, designers, new media experts, book marketing folks, and any other passionate supporters of the project who may have wisdom to share about the process.
I also welcome testimonials from readers, writers, publishers, former and current BMW contributors, former BMW editors, musicians featured in the book, and anyone else whose life was positively changed by reading or being published in Best Music Writing.
I look forward to working on this project through the year and seeing all of you in September 2012 at a Best Music Writing 2012 reading.
All the best,
Daphne Carr (2006-present, Best Music Writing series editor)
Here is more about the project:
Fundraising (aka Pre-order BMW 2012)
Sign up to keep informed about Best Music Writing news, book launch, or book events
Don't hesitate to contact Daphne Carr, musicwriting at gmail dot com with any questions/concerns.