The Day the Music Critic Died: Pitchfork’s Decline and the Loss of Seriousness in Art

This opinion piece argues that the decline of Pitchfork signifies the death of serious music criticism, reflecting a broader cultural shift where entertainment values have undermined artistic standards. Citing Susan Sontag’s 1996 reflections, the author contends that seriousness has lost credibility, replaced by consumerist transgressions and identity-driven evaluations typical of modern internet commentary. The article traces the history of music journalism, from print magazines like Rolling Stone and NME applying high-art scrutiny to rock and pop, to the digital transition that decimated most legacy publications. Pitchfork, founded by Ryan Schreiber in 1996, emerged as the sole survivor that defined the new millennium's digital music landscape. It became a cultural powerhouse, influencing careers and establishing a distinct Millennial hipster counter-culture. However, the author suggests that even this last bastion of curated taste has succumbed to the fragmented, brand-oriented, and politically charged nature of contemporary online discourse, leaving art evaluation devoid of the discriminating attention it once commanded.