Welcome to BEAK, a publication that materialises at a moment when music criticism finds itself caught between algorithmic determinism and the dying gasps of legacy media.

BEAK is a magazine for music writing that refutes the logic of autoplay and the chatter of algorithmic metrics.

BEAK will publish interviews, criticism and cultural essays that locate music in social and economic terms: how a record circulates, who funds it, how it asks an audience to listen. The tone is precise, occasionally theoretical when it helps, and never sentimental.

BEAK prizes evidence over hot takes and cultural history over surface-level trend pieces.

Content appears on Substack and BEAK social platforms. The first print edition is scheduled for December 2025, accompanied by a launch event in Bristol. Contributors include writers, photographers and artists working at the edges of experimental and propular practice.

BEAK will uphold a commitment to music writing that respects both the intelligence of its readers and the complexity of its subject matter. If you're tired of algorithmic recommendations and fancy joining me in examining the spaces where sound meets society, culture, and politics, BEAK welcomes you with open arms.