Learn how to get the best quotes and insights when speaking to singers and songwriters
Any aspiring hotshot music journalist will want to interview some of the biggest musicians, stars and band members.
Getting to that stage (pun intended) requires a lot of hard work and determination. Classically, you will start small with local acts and touring musicians at your nearby venue, and work your way up. Or, during a pandemic, you are much more likely to do phone interviews.
Whatever your interviewing situation, Vicky Greer, entertainment editor of Empoword Journalism offers a guide to interviewing musicians. The key is to do your research thoroughly and scan press releases for the best angles to quiz them about.
"Look at what points they emphasise – an interesting feature of the tour or a particular song that gets mentioned. The artist will want to talk about these things, so they’re a good place to start with questioning," she writes.
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