Ted Gioia, author of The History of Jazz and Music: A Subversive History, announces the launch today of a newsletter focused on music, books and culture. The newsletter, entitled Culture Notes of an Honest Broker, will be available for both free and paid subscriptions on the Substack platform.
“The Honest Broker,” Gioia explains, “aims to be a trustworthy guide to music, books, and culture—with a mix of longform essays, reviews, commentary, links, observations, and amusements. The perspective is both historical and up-to-date. Readers will find in-depth coverage here of everything from the ritual sex music of ancient Mesopotamia to the latest twists and turns of non-fungible music tokens.”
“I know how difficult it is to find honest, reliable guidance in matters of music and culture,” Gioia adds. “Newspapers have downsized their music and culture coverage to the point of near extinction. There once were full-time jazz writers at every major newspaper in the United States, but I doubt there’s even one left now. And the same is true of other categories of arts coverage. Book reviews, concert reviews, and full-length culture features ought to be put on the endangered species list.”
“I’m committed to offering smart, expansive coverage that will go beyond what readers can find elsewhere. My main focus will be music, but all facets of cultural activity and innovation will be part of my purview.”
The newsletter will be launched on the Substack platform. “Substack is growing at a remarkable pace, and for a good reason,” Gioia explains. “It provides the most fair and supportive environment I’ve encountered for writers. And they empower writers on every front, from financial matters to questions of intellectual property. This is the right place for me to take my vocation to the next level.”
More information is available at Ted Gioia / Substack
Ted Gioia is a pianist, critic, scholar, historian and educator. He is author of 11 books, including The History of Jazz, Delta Blues—both honored by the New York Times on their list of 100 notable books of the year. His three books on the social history of music—Work Songs, Healing Songs, and Love Songs—have each been honored with the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award. Gioia holds degrees from Stanford and Oxford, and previously served on the faculty of Stanford University. Praised as one of the leading music historians of our day, Gioia is a preeminent guide to songs of the past, present, and future.
