First Floor

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Essays

Sixteen Great Electronic Records from 2016 That You Probably Forgot
Putting the internet's latest nostalgic impulse to good use.
 • Shawn Reynaldo
Your Favorite Artist Is Probably Starting a Newsletter
Frustrated with the algorithm and the underlying rigidity of social media, musicians are looking for new ways to communicate with the public.
 • Shawn Reynaldo
The Majors Have Flipped on AI—Get Ready for a New Era of “Fan Empowerment,” “Statistical Authorship” and Corporate Consolidation
With Universal and Warner Cutting Deals with Udio, Suno, KLAY and Stability AI, the musical landscape is about to be upended, though the majors remain…
 • Frankie Pizá
No One Is Going to Defend Boiler Room
After a year of unceasing protests and a looming round of substantial layoffs, the streaming giant appears to be in real trouble—and has remarkably few…
 • Shawn Reynaldo
Superstruct Is Playing the Victim
Following months of virtual silence, the UK-based festival giant has begun to loudly push back against its critics, denying their claims while…
 • Shawn Reynaldo
Bandcamp Was Supposed to Be Dead by Now
After the company's sale to Songtradr triggered a tidal wave of bad press and bad vibes, the platform has quietly continued to do its own thing, and…
 • Shawn Reynaldo
The Normalization of Exploitation
In an era when public criticism tends to be both loud and fleeting, the music industry's bad actors simply wait for the outrage to fade—and resignation…
 • Shawn Reynaldo
Sónar's Founders Sold Out—and Now They're Out of the Festival Entirely
Adding to an already tumultuous year, the long-running Barcelona event is suddenly getting new leadership—and highlighting the risks of culture engaging…
 • Shawn Reynaldo
Main Character Music Journalism
With publications, journalists and content creators all catering to social media, the question of who is doing the talking is starting to become just as…
 • Shawn Reynaldo
Five Little Labels That More People Should Know
With labels—especially small ones—increasingly being omitted from the music conversation, First Floor highlights five imprints whose excellent work…
 • Shawn Reynaldo
Attacking Artists Is Easy, but Attacking Industry Norms Might Actually Make a Difference
A three-part proposal to increase the effectiveness of boycott movements within electronic music.
 • Shawn Reynaldo
Electronic Music Has a Scab Problem
With more and more artists joining boycott movements, how do we reckon with those who instead choose to actively undercut their peers?
 • Shawn Reynaldo
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