Musikkritik als notwendige Institution
Jan Jekal, Rebecca Spilker, Stephan Rehm Rozanes, Lennart Brauwers (Mod.)
It has never been easier to discover new music releases. At the same time, the conditions under which they are discussed are changing rapidly: music magazines are disappearing, editorial teams are shrinking, and algorithms increasingly determine which cultural content becomes visible.
Against this backdrop, this talk explores the social and cultural significance of music criticism – not only as a tool for orientation, but as part of a broader public conversation. Does art require critical discourse in order to develop social relevance, and is this practice a democratic good worth protecting? From traditional reviews and podcasts to video essays and social media: what possibilities and limitations do the different formats bring with them, and how might journalistic commentary be reimagined under the conditions of digital public life?
The discussion will also address the responsibilities criticism assumes within an increasingly fragmented media landscape, and the role it plays in providing historical context for music.
Music journalist and author Stephan Rehm Rozanes, freelance cultural journalist and author Jan Jekal, and writer Rebecca Spilker will come together to discuss these questions. The panel is moderated by Lennart Brauwers, who regularly writes about music and pop culture.
Stephan Rehm Rozanes, born in Munich in 1980, has been part of the editorial team at Musikexpress since 2007 and is currently a member of its editorial leadership. His recent books include »Oasis. 100 Seiten«, »Back for Good: Warum uns die Musik der 90er nicht loslässt«, and »The Show Must Go On: Queen – die Bandbiographie«.
Rebecca Spilker, born in Hamburg in 1968, works as a freelance pop journalist and writes for publications including Musikexpress, Konkret, taz, and Kaput – Magazin für Insolvenz & Pop, as well as various online outlets. Her most recent books are »Prince. 100 Seiten« and »Mega!«.
Jan Jekal, born in Kiel in 1993, is a freelance cultural journalist whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Die Zeit, and Tagesspiegel, among others, specialising in film, literature, and music. In 2026, he published »Paranoia in Hollywood. Wie die USA exilierte Künstler erst retteten und dann verfolgten 1941–1953«.
Lennart Brauwers lives in Cologne, where he works as a freelance cultural journalist. He writes for publications including Kaput – Magazin für Insolvenz & Pop, Musikexpress, Stadtrevue, and HHV Mag. In addition, he appears regularly as a pop critic on radio and performs as a musician in various bands. In 2025, he was nominated for the International Music Journalism Award.
