Masthead
About First Press
Music journalism in four colors.
First Press is an independent music publication covering pop, rock, K-pop, and R&B — four sections, each taken seriously on its own terms. The name is the mission: in record manufacturing, the first pressing is the one collectors chase, the closest version to the source. We try to write that way — close to the source, before the narrative hardens.
What we publish
Features and criticism that treat the music business as part of the music — rollouts, systems, scenes, and the economics underneath the art. Coming soon: The Q&A, our long-form email interview series with artists across all four sections.
Why four sections
Most publications treat pop as the mainstream and everything else as a niche. We don't. Pop, rock, K-pop, and R&B are four of the most vital engines in global music, each with its own industry, audience, and rules — and each deserves coverage written by people who take it seriously, not coverage adapted from somewhere else's template.
Who writes this
Every piece currently runs under the Staff Writer byline — one editorial voice while the masthead grows. Interviews and guest contributions will carry full credits.