I started Headphone Commute back in 2007, hoping to run it for at least a decade. It is now entering its 19th year, something I couldn’t have predicted then, and still don’t take for granted now. During all this time, the way that we discover and engage with music has changed dramatically. In the last decade, your attention has become the primary currency for social media giants to extract and monetize. The exponential rise of many advanced technologies still threatens to turn the collective creative output into an approximation of a human experience. This last year, in particular, felt pivotal for the existence not only of online journalism but also of communities, record labels, and what we refer to as “the music scene” as a whole. I recognise, dear reader, that I sound pessimistic here. So what are we going to do about it?
Last year, I launched Headphone Community, inviting my loyal supporters and followers to get closer to the artists they admire. Instead of chasing a torrent of new music, I chose to curate a space with a focus: month-long residencies shaped by personal conversations, deeper listening, and behind-the-scenes context. It took a lot more effort than I anticipated, but the response made it apparent – many of you were looking for the same kind of connection. Over time, this experiment became a real community: intimate, intentional, and free from algorithms, content scraping, or automated noise. It also became a platform where your support truly matters in very tangible ways. I heard this feedback directly from the featured artists themselves.
I’m also trying out something new this year. After I sat down to complete my Best of the Year selections, I reached out to a handful of the featured artists and labels to ask whether they would be comfortable with me sharing Bandcamp codes for the selected albums alongside these lists. I hope that these gifts become part of a personal exchange between the musicians and their listeners, not handouts or incentives. And if you’re curious to discover this new space for yourself, you’re welcome to explore it when it feels right. Thank you for your ongoing support, and thank you for continuing to read these honest words on honest music.