Listening Habits

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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

Philly, D.C.: Meet Defector at the Ballpark

Vintage Baseball Stadium Postcard

Defector at the Ballpark

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Israel Daramola

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We Have To Talk About Young Thug

<p>Lindsey Adler is a writer based in Brooklyn. She exclusively covered sports for a decade but has other interests, too.</p>


Lindsey Adler

Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher perform onstage at the Oasis Live '25 - Toronto concert at Rogers Stadium

Oasis Live ’25 – Toronto

Arts And Culture

The Oasis Reunion Tour Has Shaken Up My Gallagher Brother Power Rankings

<p>Mitch Therieau is a writer living in Virginia.</p>


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Mitch Therieau

Marcus Mumford and Alex Ebert and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes perform as part of the Railroad Revival Tour at San Pedro Port of Call on April 22, 2011 in San Pedro, California.

Railroad Revival Tour In Concert – San Pedro, CA

The Tragedy Of “Stomp Clap Hey”

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

People sit in bleachers and lawn chairs in front of a stage at sunset.

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Interviews

An Interview With My Grandmother, Who Knows Everyone In Bluegrass Music

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Rap Music Yearns For The Good Ole Days

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Brandy Jensen

Joni Mitchell posed in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1972

Joni Mitchell

Mods Asleep

A Playlist For Being Chill About Your Crush

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Puja Patel is a writer, editor, and curator who has served as the Editor-in-Chief of Pitchfork and <em>Spin</em>, a culture editor for Deadspin, and a columnist for MTV and the <em>Village Voice</em>. Her work has appeared in publications such as the <em>New Yorker</em>, <em>Harper&#8217;s Bazaar</em>, and <em>Rolling Stone,</em> among others. She serves on the advisory board of NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and Building Beats, a nonprofit organization that provides music education to underserved youth across New York City and Los Angeles.</div>
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Puja Patel

Children Sobbing at Concert

The Cringiest Love Songs That Make Us Cry

<p>Amy Phillips is the former Executive Editor of Pitchfork. She has written for The New York Times Magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Village Voice, and many other publications. A Philadelphia native, she currently lives in Brooklyn.</p>


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Amy Phillips

Amy at 14 in her childhood bedroom (L) / Amy's daughter as a baby in that same room (R).

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Living Through This, Again

<p>Bobby Finger is the co-host of Who? Weekly and the author of the novels <i>The Old Place</i> and <i>Four Squares</i>. His third novel will be released next summer.</p>


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Bobby Finger

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift talk on a podcast.

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Two Showgirls In Love: Travis Kelce And Taylor Swift Have A Chat

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Defector Staff

Thumbs Pointing Downwards

The Worst Songs We Love So Much

<p>Marian Bull is a writer, editor, and potter living in Brooklyn. She writes <a href="https://marianbull.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://marianbull.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1755179401925000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1fEbhNoXERVRom7SEmVfSn">Mess Hall</a>, a cooking newsletter, and is at work on her first book.</p>


Marian Bull

Patrons dance during weekly line dancing lessons

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Stud Country, Queer Line Dancing,  And The Joys Of Being In Sync

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2 small boys playing Street Smart video

A Playlist Of Pop That Sounds Like My Gamer Youth

<p>Tommy Craggs is an editor and writer, late of <i>Game Theory With Bomani Jones</i> on HBO, <i>Mother Jones</i> (no relation), HuffPost, Slate, Gawker Media, and Deadspin. He&#8217;s part of the Flaming Hydra cooperative of independent writers and artists. <a href="https://flaminghydra.com/#/portal/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://flaminghydra.com/%23/portal/signup&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1720555755229000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0dYzV3TRg8TTAptAnFcs6h">Subscribe to the newsletter here</a>.</p>


Tommy Craggs

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Are We Playing It All Wrong?

Dave McKenna

Fans of Elvis Presley (1935-1977) gather to celebrate his memory during an impersonator contest in Memphis.

Elvis Week 1992

Remembering My Elvis Death Week Pilgrimage, 35 Years Later

<div>Jaime Brooks is a writer, musician, and poster who lives in Astoria, Oregon. She has written for <a href="https://thenewinquiry.com/blogs/streaming-services/">The New Inquiry</a> and has a Substack called <a href="https://jaimebrooks.substack.com/">The Seat of Loss</a>.</div>
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Jaime Brooks

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What Caused The Current Country Boom?

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Kathryn Xu

(L-R) Lisa, Jisoo, Rosé and Jennie of BLACKPINK perform onstage at the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

2023 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival – Weekend 2 – Day 2

Has The World’s Biggest K-Pop Group Already Come And Gone?

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Kelsey McKinney

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A Playlist To Escape The Summertime Blues 

<p>Clover Hope is a Brooklyn-based writer and author of the award-winning book <a href="https://store.abramsbooks.com/products/the-motherlode"><i>The Motherlode: 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop</i></a>. Her writing has appeared in <i>Esquire</i>, <i>Men&#8217;s Health</i>, <i>Elle</i>, ESPN, <i>Billboard, </i>and <i>GQ</i>, among others.</p>
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Clover Hope

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The Trials Of Finding Love As A Music Snob


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Sabrina Imbler

Adelie penguins on nests, Antarctica.

How Climate Change Is Transforming The Soundtrack Of The Natural World

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Billy Haisley

Boy in a pedal car. Driving his pedal car on the pavement outside his house.

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A Playlist Of Ear-Splitting Brazilian Funk Ideal For A Long Drive

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Lauren Theisen

Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour"

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour – Toronto, ON

Taylor Swift Turned Me Straight

<p>Jordan Sargent is a writer and music industry professional living in Brooklyn. His work has appeared in Gawker, Pitchfork, Slate, and more.</p>


Jordan Sargent

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There Has Never Been A Better Time To Be A White Rapper

Tina Turner Hugs Cher At The MTV Awards Party

Huddle Up, Take A Knee: It’s Puja Week

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


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Nicholas Russell

Lady Gaga performs onstage during The MAYHEM Ball Tour at The Kia Forum on July 28, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Lady Gaga – The MAYHEM Ball Tour – Los Angeles

Music

No Journey With Lady Gaga Is Ever Wasted

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In Pursuit Of Personal Taste