Whether you’re an up and coming artist looking for exposure, or simply an RnB and soul lover looking for new music, there are dozens of soul and RnB blogs out there. The difficult part is actually finding the quality ones. So to help you on your journey of music discovery, we’ve done the hard work for you and pulled together some of the best blogs we know of in the niche. A lot of these blogs are actively seeking submissions, so they’re ideal for connecting new artists with music lovers. Let’s dive in – here are some of the best soul and RnB music blogs active today.
Soul Surge
UK-based blog Soul Surge describe themselves as ‘a platform dedicated to showcasing the work of artists from the diaspora, connecting them to wider audiences both online and offline.’ Their blog regularly features up and coming UK black artists, with a focus on new names in RnB, soul, and jazz. Check out their Soul Surge Signal podcast too.
We Are Soul
We Are Soul describe themselves as ‘a platform for creatives to engage and connect through music and art.’ They curate music and art through visual storytelling, social media content, playlists, their blog and more. They also run an amazing charity project, Soul Purpose. Everything they feature is top drawer quality. Give them a follow on Instagram to stay in the loop.
Somewhere Soul
I personally follow Somewhere Soul who always have their finger on the pulse of emerging soul, neo-soul, and jazz. As well as reliably featuring fresh quality artists in the genre, they offer some great music industry advice on their Instagram channel. Check out their New Music Friday playlists on Spotify.
RNBRIT
As the name suggests, RNBrit covers all things UK RnB. Thanks to their exclusive focus on and commitment to the cause of British RnB (Rhythm and British, as they call it), you know 100% what you are getting with these folks every time – and everything they feature pops. So if RnB is your thing – especially for the UK crowd – then make sure you get straight on this!
Mi-Soul
London-based Mi-Soul is a blog, and, primarily, a radio station.Dozens of DJs make up their team who continually broadcast the best in soul, RnB, jazz and related soulful sounds. The channel was founded by the people who took Kiss FM ‘from pirate to Plc’ – so they certainly know what they’re doing! Tune in for non-stop quality via DAB radio or listen on their website
Soul Tracks
US-based Soul Tracks is one of the longest-running soul blogs in the business. The website might look a bit clunky, but the sheer volume of releases they cover is astonishing – they know everything that’s going on in the world of soul, both past and present, making the site something of an archive for sou musicl through the years. Have a dig around here.
R&B Didn’t Die
Prolific publishers dedicated to British RnB, R&B Didn’t Die are super active with their blog, playlists, and podcast, constantly sifting through the latest and greatest RnB and related genres. As the name says, and if it wasn’t obvious, RnB is alive and well, and R&B Didn’t Die is proving it every day with a steady stream of RnB sounds.
This is RnB
This Is RnB is one of the larger platforms on this list, established nearly a decade ago, and with a global reach. Recognised as an authority throughout the music industry, This Is RnB doesn’t feature so many indie artists as other blogs on this list, but there’s no denying – it’s a blog that every RnB artist wants to be featured on.
Sounds So Beautiful
Sounds So Beautiful is a French and English blog featuring jazz, hip-hop, and neo-soul from around the world. Thanks to the fact that it doesn’t focus solely on Anglophone countries, Sounds So Beautiful offers exposure to a whole new world of soul releases. They hit the sweet spot of covering artists that are on the rise as well as newcomers.
Soul and Jazz and Funk
The long-established and well-respected Soul and Jazz and Funk covers the latest of these genres in the UK and further afield, curated by long-time soul writers, Charles Waring and Bill Buckley (formerly of Blues and Soul magazine). Check them out for reviews and releases as well as festival news and wider industry gossip.
Header image: Erykah Badu at Umbria Jazz 2012 (Perugia)
