Derrick Rossignol is UPROXXâs Music News Editor and a leading voice in contemporary music journalism. Based in Portland, Maine, his work combines breaking news acuity with deep cultural analysis, particularly around genre evolution and celebrity influence.
With 150+ articles annually reaching 12M+ monthly readers, Rossignolâs work sits at the intersection of music journalism and cultural commentary. His ability to transform industry developments into accessible narratives makes him essential reading for artists and executives alike.
Rossignolâs journey began in Portland, Maine, where he honed his craft as a freelance writer for regional publications before breaking into national outlets like The Boston Globe and The Guardian. His early work demonstrated a knack for bridging niche musical subcultures with mainstream appeal, particularly through pieces that explored:
This foundation led to his 2019 appointment as UPROXXâs Music News Editor, where he now oversees coverage of major industry developments while maintaining a personal byline that averages 8-10 breaking news stories weekly.
Rossignolâs exclusive on Drakeâs forthcoming album exemplifies his ability to blend industry sources with cultural analysis. The piece not only broke news about the release timeline but contextualized it within Drakeâs career arc, comparing its anticipated impact to previous era-defining works like Views. By interviewing three anonymous studio collaborators and analyzing social media teasers, Rossignol created a multidimensional portrait of the albumâs creative process that was cited by 42 news outlets within 24 hours of publication.
This real-time festival coverage showcased Rossignolâs talent for synthesizing cultural moments. The article dissected Meganâs strategic collaborations through the lens of hip-hop feminism, tracing lineage from Queen Latifahâs 1990s anthems to contemporary empowerment narratives. Accompanying photography and fan reaction tweets created an immersive experience that drove 2.1 million social shares, cementing it as definitive documentation of Coachellaâs most talked-about performance.
Rossignol transformed a standard lineup announcement into a commentary on genre evolution. By contrasting J Balvinâs reggaeton roots with Noah Kahanâs folk-pop crossover success, he highlighted the festivalâs strategic booking philosophy. The piece included exclusive quotes from organizers about balancing legacy acts with emerging artists, making it essential reading for industry professionals analyzing festival economics.
Rossignol consistently amplifies projects that bridge musical worlds, as seen in his coverage of Post Maloneâs country pivot and Tylaâs rap experiments. Successful pitches should highlight unexpected partnerships between artists from disparate genres, particularly those challenging industry categorization. Example: A country artist collaborating with an EDM producer would align with his documented interest in boundary-pushing projects.
With 14 festival-related articles in Q1 2025 alone, Rossignol prioritizes stories that reveal booking trends or cultural shifts. Pitches should go beyond basic lineup announcements to offer insights into curation strategies, demographic targeting, or unique fan experiences. His Coachella livestream guide demonstrates particular interest in accessibility innovations.
While Rossignol avoids nostalgia-driven content, heâs shown interest in legacy acts reinventing themselves (e.g., Snoop Dogg mentoring 21 Savage). Effective pitches might propose interviews about how veteran artists adapt to streaming-era challenges or mentor new generations, avoiding simple âlook backâ retrospectives.
His investigative piece on Justin Bieberâs Drew House dispute revealed a knack for analyzing celebrity business moves. Pitches should explore how artists monetize their brands beyond music, particularly in fashion, tech investments, or social media venturesâbut must avoid generic endorsements in favor of strategic partnerships.
The Montreux Jazz Festival coverage demonstrates Rossignolâs interest in international genre fusion. Pitches could explore how African rhythms influence Latin trap or K-popâs impact on Western pop production, provided they include concrete examples and artist access.
While Rossignol maintains a focus on journalistic output over personal accolades, his work has:
âThe best music journalism doesnât just report trendsâit anticipates where culture is heading while honoring its roots.â
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Music, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
