Ethan Shanfeld
Ethan Shanfeld covers the intersection of music, television and comedy at Variety, reporting on artists, entertainment institutions and the business forces behind them. He writes breaking news, long-form features and cover stories that combine industry context with close attention to creative identity and career arcs. His work spans print, digital and audio, with regular appearances on Variety podcasts and reporting that ranges from pop stardom to courtroom proceedings.
Pop stars and music narratives
Shanfeld’s music coverage centers on the stories behind pop artists and how they navigate legacy, image and performance pressure. In a major cover story on Miley Cyrus, he explores how she reclaims the legacy of “Hannah Montana,” confronts stage fright and weighs speculation about a Super Bowl halftime show, framing her decisions within the demands of contemporary pop fame.
Across his broader reporting and professional experience, he has interviewed musicians including Dave Grohl, members of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Steve Lacy, bringing detailed conversations with artists into features that connect their creative choices to wider cultural currents. His article on “Obsession” star Inde Navarrette helping Sombr fight off insecurity in the romantic “My Body Isn’t Ready” music video extends that focus to collaborations between actors and musicians and the emotional themes embedded in visual music storytelling.
Drawing on a background that includes curating lineups for a large student-run music festival with artists such as Playboi Carti, Dominic Fike, Kaytranada, Omar Apollo and Tinashe, he brings a live-performance and talent-booking perspective to how he writes about the music world.
Music, trials and public image
Shanfeld reports closely on legal proceedings involving high-profile figures in music and how those cases reverberate through pop culture. In his coverage of the Sean “Diddy” Combs verdict, he recounts the split decision in the federal case and offers granular detail from inside the courtroom, including the sequence of verdict announcements, visible reactions from Combs and gasps from observers. He describes the atmosphere among supporters in the public gallery and the celebrations outside the courthouse, capturing how legal outcomes feed into the public image of a music mogul. On Variety’s Daily Variety podcast, he extends that reporting by examining Combs’ position in pop culture and discussing what his future might look like after prison, tying the legal narrative back to branding, fandom and the broader entertainment ecosystem. This strand of his work shows a willingness to stay with a story from trial coverage through its cultural and business implications for the music industry.
Television, comedy and industry dealmaking
Alongside music, Shanfeld reports on the business of television and the creative communities that power it, with a particular emphasis on comedy.
As a TV reporter at Variety, he focuses on activity and trends in the creative community and on dealmaking among networks, streamers and studios, paying special attention to major players in comedy. His work includes tracking cast changes and representation dynamics around “Saturday Night Live,” where he breaks down who is joining, leaving or moving up as the show finalizes its ensemble for Season 51 and explains the annual scramble among top comedy agents and managers. He covers industry disputes such as Jake Paul’s betting app pushing back against HBO over a cease-and-desist letter tied to an “Entourage” reunion advertisement, using that conflict to illustrate how intellectual property, talent and promotion collide in the modern TV and streaming economy.
Earlier in his tenure, he wrote multiple stories per day across film, TV, music and digital desks, building a broad entertainment baseline that informs his current focus on the business side of creative work.
On-air analysis and audio reporting
Shanfeld is a regular voice on Variety’s audio platforms, where he translates his reporting into conversational analysis for industry listeners. On the Strictly Business podcast, he has walked through his Miley Cyrus cover story, discussing his time with her and how she balances legacy, stage fright and career reinvention. In a special Strictly Business episode, he provides a detailed account of the Diddy trial from inside the courtroom, explaining the flow of arguments, the mood among spectators and the reactions to the verdicts. On Daily Variety, he contributes segments on topics such as Hollywood’s legal fights over AI, SNL’s comings and goings for Season 51 and the outlook for Combs after prison, linking legal, business and talent narratives into clear takeaways for the entertainment community. This audio work complements his written coverage and underscores a reporting style built on scene-setting, direct quotes and industry context across music and television.
Across these strands - pop-star profiles, music-related trials, comedy and TV dealmaking, and podcast analysis - Shanfeld maintains a consistent focus on how creative figures and entertainment institutions manage image, opportunity and risk in public. Variety’s editors have praised him as an insightful and enterprising reporter, reflecting a track record of sustained, high-volume coverage across the entertainment and music landscape.
4 more music journalists.
Andrea Dresdale
Andrea Dresdale manages entertainment content at ABC Audio and covers music-driven pop culture for news and audio platforms. Her beat centers on chart-friendly pop, new releases, mainstream artists, awards, residencies and industry milestones. She also reports on legacy acts, anniversaries, nostalgia, remixes, live performances and music’s links to film, television, streaming and social media. Her notable coverage includes Taylor Swift, BTS, The Weeknd, Madonna, The Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Patty Smyth and Miley Cyrus. Her work has appeared through syndicated ABC Audio coverage on outlets such as WRMF, KS95 and Hot 96.7. Dresdale writes concise, timely pieces for radio audiences. She frames songs, tours, specials and career moments through cultural impact, fan appeal, commercial momentum and lasting relevance. Her stories connect current hits with music history and show how artists maintain attention through new releases, collaborations and reinterpretations.
Andrew Weber
Andrew Weber uses accountability reporting to examine who benefits from decisions shaping Austin’s music ecosystem. He reports for KUT as a government accountability reporter and works as a freelance reporter and associate editor for KUT News across the public radio network. His music coverage focuses on musicians’ pay at festivals, health care, mental health services, venue relief and working conditions. He treats SXSW as a workplace and economic system, reporting on low fees, sponsorships, boycotts and the political choices behind the festival. He also covers government and institutional issues, including KUT’s relationship with the University of Texas and the firing of general manager Debbie Hiott. His reporting ranges from nonprofit support systems to experimental sound art. He plays music on the side and brings digital storytelling experience, including an Edward R. Murrow award for social media work.
Andy Greene
Andy Greene is a senior writer at Rolling Stone who stands out for long-form interviews and narrative features that follow artists across entire careers. He focuses on music, especially classic rock performers, live shows, tours, and band dynamics. He runs the interview series Unknown Legends and King For a Day, which center on veteran musicians, sidemen, collaborators, and singers who replace legendary frontmen. He also writes cover stories and major features on high-profile figures, including Radiohead, Howard Stern, Bill Withers, Nathan Fielder, Steve Perry, Pete Townshend, and Stephen King. His reporting relies on access, detailed questioning, and a deep command of rock history. He also writes about film and television when they connect to music and culture.
Anna Grace Lee
Anna Grace Lee is a Vogue reporter who covers pop musicians and celebrities through fashion, weddings, and lifestyle culture, focusing on dresses, events, pets, and subcultures rather than industry news. She writes scene-driven features that place entertainers in vivid settings, from villas to underground food markets, and treats music-adjacent stories as fashion and craftsmanship narratives. Her Dua Lipa Sicily wedding coverage shows how she frames a wedding dress as a haute couture moment and a pop-cultural milestone, emphasizing design, making, and handwork. Her Millie Bobby Brown miniature poodle piece reflects a consistent interest in celebrity pets, fandom, and off-stage persona. She also reports lifestyle features like Brooklyn’s buzziest underground cheese sale, embedding in niche food scenes. At Vogue she contributes to weddings, celebrity, living, and Met Gala coverage, and maintains a portfolio of culture and lifestyle work built around entertainment-adjacent storytelling.