Jonathan Landrum Jr.
Jonathan Landrum Jr. is an entertainment journalist at The Associated Press who covers music within the wider ecosystem of film, television, sports and culture. His reporting focuses on how artists, institutions and major events shape contemporary popular music, with particular depth in hip-hop, R&B and mainstream pop. He brings long experience across award shows, marquee sporting events and high-profile legal proceedings, so his music stories often sit at the intersection of performance, business and cultural impact.
Music awards and televised moments
Landrum’s music coverage is closely tied to televised spectacles and award shows, where he tracks how live performances and honors reflect broader shifts in the industry. His recent BET Awards reporting has highlighted both legacy and generational change, including a story in which Lauryn Hill is honored, Janet Jackson delivers a standout performance, Teyana Taylor is celebrated, and comedian Druski makes history as the show’s youngest host. He frequently frames these broadcasts through a mix of performance detail, historical context and the show’s role in spotlighting Black music and entertainment brands.
Beyond BET, his professional profiles describe regular coverage of ceremonies such as the Grammys, Emmys, SAG Awards and Oscars, underscoring his comfort moving between red carpets, stages and backstage dynamics when writing about music-centered events.
Hip-hop, R&B and the business of culture
Landrum devotes significant attention to how legal battles and corporate decisions affect hip-hop and R&B, treating these genres as both artistic movements and business empires. In his reporting on Sean “Diddy” Combs, he has explored how a criminal trial ripples through a sprawling set of businesses, connecting courtroom developments to the future of labels, brands and partnerships tied to the artist.
He has also covered corporate maneuvering around Black Entertainment Television, including a piece on Paramount’s decision not to sell a majority stake in BET, which situates the network within wider debates about ownership, value and representation in the entertainment industry. His work on the Tupac Shakur murder trial follows the case through prosecutorial steps and defense strategy, while acknowledging the decades-long weight the killing has carried within hip-hop history and the communities that embraced Shakur’s music.
Across these stories, Landrum’s music beat is distinguished by its focus on consequences - what trials, deals and verdicts mean for artists’ catalogs, cultural influence and the businesses built around them.
High-profile interviews and character-driven stories
Landrum’s portfolio includes extensive interviews and profiles with globally recognized performers and cultural figures, giving his music coverage a strong human focus.
His professional bios cite conversations with Oprah Winfrey, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Janet Jackson, Jay-Z, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, LeBron James, Denzel Washington, Stephen Curry and the late Muhammad Ali, among others, reflecting a comfort level with both musicians and cross-over figures whose careers bridge music, film and sport. He has landed exclusives that bring artists’ voices directly into live debates, such as Tyler Perry’s comments on Georgia’s “heartbeat” abortion law, Oprah Winfrey’s views on Donald Trump’s presidency, and Cardi B’s mixed feelings about not performing at a Super Bowl, each tying personal perspective to high-profile cultural flashpoints. His writing on the life and death of Nipsey Hussle, along with stories about the street art that commemorates the rapper, shows a willingness to stay with a subject beyond breaking news and follow how a musician’s legacy takes shape in public space.
Even outside written features, his appearances offering analysis of Beyoncé’s and Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performances indicate how he carries a narrative and evaluative style from print into on-air commentary about major music moments.
Crossing music, film, sports and global events
Although music is a core focus, Landrum consistently situates it within a broader entertainment field, moving between songs, screens and stadiums. His biographies emphasize coverage of major global events including the Super Bowl, the Oscars, the Grammys and the Paris Olympics, positioning him as a reporter who can follow artists as they shift from studio projects to live performances on some of the world’s biggest stages. That breadth shows up in stories where music coverage sits alongside film, television and comedy, such as his work on Dave Chappelle’s response to backlash, which blends his reporting and photography to capture both the performer’s stance and public conversation around it. In pieces on Super Bowl halftime shows, including coverage of Bad Bunny headlining the Apple Music halftime show, he treats the performance not just as a concert but as a strategic moment for genre visibility, audience reach and brand alignment on a global broadcast.
Across these assignments, Landrum’s distinct contribution on the music beat is the way he treats songs, shows and stars as part of a connected entertainment economy, rather than isolating music from the wider cultural and commercial currents that surround it.
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.