Wikipedia:WikiProject Albums/Sources/About.com Critics Table
The reliability of Dotdash Meredith (previously titled About.com) is debated. Some writers have expertise in music criticism, some do not. The following is a guide to which Dotdash critics are reliable as sources on music-related articles. This list arose out of a consensus regarding how an Dotdash critic can be considered a reliable source. Generally, if they can be demonstrated as having professional expertise in music journalism or criticism outside of Dotdash, they are considered reliable and marked as "Yes" below. Do not cite critics that are marked as "No" in the discussion. Additional critics may be listed, but make sure to confirm their reliability if you intend to cite them. You also can add them to the list, with a rationale as to why they are or are not reliable. Note that much of About.com's content was taken off-line or redirected. The links to the site below are archival links.
| Critic | Genre | Reliable? | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Adaso | Hip-hop/Rap | Yes | Written for Vibe, LA Weekly and XXL, Houston Press (here), cited by MTV. Also founded and is currently editor-in-chief of The Rap Up. |
| Melissa Bobbitt | 90s rock | Yes | Has written for Alternative Press and PopMatters (here) |
| Chad Bowar | Heavy metal | Yes | Wrote for Loudwire. (here) |
| Chris Caggiano | Theatre | Yes | Teaches courses in musical-theater history, arts criticism and the neuroscience of music at the Boston Conservatory, where he is a full-time faculty member. (here) |
| Tom Campagna | Heavy metal | Yes | Former writer for Metal Injection (here), occasional contributor to No Clean Singing (here) |
| Anthony Carew | Alternative music | Yes | Wrote for Rolling Stone, The Age (here), and The Sydney Morning Herald (here) |
| Ryan Cooper | Punk | No | About.com bio claims his work has appeared in Alternative Press. Unable to confirm this through any other source. |
| Ben Corbett | Folk | Yes | Has written for numerous music publications |
| Dan Drago | Heavy metal | No | No major writing contributions |
| Robert Fontenot | Oldies | Yes | Contributes to OffBeat (here). Has also worked for AOL and USA Today, according to About.com bio. |
| David E. Gehlke | Heavy metal | Yes | Writer for the now defunct magazine Throat Culture. Currently a writer for Blistering and Metal Maniacs |
| Aaron M. Green | Classical | No | Orchestral conductor and completed the "NEA Arts Journalism Institute in Classical Music and Opera at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism" according to About.com bio. However, no reviews by this critic for a publication other than About.com have been found. |
| Tim Grierson | Rock | Yes | Wrote for Blender (here) and Rolling Stone (here). |
| Reverend Keith A. Gordon | Blues | Yes | Has written for AllMusic (here) and has also written a book The Other Side of Nashville |
| Ray Van Horn, Jr. | Heavy metal | Yes | Has written for numerous papers, magazines and websites, as well as conducting interviews and concert photography. His personal blog, The Metal Minute, was awarded Best Personal Blog Award for 2009 by Metal Hammer. At least two books have cited Ray Van Horn's reviews. |
| Tijana Ilich | Latin | No | Reviews by Ilich are discussed in multiple sources, but there is no evidence of any journalism outside of About.com |
| http://christianmusic.about.com/bio/Kim-Jones-6624.htm Kim Jones | Christian music/gospel | Yes | Writes for Music Times (here) and Hallels, the latter of which she also worked for as a managing editor. |
| Andrew Kapper | Heavy metal | Yes | Writes for Planet Loud |
| Bill Lamb | Pop | Yes | Contributes on music at the Wisconsin Gazette (here) |
| http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/p/Todd-Lyons.htm Todd Lyon | Heavy metal | Yes | Wrote for several "local music publications" as well as Creem. |
| Dan Marsicano | Heavy metal | Yes | Music journalist and critic for 411Mania |
| Juan Mesa | Latin | Yes | Was an editor for Billboard En Español (here) |
| Justin M. Norton | Heavy metal, punk | Yes | Has written for numerous news outlets and magazines, including The Associated Press, Decibel, Stereogum, The Oklahoman, Rolling Stone, Hellbound.ca, Invisible Oranges, and MetalSucks, along with many others. |
| Mark Edward Nero | R&B | Yes | Wrote a weekly column for The San Diego Union-Tribune (here). Work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Daily News, The Boston Globe and Pasadena Star-News, according to About.com bio |
| Ben Norman | Dance/Electronic | No | Unable to find any information regarding any other professional work. |
| "Metal" George Pacheco | Heavy metal | Yes | Contributing editor to Metal Maniacs, staff writer at CBS Boston, Zero Tolerance, Outburn, AMP, Hails and Horns, Rue Morgue Magazine, and Blistering.com. Freelance writer for The Standard-Times. |
| Steve Peake | 80s music | No | Unable to find any information regarding any other professional work. |
| Carlos Quintana | Latin | No | Was "actively involved in the elaboration of the Latin music database for the Yahoo! Music site" according to About.com bio. An article he has written for About.com has been used by the site of the Institute of Latin America Studies at Anhui University (here). However, no reviews by this critic for a publication other than About.com have been found. |
| Megan Romer | World | Yes | Written for No Depression (here). Marketing director of Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance (here). |
| Kim Ruehl | Folk | Yes | Writer for No Depression (here). Has worked for Billboard (here) and Yes! (here). |
| Dave Schalek | Heavy metal | No | No major writing contributions. About.com bio claims he wrote for several webzines, but these are not named. |
| Jason Shawhan | Dance/Electronic | No | Member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and has contributed film reviews to The Observer (here), but no experience in music criticism. |
| Robert Silva | Country | Yes | Has written for AMC.com (here) and All Media Guide according to résumé (here) |
| Ken Simmons | R&B/Soul | Yes | Has years of experience in R&B radio and broadcast journalism, and has written for The Boombox. |
| Warren Truitt | Children's music | Yes | Children's librarian; wrote an article on children's music in School Library Journal |
| Verity | Jazz | Yes | Has written reviews for Relix (here) and American Songwriter, albeit for genres other than jazz. (here) |
| Dave White | Classic rock | Yes | Radio DJ and news reporter, included tenure at classic rock station WKLO of Louisville, Kentucky. |
| Natalie Zed | Heavy metal | Yes | Writer and former managing editor for Canada Arts Connect Magazine, writer for Hellbound.com, Metallus Maximus, and Alternative Matter. |