Marcus K. Dowling

I am the culture.
Multiple-time award-winning journalist.
Literary inquiries: katherine at

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

Six years in four minutes. Call it my sizzle reel.

But also understand that, currently, using my math, it's been more than six years.

Essentially, what feels like 20 years ago, I started a journey. In real time, 20 years ago, I started another journey. Timelines are crossing in my life. I'm living in the glitch in the matrix.

Fixing that. More soon.

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

🚨 AN UPDATE 🚨

I'm proud to announce that my Sound of Next America project has partnered with the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville (@ABCNashville ) on a charitable, tax-deductible fundraising campaign to support 18 months of research in 24 U.S. regions. The project, spotlighting regional culture and sounds, will examine Nashville’s influence, and aims to sustain diverse, unique cultural narratives across the music industry.

Many thanks to the Music Community Foundation's Executive Director, Rondal Robinson, and @JackieMarushka for their assistance.

https://t.co/21U90iomx8

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

@SteveKiviat @Veeps Yep. Sure did. However, I'm still very much there and it's all, yes, very much re-structured, but still VERY operational.

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

Weekly, for @veeps, I offer a newsletter update of my honest perspectives about music industry trends.

This week, I addressed the notion that rock and roll could be ready for the start of another three-decade-long revival. What, exactly, that means for the genre is unknown, but the moment certainly feels more forthcoming than ever.

https://t.co/p4EOdbg2DN

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

Weekly, for @Veeps, I offer a newsletter update of my honest perspectives about music industry trends.

This week, I tripled down in my belief that an unprecedented bluegrass mainstream moment could be afoot. Listen to the work from artists including @BillyStrings, @delmccouryband, East Nash Grass, @bronwynfiddle, @mollytuttle, @shelbass, Sister Sadie, Jaelee Roberts, and more, and you're potentially hearing a least-anticipated to most-wanted evolution occurring.

https://t.co/2NbD0TTqNZ

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

@MrDariusCarter @CatalystWrestle My brother. Thank you, ALWAYS.

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

@Jenn_Tisdale THANK YOU, FRIEND.

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

🚨 I'M LEAVING NASHVILLE (KINDA) 🚨

I'm launching an ambitious new side project, "The Sound of Next America." Why? Nashville's music scene is commercially dominant, but mass production risks diluting authenticity. Thus, I'm setting out to visit 24 cities over 18 months to highlight overlooked regional artists and scenes crucial to the preservation and expansion of authenticity in American popular music.

https://t.co/xmoUix3rDj

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

@EugeneObah Thanks, brother!

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

For my Substack Culture At Large, I finally sat down with about a year's worth of thoughts on the mainstream musical monoculture we're slowly developing at the core of the industry, how that happened, why it's an issue, and how we move beyond it.

https://t.co/eRuy5bJtWq

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

For realla, baby...

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

Gideon checked out, and he left it, no doubt...

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

@mabinti6 HAHAHAHA!

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

Do you don't you want me to love you?

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

For @AltPress, I spoke with @KeoBand_ about their debut album, "Put a Smile on for Me," and how lead singer Finn Keogh believes that UK grunge is emerging as a "super-tight community of bands in the United Kingdom is making a classic sound feel very modern."

https://t.co/WXFB3b3cyH

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

It's been 10 years since @MarenMorris' debut album "Hero" sparked what's evolved into a mainstream pop surge for country's top-tier female performers. Grateful to @jessiejodillon, @lauraveltz, and Derek Wells for taking the time to walk me through the DNA of what's allowed the moment to emerge and sustain itself.

https://t.co/l4aauikfSY

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

Weekly, for @veeps, I offer a newsletter update of my honest perspectives about music industry trends.

This week, I wrote about why the music industry must embrace a new all-in-one metric for success that encapsulates the power of physical sales, digital downloads, streaming-equivalent units, catalog market value capitalization, touring, fan community growth on social media, brand partnerships aligned with the rollout of albums and singles, live event engagement tracked via social media posting and content creation, plus the cross-platform velocity of how fast an artist can verticalize dominating conversation in niche online spaces to broader cultural discussion.

https://t.co/cpMHq005bO

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

It's morning again in America.
This is Culture At Large.
(Much) more soon.

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

"Black outlaws have always succeeded when they master multiple aesthetics while seamlessly occupying multiple universes."

Here's my review of @ShaboozeysJeans' “The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales.”

It's more than probably worth reading.

https://t.co/sk9nbTH1RH

[Marcus K. Dowling @marcuskdowling]

Weekly, for @Veeps, I offer a newsletter update of my honest perspectives about music industry trends.

This week, for those ear-weary of country's pop moment, I offered a thought regarding the possibility that UK grunge and post-punk's growth is priming itself for a "least anticipated to most wanted" American moment.

https://t.co/xgjLY8cWMe