Popjustice is a music website founded in 2000 by UK freelance music journalist Peter Robinson, who has worked for NME, The Guardian, Attitude and many others. It is composed of the work of editor Robinson, features editor Michael Cragg, and a host of contributors.[1]
 | |
Type of site | Music blog, online forum |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Owner | Peter Robinson (editor) |
| Created by | Peter Robinson, various |
| URL | www |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Forum required |
| Launched | 2000 |
| Current status | Online |
The website seeks to celebrate commercial popular music and does this using humour, user interaction, and contacts within the music industry. Its writing style has been compared favourably by a number of critics[like whom?] to that of the now defunct Smash Hits magazine, in that it mixes a passion for pop music with a surreal and biting wit.
The website was relaunched in January 2006 with more features, music downloads and online shop. In November 2006 Popjustice won a Record of the Day PR & Music Journalism Award in the Best Online Music Publication category, with another individual award going to Peter Robinson in the Breaking Music: Writer Of The Year category.
After a semi-hiatus since mid-2021[2] and two posts during 2022, as of 2023[update], the journalism component of the website has migrated to Substack,[3][4] with the Popjustice forums remaining at the original location.
Popjustice £20 Music Prize
editIn 2003, Popjustice set up the Popjustice £20 Music Prize, in order to find the best British pop single of the year, as a parody of the Mercury Music Prize and held on the same night, usually at a bar in Central London.
| Year | Artist | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Girls Aloud | "No Good Advice" |
| 2004 | Rachel Stevens | "Some Girls" |
| 2005 | Girls Aloud | "Wake Me Up" |
| 2006 | Girls Aloud | "Biology" |
| 2007 | Amy Winehouse | "Rehab" |
| 2008 | Girls Aloud | "Call the Shots" |
| 2009 | Girls Aloud | "The Promise" |
| 2010 | Example | "Kickstarts" |
| 2011 | The Saturdays | "Higher" |
| 2012 | Will Young | "Jealousy" |
| 2013 | Chvrches | "The Mother We Share" |
| 2014 | Little Mix | "Move" |
| 2015 | Little Mix | "Black Magic" |
| 2016 | Zayn | "Pillowtalk" |
| 2017 | Little Mix | "Touch" |
| 2018 | Rita Ora | "Anywhere" |
| 2019 | Georgia | "About Work the Dancefloor" |
| 2020 | Dua Lipa | "Physical" |
| 2021 | Laura Mvula | "Got Me" |
| 2022 | Harry Styles | "As It Was" |
| 2023 | Raye featuring 070 Shake | "Escapism" |
Popjustice books and albums
editA series of Popjustice books called Popjustice Idols were published in March 2006. They are illustrated by David Whittle. Drawing inspiration from Roger Hargreaves's Mr Men books, these feature amusing looks at the lives of pop stars. The initial titles were Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Robbie Williams and Eminem with a Take That version released in April 2006. Four more were released in November 2006 featuring Pete Doherty, Elton John, Britney Spears and Michael Jackson.[5] A compilation album was also released in October 2006, titled Popjustice: 100% Solid Pop Music.
References
edit- ^ "Contacting Popjustice". Popjustice. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ^ Robinson, Peter (3 September 2021). ""You asked me not to leave, well here I am again" • Popjustice". Popjustice. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ Popjustice (18 November 2022). "Fine, let's do a Substack then". Popjustice. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ Robinson, Peter. "Popjustice | Peter Robinson | Substack". popjustice.substack.com. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ Robinson, Peter (19 March 2006). "Popjustice's Peter Robinson on the bit of fun that turned into a phenomenon". The Observer. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
External links
edit- Official website
- Lynskey, Dorian (28 November 2003). "Little things we like: Popjustice". The Guardian.
- "Site and sound". The Observer. 19 March 2006.
Ranked #17