11 Entertainment News Sites That Top the Charts
From time to time, an industry or subject inspires us to create a best-of list. In case you’ve missed some of these, you can find them here. These are sites entertainment news sites that produce out-of-this-world coverage in a crowded arena. If you think your site should be considered, give us a holler and tell us why.
Entertainment is a quick-moving, sometimes unpredictable industry, so keeping up with the latest news can seem overwhelming.
Entertainment news is more than just celebrity gossip, although that’s definitely part of it. Journalists for this beat know that it’s not for the faint of heart. They must be aggressive and focus on the minute details so that pop culture fans can get their daily fix.
Luckily, there are many news sites that not only stay up to date on real-time news, but also provide artist interviews, new release reviews, and more. And since the pandemic, many of us have upped the time we spend binging new shows, listening to podcasts, and signing up for all the streaming services – so the audience for entertainment news is a big one.
Here are some of our favorite sites that are sure to keep you in the know with entertainment and music news.
For even more entertainment content, check out our lists from 2016 and 2019.
1. The A.V. Club
“Pop culture obsessives writing for the pop culture obsessed.” This pretty much sums it up. The A.V. Club is published by G/O Media and provides entertainment news, interviews, and features. There’s a great selection of in-depth profiles on movies, TV, and music you may not have heard of yet.
The site is also just plain fun to explore.
Plan to stay here for a while because you’ll also get sucked in by A.V.’s sister sites like Deadspin (sports), Gizmodo (tech), and The Takeout (food), all accessible from the bar at the top of the page.
A.V. Club’s recommendations posts are some of my favorites. The “Watch This” posts provide regular movie recommendations, usually more nostalgic films that are inspired by new releases or premieres. And check out the AUX section for the latest on podcasts, books, and comics.
Stories to read right now:
- The Daniel Craig Bond movies, ranked by A.V. Club
- Mike Flanagan’s next limited series for Netflix is The Fall Of The House Of Usher
- Call-center thriller The Guilty gives Jake Gyllenhaal a volatile one-man show
Matt Amodio’s 38-game Jeopardy! winning streak is over https://t.co/OmHIwDbFb4 pic.twitter.com/d88x8YlBOD
— The A.V. Club (@TheAVClub) October 12, 2021
2. Bandcamp
Bandcamp is all music, all the time. Its model is unique because, in addition to the interviews, features, and “Album of the Day” posts, the site also has a streaming option and merchandise for fans so they can support their favorite artists right from the site.
The “Discover” section can be used to find new music filtered by location, format, genre, and even release date. The site also makes it convenient to listen to artists’ tracks by embedding a play bar in most articles.
According to the Bandcamp site, the company’s mission is “to create the best possible service for artists and labels to share and earn money from their music, and for fans to discover and enjoy it.”
Stories to read/listen to right now:
- The Best Ambient on Bandcamp: September 2021
- Exploring Full of Hell’s Pulverizing Musical Universe
- ’95 is Nothing Without You: Connecting the Dots of ’90s Indie Rock in Boston
“I Want the Door to Open” by @Lillielalamusic is our Album of the Day. https://t.co/dP3Rg3VcVJ
— bandcamp (@Bandcamp) October 12, 2021
3. Deadline Hollywood
Deadline is a trade publication covering the latest entertainment industry news – from box office results to upcoming projects, union news, castings, and more.
The site has been covering the entertainment industry since 2006 and claims to get more reader comments on its stories than all other entertainment news sites combined. It also includes sections on International news, film festivals, and the latest awards nominees and winners.
Stories to read right now:
- Alan Horn Retiring As Chief Creative Officer Of Disney Studios Content
- ‘Twins’ Sequel ‘Triplets’ Set: Tracy Morgan Joins Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito
- Golden Globes Moving Forward With Plans To Bestow Honors This Year
‘Home Sweet Home Alone’ Trailer: First Look At Disney+ Revival Of Holiday Film Franchise https://t.co/Wslki2S9pZ
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) October 12, 2021
4. Heavy
New York-based Heavy.com has been around longer than most people think – it was founded in 1999. The company also owns Ahoramismo.com, a Spanish-language news and information portal.
Heavy became well-known for its “5 Fast Facts” articles. These posts aggregate key points about trending news and topics, making them a good source to get the news quickly.
If you’re looking to watch the latest episode of a show online, Heavy also provides details on where to find it. Heavy.com can be relied on to provide timely, straightforward news from the entertainment industry.
Stories to read right now:
- WATCH: Sister Trio Nails Ariana Grande Song in ‘The Voice’ Blind Audition
- Why Lisa Rinna Is Being Sued by the Paparazzi
- ‘Cobra Kai’ Stars Reveal How They Prepare for Intense Fight Scenes
5. IndieWire
IndieWire began in July 1996 as an online chat room and has grown to a respected news outlet covering the business and art of entertainment.
The site has regular updates on the latest films, TV shows, podcasts, and award predictions. Check out the IndieWire Influencers series to read profiles about the innovators, creators, and filmmakers shaping how the best films and television series get made. The latest series focuses on creators of nonfiction.
Stories to read right now:
- Best Books on Horror Movies: Directors, Iconic Characters, and Special Effects
- Oscars 2022: Best International Feature Film Predictions
- The Best Movie Soundtracks of 2021 So Far
Memo to Distributors: Buy These 2021 Fall Film Festival Standouts https://t.co/qwk6iUayD3 pic.twitter.com/TS0KFFNgL4
— IndieWire (@IndieWire) October 12, 2021
6. Pitchfork
Pitchfork is an online magazine that we’ve recognized before, and it’s still deserving of a spot on the list. Founded in 1996, Pitchfork is called the most trusted voice in music and stages the popular Pitchfork Music Festival, with events in Chicago, London, Paris, and Berlin.
The site has daily coverage of indie rock, hip-hop, electronic, pop, metal, and experimental music. There’s a huge selection of thoughtful album and track reviews, as well as the ability to search for an artist and pull all their relevant news and reviews.
Search the Lists & Guides section for some interesting listicles and rankings, like the “The 45 Most Anticipated Albums of Fall 2021.”
Stories to read right now:
- How We Listened to Music Over the Last 25 Years
- The National’s Aaron and Bryce Dessner Announce Soundtrack for Peter Dinklage–Starring Musical Film Cyrano
- R. Kelly Channels Removed From YouTube, but Songs Can Remain
These are the innovators shaping the future of music
We can’t wait to see what they do next https://t.co/nFqy5duQM1
— Pitchfork (@pitchfork) October 11, 2021
7. Rolling Stone
No music and entertainment list would be complete without the iconic Rolling Stone. The biweekly magazine has been around since 1967. The publication has a long legacy as a beloved magazine, and it’s also appeared in one of our previous posts.
In addition to the trusted Rolling Stone reviews and recommendations for music, movies, and TV, you can also find a mix of politics, sports, and culture news.
Stories to read right now:
- The Unexpected Appeal of Ray Romano Saying ‘Zwan,’ and Other ‘SNL’ Musical Guest Intros
- ‘What Happened, Brittany Murphy?’: 8 Bombshells From the New Documentary
- The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
Go behind the scenes at Madonna and Maluma's Musicians on Musicians cover shoot with these exclusive photos https://t.co/wwIKmWkzW0
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) October 12, 2021
8. Upworthy
Upworthy has a unique mission to change what the world pays attention to and deliver “stories that are worth your time – and that make the world a better place.”
Started in 2012, Upworthy is usually credited with popularizing the heavily emotional, must-click headline style. Over the last few years, the site has moved toward creating more original articles and videos. In addition to entertainment news, you also can find stories on travel, food, beauty, and scientific discoveries.
The site offers entertainment news that’s uplifting and aims to bring readers together. It can be a breath of fresh air, especially these days, to read stories that just make you feel good.
Stories to read right now:
- Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus is now cancer free, and fans are rejoicing at the news
- ‘Squid Game’—find out why the world can’t escape its tentacle grasp
9. Variety
Variety is a weekly entertainment trade magazine that’s been around since 1905. Industry professionals trust Variety for its news, film reviews, box office results, business analyses, and more.
If you want to know which actor was cast in an upcoming film, read an album review for your favorite band, or check which TV show had the highest ratings last night, this is the place for you.
Another unique feature on the site, the Pilot Scorecard has up-to-the-minute listings of pilot and series orders, and you can filter by the network, genre, and status (series pick up, terminated pilot, etc.).
Stories to read right now:
- DC’s New Superman, Jon Kent, Comes Out as Bisexual in Upcoming Comic
- Andrew Lloyd Webber on Broadway’s Reopening, ‘Cinderella’ and Why the ‘Cats’ Movie Caused Him to Buy a Dog
- ‘Succession,’ Stronger Than Ever, Builds Its Third Season Around a Family Civil War: TV Review
Paramount Plus Readies for Europe Launch: ‘We’d Love to Unseat Netflix’ – Mipcom https://t.co/xIxfcY1LFi
— Variety (@Variety) October 12, 2021
10. Vibe
Founded by music industry legend Quincy Jones, Vibe is a music and entertainment magazine that caters to a diverse audience and celebrates Black culture.
Vibe is considered hip-hop and R&B’s premier publication and cultural hub. There’s a large focus on music and in addition to album and song reviews, writers also review live performances.
Features include interviews with up-and-coming artists, actors, and music video directors, to name a few.
Stories to read right now:
- Tyler, The Creator Accepts Inaugural Rock The Bells Cultural Influence Award At 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards
- How Festivals Are Striving To Keep Concertgoers Safe, Despite Ongoing COVID-19 Restrictions
- Donnie Simpson Announces The Return Of ‘Video Soul,’ 25 Years After Its End
“Honestly, I don’t feel as respected in hip-hop or many music places in general." https://t.co/vsTOgFAYVy
— VIBE Magazine (@VibeMagazine) October 11, 2021
11. Vulture
Vulture is New York Media’s culture and entertainment site. The site is described as “the go-to entertainment news site for the culturally obsessed.”
In the TV section, Vulture has a great feature that allows you to select from some of the most popular shows on television and it will show you all the news for that program, including episode recaps, scheduling, and cast details.
Vulture’s music reporting includes music charts updates, looks at new music videos, and more. And for the listicle lovers, there’s a whole section for that. The site also covers books, theater, art, and podcasts.
Stories to read right now:
- This Year’s Best Actress Race Could Spark a Full-On Stan War
- The Best TV of 2021 (So Far)
- Jane Lynch, Ramin Karimloo Join the Broadway Revival of Funny Girl
Our biweekly guide on what to see, hear, watch, and read https://t.co/tcSpXx5uG9
— Vulture (@vulture) October 12, 2021
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Rocky Parker is the Digital Content Lead at Cision PR Newswire. She works with journalists, bloggers, and content creators to create their targeted newsfeeds from PR Newswire for Journalists. Rocky has also counseled on content writing best practices. Check out her previous posts for Beyond Bylines. In her free time, Rocky can usually be found cooking, binge-watching a new show, or playing with her puppy, Hudson.
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