Chris Willman
Chris Willman is Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic at Variety. He joined the publication in 2018 and is based in Los Angeles. Willman began his career at the Los Angeles Times, going on to spend 13 years at Entertainment Weekly as a senior writer and critic. He has been a regular contributor to Billboard, the Hollywood Reporter and TV Guide; his work has additionally appeared in Rolling Stone, New York Magazine, Spin, Parade and other publications. He is the author of the 2005 book “Rednecks & Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music,” cited by Stephen King as one of the three best music books of all time. Since joining Variety, he has received eight first-place honors from the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards and seven from the SoCal Journalism Awards. The L.A. Press Club named him its Entertainment Journalist of the Year in 2020. Recent Articles
75%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
88%
Examples:
- The author displays a subtle preference for certain artists such as Olivia Rodrigo and Adele in the Grammys predictions article.
- The author shows a slight bias towards Taylor Swift, praising her music and songwriting abilities.
Conflicts of Interest
62%
Examples:
- In the 2024 Grammys predictions article, the author mentions personal preferences not being involved in their choices but then lists specific nominees in each category.
Contradictions
86%
Examples:
- In the Beach Boys documentary interview, there is a contradiction regarding Brian Wilson's retirement and his impact on the band during that time.
- The Olivia Rodrigo article mentions 'Pretty Isn't Pretty', 'Love Is Embarrassing', and 'Making the Bed' as songs from her setlist, which could be seen as a slight repetition of information.
Deceptions
70%
Examples:
- In the same article, the author presents a sensationalist view of the Adele vs Beyonce battle and Jon Batiste's possible win at the Grammys.
- The Olivia Rodrigo article describes her as having charisma which serves as a special effect enough, potentially exaggerating her qualities.
Recent Articles
Country Star Zach Bryan Previews New Album at Pittsburgh's Brillobox and Other Timeless Bars
Broke On: Friday, 21 June 2024Country star Zach Bryan announces the release of his fifth album, 'The Great American Bar Scene', on July 4, 2024. In preparation, he selects 23 bars nationwide for album previews, including Brillobox in Pittsburgh and Bloomfield. 
Cyndi Lauper Announces Farewell Tour: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun in 23 North American Cities
Broke On: Monday, 03 June 2024Iconic pop singer Cyndi Lauper announces her farewell tour, 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour', consisting of 23 North American cities. The tour begins on October 18 in Montreal and includes shows at Madison Square Garden, Bridgestone Arena, and Chase Center. Tickets go on sale starting Tuesday with opening acts yet to be announced. :max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(1012x461:1014x463)/dennis-wilson-1-c4e5f294f5e64f9c9279a429d12a13d1.jpg)
Exploring the Innovative Decade and a Half of The Beach Boys: A Musical Journey during the 'Pet Sounds' Era
Broke On: Wednesday, 28 December 1983The Beach Boys documentary explores the first decade and a half of the iconic American band's career, focusing on their innovative work during the 'Pet Sounds' era and their friendly rivalry with The Beatles. Brian Wilson, the band's primary songwriter, struggled with pressure to perform live but they continued to make resonating music. Their comeback in the mid-70s solidified their place in music history, inspiring generations of artists with intricate harmonies and catchy melodies. 
Olivia Rodrigo Kicks Off Guts World Tour in Palm Springs, California: Setlist and Highlights from Opening Night
Broke On: Saturday, 24 February 2024Olivia Rodrigo's Guts world tour kicked off on February 23, 2024 in Palm Springs, California. The highly anticipated tour is based on her second studio album of the same name which was released in September 2023 and earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Rodrigo's first tour took place in 2019 to support her debut album Sour. The Ultimate Guide to the 2024 Grammy Awards: Nominees, Special Merit Awards and Trustees Awards
Broke On: Saturday, 03 February 2024The 2024 Grammy Awards are coming up on February 4th at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with SZA leading the nominations and a digital program book available for fans who can't attend in person. 
Melanie Safka, Woodstock Singer-Songwriter Dies at 76
Broke On: Wednesday, 31 January 2024Melanie Safka, a singer-songwriter known for her hit singles 'Brand New Key' and 'Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)', died at age 76. Her death was announced by her children. No cause of death has been disclosed. Taylor Swift's `1989 (Taylor's Version)` Re-Release: A Look at the Album and Its Reception
Broke On: Sunday, 12 November 2023Taylor Swift has re-released her 2014 album, `1989`, in a new version titled `1989 (Taylor's Version)`. The re-release is part of Swift's ongoing effort to regain control of her master recordings, which were sold without her consent in 2019. The new version of `1989` includes all of the original tracks, as well as some previously unreleased songs from the `1989` era. In celebration of the album's re-release, fast food chain Wendy's offered free fries to customers who used a specific code in their mobile app.