Tuned In

Being a musician today is hard. Of course, it always has been. But the music industry has changed drastically over the last 50 years—heck, even the last 10. Today, it isn’t enough to simply make good music. Artists are expected to be content creators, social media managers, marketers, and performers all at once. Success is…

What is good music? That’s a question I’ve been asking a lot lately. It’s actually kind of been driving me a little crazy. Who has the right to determine the quality of music? And what do we mean when we say whether something is good or bad? Music is such a subjective experience that it’s…

“It’s pretty much everything.” That’s how Dogs With Hats’ lead vocalist and guitarist, Sam Shrier, described music. Everything. Dogs With Hats is a newer Chicago band, and my favorite local discovery of 2025. When I sat down to talk with Shrier, I quickly realized that music isn’t simply a hobby for him; it’s the center…