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Steven Spoerl on Muck Rack

Steven Spoerl

Verified
Madison
As seen in: Tone Madison, NPR, Rolling Stone, Consequence, PopMatters, AdHoc, POST TRASH
Covers:  Music, TV/Film, Entertainment, Politics, and Culture.
music editor: @tonemsn | appearances: rolling stone, npr, consequence, etsy, mrr, etc.

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Steven Spoerl’s Biography

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Music Editor at Tone Madison. Writer. Photographer. Videographer.
Steven created the blog Heartbreaking Bravery in 2013 and his work as a multimedia journalist has appeared in Rolling Stone, Consequence of Sound, Etsy, Muzzle of Bees, and countless other publications.

Steven Spoerl’s Journalist Portfolio

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Johanna Warren: All Will Be Healed

Johanna Warren: All Will Be Healed

A multimedia cover story on indie-folk singer/songwriter Johanna Warren. Original version of the piece includ…

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Author Page - Tone Madison

Author Page - Tone Madison

Landing page for all Tone Madison pieces submitted as an individual author. I am currently under Tone Madison…

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2016: A Year's Worth of Memories

2016: A Year's Worth of Memories

A series wrap on what was an annual collaborative writing retrospective that focused on personal highlights t…

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Album Review of Porridge Radio "Every Bad" - The Grey Estates

Album Review of Porridge Radio "Every Bad" - The Grey Estates

A feature review on Porridge Radio's most recent full-length.

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The Spaceship has big ambitions for live-streaming and beyond - Tone Madison

The Spaceship has big ambitions for live-streaming and beyond - Tone Madison

A reported piece on a new venue in Madison, WI that leveraged the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic into …

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10 Years: Spring 2011-2021 (A Visual Retrospective)

10 Years: Spring 2011-2021 (A Visual Retrospective)

Live music photography and videography highlights with an accompanying essay on the nature of effective photo…

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Articles

The meanings of Tone Madison

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By Scott Gordon Verified, Christina Lieffring Verified, Steven Spoerl Verified, Grant Phipps Verified, Oona Mackesey-Green
| Tone Madison Verified
This is our newsletter-first column, Microtones. It runs on the site on Fridays, but you can get it in your inbox on Thursdays by signing up for our email newsletter. I’ve been processing a whole mix of feelings the past few weeks. A lot can change in 12 years, including one’s priorities and one’s stamina for writing “Madison, Wisconsin is doing Madison, Wisconsin wrong, actually” takes. (Don’t get me wrong—if any of those takes over the years upset you, I’m still not sorry.
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Achieving a broader focus through music photojournalism in 2025

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By Steven Spoerl Verified
| Tone Madison Verified
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Crush Scene and Holly And The Nice Lions at The Vines in Sauk City, WI. Photos by Steven Spoerl. This is our newsletter-first column, Microtones. It runs on the site on Fridays, but you can get it in your inbox on Thursdays by signing up for our email newsletter. In the first three installments of this series, I put an emphasis on exploring trends impacting the functionality of Madison’s music landscape.
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Tone Madison's favorite records of 2025

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By Steven Spoerl Verified
| Tone Madison Verified
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... A banner of the cover art from each of the 20 selected releases. In the introduction for our favorite songs of the year list, I keyed in on the rapid, ongoing escalation of fascism and the importance of preserving and forwarding culture in the face of that threat. That’s still on the mind of everyone who contributes to Tone Madison, and we know it’s likely weighing on our readers as well.
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Interview

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What was your first job as a journalist?

Staff writer at PopMatters.

How is social media changing news?

By expanding informational access and opening a pathway to on-the-ground reporting, social media has highlighted the need for transparency.

Who's your favorite fictional journalist?

Richard Ayoade (as visualized by Richard Ayoade in the literary work 'Ayoade On Ayoade: A Cinematic Odyssey').