Student music journalist wins top award

A BUDDING music journalist from the Warrington Campus of the University of Chester has snapped up a hotly-contested writing accolade.
James Musker, 21, won The Wilko Johnson Writing Award at this year’s Louder Than Words Festival, an event which celebrates the relationship between music and the written word.
The Festival has attracted artists from The Jam, The Clash and Pulp, to personalities such as Hugh Cornwell, Edwyn Collins and Guy Garvey, as well as music journalists, popular music academics, rappers, students and musicians.
James and the other contestants, all vying for the coveted award, were required to enter a 350-word submission, titled: “The Best Things in Life are Free”: Downloads, Streaming, You Tube and Mags- We all like a ‘freebie’ but what does this really mean for the music industry?.
He fought off strong competition with a very engaging article which has since been published in the prestigious Rock’s Backpages journal: http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-best-things-in-life-are-free-downloads-streaming-you-tube-and-mags He also won several music books including one signed by American singer-songwriter, Patti Smith and a weekend pass to the Festival.
James said: “It’s fantastic that, in the midst of this self-promotion centred cultural phase, there are still such outlets as The Wilko Johnson Writing Award that recognise hard work and give it a platform to be celebrated. I’m humbled to have had the opportunity to simply be part of something that promotes such positivity.”
Simon Morrison, programme leader for Music Journalism added: “On behalf of the university, I would like to congratulate James on a great start to his music writing career.
“A major part of the ideology of Louder Than Words, is very much its legacy and The Wilko Johnson Writing Award plays a big part in that, rewarding the best new voices in music writing. University campuses and student newspapers have always been fertile ground for writing talent – now blogs and websites form a new part of the music landscape. This Award will add volume to these words.”
This is the second year that a Music Journalism student from the University of Chester has won The Wilko Johnson Writing Award. Ryan Carse, now in his second year, won the Award in 2014.
Pictured:: (l-r) Award winner, James Musker; Barney Hoskyns, Rock’s Backpages; Jill Adam, Louder Than Words; Tanyel Gumushan (third place), Ella Scott (second place) and David Ward, Bloomsbury Publishing.