Puja Patel

Puja Patel is a prominent figure in the music journalism industry, currently serving as the Editor-in-Chief of Pitchfork, a leading music publication. She made history in 2019 by becoming the first woman to hold this position at Pitchfork, which has been influential in shaping music criticism and culture since its inception. Under her leadership, the publication has focused on enhancing diversity in its music reviews and festival coverage, particularly championing voices from black and queer communities.13

Before her role at Pitchfork, Patel held significant editorial positions at various media outlets. She was the editor of SPIN, served as the culture editor for Deadspin, and contributed as a columnist for both Village Voice and MTV. Her writing has also appeared in notable publications such as Rolling Stone, Washington Post, VICE, and FADER.12

In addition to her editorial work, Patel is actively involved in educational initiatives; she serves on the board of NYU’s Clive Davis Institute and is a founding board member of Building Beats, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing music education to underserved youth in New York City.12

Puja Patel's career reflects her commitment to fostering inclusivity within the music industry and her influence continues to resonate through her editorial choices and community involvement.