Melissa Ruggieri: From MTV to music writer

When Melissa Ruggieri came home from high school, MTV was the first show she’d flick on. Now, Ruggieri likes to tell her parents that those countless hours of MTV worked out. She’s a reporter for the AJC, and this music-lover covers the Atlanta music and entertainment scene.
When she was in high school, Ruggieri was inspired by a local music writer. “I realized that, hey, this is actually a job! I knew that music writing was what I wanted to do.”
She went on to write for her high school paper, and she kept up her drive to write in college. Ruggieri graduated with a master’s in English from Virginia Commonwealth University. She stayed on her writing path, and went back to school. A few years later, she graduated from from Florida International University with a bachelor’s in journalism.
She and I share a passion for music, and I had the privilege to interview her.
Naturally, the first question I wanted to ask was her favorite concert that she’s covered. Her answer was instant — U2’s performance at the Baltimore Arena. While U2 always puts on an amazing show, this one was particularly impactful to Ruggieri. The date was October 23, 2001, a little more than a month after 9/11.
“There was something magical about that show,” she said.
The Irish band made a powerful connection to their American audience. The band closed out the show with “Peace On Earth,” and the names of the 9/11 victims flashed on the giant screen behind them. Ruggieri still remembers the jacket that Bono wore. On the outside, it was a simple, jean jacket, but on the inside, it was lined with the American flag.
I want to experience moments like these, so I eagerly launched our interview into a multitude of questions. Surprisingly, I wasn’t intimidated — it was like talking to a musical, kindred spirit.
Questions From An Aspiring Music Writer
Q: How has the internet positively and negatively impacted your work?
A: Instead of being crippled to the internet, Ruggieri has learned how to adapt and thrive.
Its reach and immediacy are two of her favorite parts about it.
“It’s cool to see that 50 people in Australia have read your article,” she said.
Additionally, she can connect with readers and respond to them much quicker than she used to. This is a great strategy for her to build her readership and see what content her readers want. She can write an article, post it and get feedback all on the same day — a valuable tool for any writer. The internet hasn’t scared her away. Instead, she’s confident to face these changes.
Unfortunately, Ruggieri said that the prevalence of amateur bloggers can damage her credibility.
“People feel that if they’re interested in something that they must be an expert on something, when that’s not always necessarily true,” she said. “It makes me bristle a little bit when these bloggers put themselves on the same playing field as experienced, professional writers.”
She was quick to assure me, though, that she doesn’t want to discourage new writers. Simply, she just wants them to be aware that there is a difference between a music fan and a trained professional.
Q: What obstacles did you face in the early days of your career, or do you still face now?
A: “Entertainment doesn’t seem to be taken as seriously as other subjects,” she said.
This mindset within the journalism community hasn’t changed. To make her voice heard, Ruggieri fights to prove that her content is just as important as schoolboard stories.
“I’ve always felt like I have to stand up for what I cover and make it newsworthy. There’s room for everything,” she said.
If 50,000 people come out to a Taylor Swift concert, that says something about our society and culture. Capturing moments like these shows the connection that fans have, to both the music and the performer.
“I get a kick out of watching people at shows like Taylor Swift or One Direction,” she said. “You see young kids get so excited, and it reminds you of why you got into this business in the first place.”
Ruggieri writes these reviews for fans who were unable to attend concerts, or who want to re-live their concert memories.
Q: Have promoters ever tried to bribe you to write a favorable review of a bad performance?
A: Surprisingly, her answer to this question was no.
She explained that although she has relationships with many promoters, both parties share an understanding that she has a job to do.
Ruggieri is always fair and honest in her reviews. If something goes wrong during a show, she usually likes to reach out to the artist or promoter to understand what went wrong before she reports.
Even though she has never had to experience a situation where she’s bribed or pressured, journalistic values are very important to her.
“I always stay true to my own ethics and integrity when it comes to reporting,” she said.
Q: How have you kept your content original?
A: While she admitted that distinguishing yourself from other music writers can be a difficult task, Ruggieri utilizes a few different strategies to combat the competition.
Her goal in writing is to not only entertain the reader, but also for them to walk away having learned something. For instance, she does her research on bands and artists, and includes these facts in her reviews; anything from band background to what artists have recently tweeted are fair game.
She tries to avoid writing clickbait articles that have missing factual details and substance. Instead, she likes to give advice, like parking, buying tickets or beating crowds, to concert-goers ahead of the show.

One of Ruggieri’s other greatest weapons is her original reporting.
“Not everyone on the internet does interviews with celebrities,” she said. “You always want to try and set yourself apart and give people content they can’t get anywhere else.”
She has done this by interviewing famous bands/artists like Paul Stanley of Kiss, The Indigo Girls (review in link) and Sugarland. It may seem intimidating to interview such famous artists, but Ruggieri suggests talking to them like any other person. Artists typically enjoy this method, and it can lead to great conversation. Howard Stern is a major inspiration for Ruggieri, and she tries to replicate his style by asking artists personal questions.

She also suggests researching the artist before the interview — the artist appreciates it, and it makes her look more prepared.
Q: Finally, I asked Ruggieri if she had any tips for young journalists who are interested in music entertainment. Since this is the field of journalism that I want to work in, I need all the advice I can get.
A: Simply, read and question everything.
Ruggieri is constantly reading other writers, with subjects ranging from hard news to fashion. No matter what you read, seeing other artists’ and their styles helps you develop your own.
She carries around a pencil and notepad with her to every concert to take notes. Even if you’re just heading to a concert for fun, she suggests taking notes anyways. Observation is an important element for any type of reporter, and writers should always be asking themselves “why?”
“Instead of saying that a concert was good, ask why it was good,” she suggested. “Analyze, be observant and crystallize your thoughts. The earlier you start observing, the earlier you’ll be a better writer.”
Check out our full interview here.