Billboard’s Most Famous Music Reporter Is the Last Person You’d Expect

Jimmy Buffett lived a life that most people only dream of having. No boss, no fixed hours, a beach as your office, and a guitar as your computer. He wasn’t one to fit into the mold of corporate America, and he certainly would not have a nine-to-five job. However, regarding the latter, Buffett did once have a nine-to-five job right after college, as he was a reporter for Billboard Magzine between 1969 and 1970.

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After Jimmy Buffett graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi, he moved to Nashville to pursue a music career. Though, at first, Buffett’s music career couldn’t financially support him, so he got a full-time steady job as a music reporter with Billboard Magazine. And consequently, he’s undeniably the publication’s most famous alumnus.

Though, given that Buffett set out to be a musician, he seemingly knew this career path wasn’t exactly for him. Regardless he still looked back at the time fondly and even acknowledged how it helped his music career.

Good Reviews & Free Music—Jimmy Buffett’s Time as a Music Reporter

In 2021, Jimmy Buffett spoke with his former publication and rehashed the details of the job and how they benefited him and his career. However, mainly, Buffett spoke about how he could never give anyone a bad review and how he really enjoyed all the free music people gave him.

Regarding reviews, he told Billboard, “I can never give anybody a bad review because I knew how hard it was to get up there.” “Now, there has to be something toxic that [a review] says, but I can never do it because I knew how hard it was. I know performers who are scared to death to get up there and still do it,” concluded Buffett. This comment seemingly proves that Buffett was always truly a musician at heart, and never a journalist. Nonetheless, he still did the thing, just not for very long.

In addition to the inability to give a bad review, Buffett also remembered all the free music he acquired. Specifically, Buffett really enjoyed it when he received Elton John’s 1970 album, Tumbleweed Connection. “When I got [to Billboard], my editor told me, ‘Just let them know you’re a Billboard reporter and give them your address and they’ll give you records so hopefully you review them or you’ll say something about them. So I went ‘free albums? No sh—!” recalled Jimmy Buffett.

Even though Jimmy Buffett didn’t stick with journalism for too long, it seems the guy had a good time and respects the craft. Though, he was seemingly sick of having a real job. As a matter of fact, in his autobiography, A Pirate Looks at Fifty, he called his job at Billboard, “the only real job I would have in my adult life.”

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