“The people who talk on the edgier 'Song Exploder' have often made their entire record on their desktop. It's never been easier to compete, but it's never been harder to win, either.”

British music journalist, writer, television presenter, and publishing industry analyst

David Hepworth is a British music journalist, writer, television presenter, and publishing industry analyst. He became a defining figure in British music media in the late 20th century, and is known for helping shape some of the country’s most popular magazines. With Mark Ellen, he helped turn Smash Hits into one of the best-known UK music magazines of the 1980s. He also presented The Old Grey Whistle Test in the 1980s and co-presented the BBC’s Live Aid broadcast in 1985. His work sits at the point where pop journalism, television, and magazine publishing met.