SoulTracks is an American online magazine that publishes music reviews, biographies and news.[1][2] The website was founded in 2003 by Chris Rizik, and by its fourth year of operation was characterized as “the nation’s most popular soul music website with over 3 million annual visits.”[3] CBS news has reported that SoulTracks annual “Readers’ Choice Awards” are “the leading awards in the world celebrating independent soul music.”[4]
History
SoulTracks was established in 2003 as a digital platform dedicated to contemporary and classic soul music at a time when mainstream coverage of the genre had declined.[5] Founder Chris Rizik, a Michigan venture capitalist and CEO of Renaissance Venture Capital, created the site to provide consistent editorial coverage of soul and R&B artists and releases.[6][7] Over time, the publication has expanded its editorial scope to include features, retrospectives, RSS feeds, events, and multiple curated Spotify playlists.[8][9] SoulTracks’s website is visited worldwide from 140 countries,[10] with its core audience located in the US, UK, Germany, France and Italy.[11]
Editorial focus
The site primarily covers soul, R&B, and related genres, including neo-soul and contemporary jazz-influenced vocal music. Its content includes music news, album reviews, artist interviews, and feature articles highlighting trends within the genre as well as new music, including its “First Listen”, “Lost Gems”, and “Another Groove” series. Regular contributors include Howard Dukes, formerly a senior reporter for the South Bend Tribune, Justin Kantor, a music journalist for AllMusic, and Robb Patryk, a partner and music lawyer at Hughes Hubbard & Reed, among others.[12][13][14] [15]
Since founding SoulTracks in 2003, publisher and editor Chris Rizik has served as the publication’s primary editorial voice, writing commentary and features focused on soul and R&B music. Rizik has been interviewed by media outlets and podcasts regarding the evolution of soul music and SoulTracks, independent music journalism, and the role of SoulTracks within the genre community.[16][17][18]
Influence & Use
In his published research guide to soul and R&B music, Professor Eddie S. Meadows[19] recommends SoulTracks as a resource, noting that “[t]he site is thorough and easily navigated. The publisher, editor and writers have solid standing in blues scholarship.”[20] The Archives of African American Music and Culture at Indiana University also recommends Soultracks as an “[o]nline resource dedicated to classic and modern soul music.”[21] Reed College, Bellevue College and Northwestern University likewise also recommend the site to researchers of soul music.[22][23][24] SoulTracks has been cited as a source in graduate-level music scholarship, including a Harvard doctoral dissertation, among others.[25][26] Legal scholars at Chapman University Law Review cited SoulTracks when analyzing media reception surrounding high-profile copyright disputes in the peer-reviewed article “Casting the First Stone: The Future of Music Copyright Infringement Law After Blurred Lines, Stay with Me, and Uptown Funk”.[27] Music magazines, newspapers, other online media as well as promoters and live music venues have also relied on SoulTracks as a source of biographical and other information about soul/R&B artists.[28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]
SoulTracks Awards
SoulTracks presents the annual SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Awards, which recognize artists and recordings in soul and R&B music.[38][39] Urban music media in the US and abroad cover the winners.[40]
References
- ^ “Alfred Cramer, Musicians & Composers of the 20th Century, Vol 5 at p. 1739 (Salem Press 2009)“, Archive.org, retrieved May 14, 2026.
- ^ “About SoulTracks“, SoulTracks.com, retrieved May 19, 2026.
- ^ “Soultracks launches expanded and redesigned website“, Metromodemedia.com, June 7, 2007, retrieved May 18, 2026.
- ^ “Detroit’s SoulTracks.com Celebrates Soul Music Week”, cbsnews.com, February 14, 2013 and retrieved May 21, 2026.
- ^ “Flint Native Chris Rizik’s SoulTracks honors soul in Motown”, mlive.com, November 15, 2007 and retrieved May 18, 2026.
- ^ “Chris Rizik: Music Fan First”, iheart.com. April 9, 2026 and retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ^ “Double Lives: Chris Rizik”, Metromedia.com, February 14, 2008 and retrieved May 19, 2026.
- ^ “SoulTracks.com Spotify Profile”, Spotify.com, retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ^ “Blues, Funk, Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Hip Hop and Rap: A Research and Information Guide by Eddie S. Meadows (Routledge 2010) “, Books.Google.com, retrieved May 14, 2026.
- ^ “Chris Rizik: Michigan’s Dean of Venture Capital & The King of Soul Tracks”, www.gomuskox.com, April 21, 2021 and retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ “SoulTracks.com Web Traffic Statistics”, Semrush.com, retrieved May 19, 2026.
- ^ “Justin Kantor Biography“, AllMusic.com, retrieved May 21, 2026.
- ^ “Dukes Says Love of Community Instilled at an Early Age“, News.iu.edu, July 22, 2025 retrieved May 18, 2026.
- ^ “Robb Patryk Profile“, HughesHubbard.com, retrieved May 19, 2026.
- ^ “About SoulTracks“, SoulTracks.com, retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ^ “AI, Soul and Michigan Startups: Chris Rizik“, www.YouTube.com, retrieved May 21, 2026.
- ^ “IRTS! Live Welcomes Chris Rizik, Founder of SoulTracks“, YouTube.com, retrieved May 21, 2026.
- ^ “Chris Rizik, Venture Capitalist & The King of Soul Tracks, Joins The Herd Has Spoken Podcast“, www.wab.org, January 5, 2022 and retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ “Authors’ Index: Eddie Meadows“, Bloomsbury.com, retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ “Eddie S. Meadows, Blues, Funk, Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Hip Hop and Rap: A Research and Information Guide (Routledge 2010)“, Books.Google.com, retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ “IU: More Resources“, Aaamc.indiana.edu.com, retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ “Electronic Resources for Black Studies“, libguides.reed.edu, retrieved May 21, 2026.
- ^ “Black Studies: NULibraries Collections & Resource“, libguides.Northwestern.edu, retrieved May 21, 2026.
- ^ “Electronic Resources for Black Studies: Music & Sound“, bellevuecollege.libguides.com, retrieved May 21, 2026.
- ^ “Dr. Charrise Monet Barron, Crossover for Christ: Contemporary Gospel since the 1990s“, dash.harvard.edu, May 12, 2017 at pp. 213-214 and retrieved May 21, 2026.
- ^ “Dr. Dragana D. Anđelić, The Poetics of Darkness: Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, and Beth Hart“, uvidok.rcub.bg.ac.rs, University of Belgrade, May 12, 2025 at p. 69 and retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ^ “The Future of Music Copyright Infringement Law After Blurred Lines“, digitalcommons.chapman.edu, retrieved May 21, 2026.
- ^ “Lindsey Webster and Stokely Reinvent “Two Hearts”“, Eurweb.com, February 18, 2026 and retrieved April 30, 2026.
- ^ “Iconic R&B Group Singer Has Died“, Pennlive.com, May 15, 2026 and retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ “Grammy Award Winning Vocalist Gregory Porter to Appear February 21“, www.hamilton.edu, February 19, 2015 and retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ “Walt Maddox of the Marcels Dies at 88“, www.theboneonline.com, April 3, 2026 and retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ “New “WABE Presents SOUNDS LIKE ATL” Live-Music Series Launches at City Winery“, www.wab.org, January 5, 2022 and retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ “Legendary R&B group heartbroken as second member dies in a month’s time“, www.leighvalleylive.com, May 23, 2026 and retrieved May 26, 2026.
- ^ “Carl Carlton, ‘She’s a Bad Mama Jama’ Singer, Dead at 72“, RollingStone.com, December 15, 2025 and retrieved May 26, 2026.
- ^ “Music News Digest, May 4, 2020“, ca.billboard.com, retrieved May 26, 2026.
- ^ “Joyce Sims, R&B singer-songwriter, dies aged 63“, theguardian.com, October 22, 2022, retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ^ “Musician Bernard Wright Has Died At 58“, bet.com, May 20, 2022, retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ^ “SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Awards Voting Begins”, CBSnews.com, October 24, 2010 and retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ^ “SoulTracks.com Readers’ Vote Detroit Soul Music’s Greatest City”, CBSnews.com, March 14, 2011 and retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ “SoulTracks Honors Melissa Morgan with Lifetime Achievement Award”, Eurweb.com, December 1, 2023 and retrieved April 29, 2026.