Swim Into The Sound Acquired by Condé Nast

WILMINGTON, NC and NEW YORK, NY, Monday, April 1, 2024 

Condé Nast announced today its acquisition of Swim Into The Sound, the leading provider of emo album reviews, DIY music takes, and semi-professional write-ups. Swim Into The Sound will be the latest brand added to the company’s media portfolio, existing alongside relatively esteemed publications like Pitchfork, WIRED, and Gentleman’s Quarterly. As part of this transition, all of Swim Into The Sound’s content will be brought over to Bon Appétit due to a massive overlap in audience.

Founded by Taylor Grimes in 2015, Swim Into The Sound is a music blog focused on emo, punk, and independent music. Through in-depth and uniquely voiced reporting, the site dives into the culture and stories of the music industry, providing a distinct and authoritative point of view. 

Grimes will move to a senior position within Condé Nast as part of the acquisition, along with the small handful of writers who agreed to stay through the transition. On the acquisition, Condé Nast said today in a press release:

“Swim Into The Sound is one of the least-respected music publication brands and seamlessly complements Pitchfork and Ars Technica to create the premier group of leading editorial brands covering the emerging dork-emo music sector,” said Deborah Brett, Global Chief Business Officer of Condé Nast. “Swim Into The Sound’s unique and moderately engaged audience of music enthusiasts also creates new opportunities for our advertisers.”

When asked about the acquisition and whether or not this went against his blog’s stated ideals, Grimes had this to say from behind a pair of Balenciaga shades:

“Fuck y'all. I got my bag, I'm out! Have fun squabbling on Twitter, I’m going to go live on a man-made island off the coast of Mexico, see you in the funny papers!” He then proceeded to blow a puff of cigar smoke in our reporter’s face before cackling and peeling out of our parking lot in a 2024 McLaren 750S, adorned with a bumper sticker reading ‘eat my dust, jabronis.’