Stereogum was founded in 2002 by Scott Lapatine, who recognized the need for a dedicated online platform to cover the growing indie music scene. The idea for Stereogum came from Lapatine's passion for music and his desire to create a space where fans could discover and discuss new artists and releases. The website's name was inspired by a lyric from the song "Radio #1" by the French electronic duo Air. In January 2020, Lapatine reached an agreement to purchase Stereogum back from the Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group, making it once again an independent publication with Lapatine as the owner and editor-in-chief. Today, Stereogum primarily focuses on covering music news, album reviews, and artist interviews across various genres, with a particular emphasis on indie and alternative music. The website is based in the United States and has become a go-to source for music enthusiasts looking for in-depth coverage of emerging artists, album releases, and industry trends. Stereogum also features regular columns such as "The Number Ones," which reviews and analyzes every #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. **One interesting fact**: Despite being a relatively small, independent music publication, Stereogum has managed to make a significant impact on the music industry. In 2020, as part of a fundraising effort to keep the site operational and independent, Stereogum released an original 55-track compilation of covers of songs from the 2000s by various artists. This compilation, titled "Save Stereogum: An '00s Covers Comp," debuted at #1 on Billboard's Compilation Albums chart and #11 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart, demonstrating the website's influence and the support of its dedicated readership.