Moore founded Pigeons & Planes as a browser-based blog back in 2008. Following a series of ownership changes, the blog’s standalone website is finally back after more than six years offline. 

By Harry Sutton

After its launch in 2008, Pigeons & Planes quickly became a defining voice in online music discovery. Founded by Jacob Moore, the outlet helped define the modern blog era by spotlighting emerging artists before algorithms and playlists took over. Known for sharp editorial taste and early co-signs, P&P built its reputation on thoughtful curation, long-form writing, and genuine enthusiasm for new music.

In 2011, the blog was acquired by Complex — then primarily a youth culture outlet covering music, fashion, and street culture — and operated under its umbrella for years as the blog grew in editorial scope and audience. In 2021, BuzzFeed acquired Complex Networks (including Pigeons & Planes) as part of a strategic expansion into pop culture media. More recently, in 2024, BuzzFeed sold Complex Networks to the livestream commerce platform NTWRK in an all-cash deal, marking another major shift in ownership for the media family that housed P&P.

Throughout these changes, Pigeons & Planes had to adapt to remain a leading force in the world of online music discovery. In 2019, the site’s standalone blog was shuttered, leading the team to shift focus toward short-form social media content. Over the website-less years, the outlet continued to publish occasional editorial work, like the first exclusive interview with 2hollis, but also expanded its scope, producing two compilation albums — featuring handpicked up-and-comers like Kenny Mason, Paris Texas, and Teezo Touchdown — and launching a series of live performances with Medium Sized Backyard. 

In a statement issued today, Moore announced the official re-launch of the Pigeons & Planes website. With the return, P&P comes back to its roots, featuring original editorial, artist profiles, interviews, and discovery-driven coverage alongside the social presence that kept the brand alive while the site was inactive.

Check out our brief QNA with P&P Founder Jacob Moore below!

Harry Sutton: What did you miss the most over the 6+ years P&P’s website was down?

Jacob Moore: The thing I missed most was the ability to work with writers who brought new perspectives, opinions, and expertise on scenes, artists, or music history. I love our team of regular contributors, but there are so many great music writers out there, and I want Pigeons & Planes to be a platform for them, too.

HS: What are your biggest takeaways from the social media-focused era of P&P?

JM: I’m really proud of the work we did over the last years — from our social media presence to the events and compilation albums that we produced. But my biggest takeaway is that we’re all at the mercy of fickle algorithms and changing business models of social media apps that we have no control over. That can be really frustrating to navigate, and the shelf life of social media content feels like it’s getting shorter and shorter.

HS: What are the goals you’re hoping to achieve with the re-launch of the website? What can readers look forward to?

JM: This website is just one part of a bigger vision for Pigeons & Planes in 2026 and beyond. What we want is for this brand to serve music fans like us in the most meaningful ways possible. Some of that might still be through social media, videos, or experiences, but I think long-form writing serves a different purpose, and it’s more important than ever. We’ll be publishing profiles, think pieces, roundtables, maybe even a few lists. More than anything, we just want to have a place for deeper dives, context, curation, and storytelling beyond what works on social media.

Pigeonsandplanes.com is officially back online.