(function(){var s=function(){__flash__removeCallback=function(i,n){if(i)i[n]=null;};window.setTimeout(s,10);};s();})();

A Rolling Stone profile of Bakersfield's Merle Haggard is among the stories collected in "Best Music Writing 2010," the latest in an excellent annual series that highlights the best in music journalism (I'm still working through the 2009 edition).

"Soundcheck" recently talked with Ann Powers, chief pop critic at the LA Times and editor of this year's volume, and Rolling Stone editor Jason Fine, author of the Haggard story. I'd link to the Haggard profile but I can't find it anywhere online. So, if you want to read it, you apparently have to buy it.

Continuing a trend in recent years is growing respect for independent bloggers and other alternative sources. A quick glance at the table of contents shows less than a dozen mainstream publications made the cut. Here's to diversity.