A member of the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 20 years, he has written five books, including biographies of Johnny Cash, Paul Simon and Randy Newman.

He wrote a series of articles about artists including Johnny Cash and Janis Joplin for the paper before he was hired full-time,[2][3] replacing Pete Johnson as rock critic in 1970.

[7] In addition to writing extensively about Dylan, Springsteen, David Bowie, and U2, Hilburn was an early champion of artists including John Prine, Patti Smith, The Eagles, Tom Petty, Prince, Elvis Costello, Guns N' Roses, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Ice Cube, Public Enemy, Eminem, The White Stripes, Arcade Fire, and X.

It focused on the work and influence of John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Phil Spector, Michael Jackson, U2, Kurt Cobain, and N.W.A.

A four-star review in USA Today described the book as "a straight-shooting tour de force", noting Hilburn’s "reportorial skill" and "nuanced attention to the dynamics and the substance of Simon’s artistry."

[23] A Few Words in Defense of Our Country explored Newman's catalog of socially conscious songs that attacked what he saw as shortcomings in the American character, including racism, sexism and greed.

[24][25] Hilburn, who lives in Los Angeles, hosts a weekly Wednesday evening music program, Rock 'n' Roll Times, on 885 The SoCal Sound, a public broadcasting radio station in Southern California.