Yes! To all of this! I was fortunate enough to spend a few years in the career I dreamed of as a kid—music journalism and criticism. And unfortunate enough to have my career align with the shift from paper to internet. I started at an “alt” weekly, although “alt” is in quotes because the paper was owned by the Village Voice corporation. That should have been a point of pride, but being a part of their ham-fisted attempts to be relevant in the digital world was humiliating. I had a great time writing for a financially independent magazine for a few years, where I had the freedom to explore my own tastes. In the end they couldn’t keep up financially and folded. Even writing for the not-for-profit community radio station near me ended when the board and director decided to use the corporate business model for running their non-profit.
And that’s why I have a day job in copywriting and save my music writing for Substack. It’s disappointing, but I love to see how music journalism keeps reinventing itself when corporations keep trying to kill it.
Beautifully said, Spencer. And may I add Record Crates United and Raven Sings the Blues to the list of smaller music blogs possessing a single informed, passionate, and trustworthy voice.
Reminds me of sad day after 40 some years, I unsubscribed from Rolling Stone…bigger format sucked, no writers I cared to read…so many of my art/music writer friends scrambling…at least Mikal Gilmore still puts stuff out, mostly on Facebook, but I’ll take it…
My first thought when I heard that Pitchfork was getting absorbed into GQ was that it was going to de-platform women as writers, musicians, and readers/listeners. Since men are the primary audience , I fear there will be less content created by women, about women, and for women.
Art - any sort of art - isn’t compatible with our current wildly out-of-balance version of capitalism. When everything is about perfecting the algorithm and customer acquisition and mergers and buy outs and the hoarding of resources, there’s no room for anyone except a handful of artists and art-supporting careers. The machine cannibalizes itself until it’s a bloated sac of protoplasm, and eventually begins to become non-functional. Yet that’s held up as being successful.
However! I don’t care what a million zillion corporate machines do to maximize their profits and minimize our choice and access -- nothing will ever ever ever shut down our collective need to make and enjoy art. People will continue on singing, writing, painting, designing, etc. as long as humans exist. And they find ways to share it with others. That passion fuels innovation and determination.
I opened up an old box from our garage last week that was filled with ‘zines I bought at Wax Trax, mixtapes passed on from fan to fan, handwritten letters about new bands from a friend in California, all 40+ years old. It wasn’t easy to find new music, but it could be done! There will always be a way to connect, and a way around the machine.
Outstanding. I’m so proud that you and others way younger than me are so inspired in a D Boon way. “Let’s make some zines and websites again.” Continue the passionate legacy!
I remember when BrooklynVegan was a vegan dude in Brooklyn. Now it’s a multi-subsidiary digital media company owned by a multinational e-commerce conglomerate.
I understand we live in a capitalist society, but I was sincerely bummed out when the vegan punk I saw in the photo pit at so many amazing LES shows wound up selling out to the man.
I should have known the most refreshing, insightful and intelligent take on this subject, way ahead of all the hand-wringers, would come from Spencer Tweedy. Excellent piece!
I'm curious if you view Substack as a possible or promising vehicle for finding art and music? Or is Substack too tightly controlled, as some are saying (and even leaving)?
Ooooh how I could forget these too:
http://radio.garden/
https://www.nts.live/
https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/welcome-to-bandcamp-daily
https://chirpradio.org/
https://radiooooo.com/
YOUR LOCAL COLLEGE/COMMUNITY RADIO!
Yes! To all of this! I was fortunate enough to spend a few years in the career I dreamed of as a kid—music journalism and criticism. And unfortunate enough to have my career align with the shift from paper to internet. I started at an “alt” weekly, although “alt” is in quotes because the paper was owned by the Village Voice corporation. That should have been a point of pride, but being a part of their ham-fisted attempts to be relevant in the digital world was humiliating. I had a great time writing for a financially independent magazine for a few years, where I had the freedom to explore my own tastes. In the end they couldn’t keep up financially and folded. Even writing for the not-for-profit community radio station near me ended when the board and director decided to use the corporate business model for running their non-profit.
And that’s why I have a day job in copywriting and save my music writing for Substack. It’s disappointing, but I love to see how music journalism keeps reinventing itself when corporations keep trying to kill it.
Spencer..stop growing up! Your photo ! And thanks for introducing me to Juan's basement. Great stuff..
Beautifully said, Spencer. And may I add Record Crates United and Raven Sings the Blues to the list of smaller music blogs possessing a single informed, passionate, and trustworthy voice.
AD is the bomb
Reminds me of sad day after 40 some years, I unsubscribed from Rolling Stone…bigger format sucked, no writers I cared to read…so many of my art/music writer friends scrambling…at least Mikal Gilmore still puts stuff out, mostly on Facebook, but I’ll take it…
Hi Spencer,
Brilliantly and professionally written, as always. Keep up the good work!
Love, Zaid
My first thought when I heard that Pitchfork was getting absorbed into GQ was that it was going to de-platform women as writers, musicians, and readers/listeners. Since men are the primary audience , I fear there will be less content created by women, about women, and for women.
Art - any sort of art - isn’t compatible with our current wildly out-of-balance version of capitalism. When everything is about perfecting the algorithm and customer acquisition and mergers and buy outs and the hoarding of resources, there’s no room for anyone except a handful of artists and art-supporting careers. The machine cannibalizes itself until it’s a bloated sac of protoplasm, and eventually begins to become non-functional. Yet that’s held up as being successful.
However! I don’t care what a million zillion corporate machines do to maximize their profits and minimize our choice and access -- nothing will ever ever ever shut down our collective need to make and enjoy art. People will continue on singing, writing, painting, designing, etc. as long as humans exist. And they find ways to share it with others. That passion fuels innovation and determination.
I opened up an old box from our garage last week that was filled with ‘zines I bought at Wax Trax, mixtapes passed on from fan to fan, handwritten letters about new bands from a friend in California, all 40+ years old. It wasn’t easy to find new music, but it could be done! There will always be a way to connect, and a way around the machine.
Thank you too for the update on Block Club Chicago. Deeply appreciate it.
Spoonstir,
Outstanding. I’m so proud that you and others way younger than me are so inspired in a D Boon way. “Let’s make some zines and websites again.” Continue the passionate legacy!
Thanks for taking the time to break it all down and for sharing this !💜💜💜
You WILL be assimilated! Resistance is futile!
Thanks for caring about and opining on this, Spencer. It's harder and harder to be indie these days, but people will always manage to find a way.
https://youtu.be/rrebH2LLtKA?si=rDXwYLOFfLXfoBdI
a perfect recording
I remember when BrooklynVegan was a vegan dude in Brooklyn. Now it’s a multi-subsidiary digital media company owned by a multinational e-commerce conglomerate.
I understand we live in a capitalist society, but I was sincerely bummed out when the vegan punk I saw in the photo pit at so many amazing LES shows wound up selling out to the man.
I should have known the most refreshing, insightful and intelligent take on this subject, way ahead of all the hand-wringers, would come from Spencer Tweedy. Excellent piece!
I'm curious if you view Substack as a possible or promising vehicle for finding art and music? Or is Substack too tightly controlled, as some are saying (and even leaving)?