When spinme.com launched in 1997, we thought it would grow up to be Pitchfork. It hosted “Daily Digital Opinion,” J.F. Parnell’s album review mailing list, and our original discussion forums. What a precious logo we had when we launched: While “J.F.” got headhunted away to a series of larger media companies, I chased conversations in […]
Grow Your Audience
Build an Affordable, Essential Website for Your Band
Over the years, I’ve had plenty of arguments with musicians and with music management professionals about the importance of maintaining a website under your own domain. Their responses often included: * 1996: I don’t need my own domain. AOL gives me free web page hosting, and I’ll always have my AOL account! * 1998: I […]
The Concert Photographer’s Manifesto
A recent post about concert photography on Australian website The Vine resulted in feedback from an anonymous concert photographer who left a so-called manifesto in the article’s comments. The Vine republished the photographer’s manifesto on its own page, in which the photog remarks that fan media have harmed both the business and the culture of […]
Sharing sacrifice with your fans.
Al Lewis launched into a Wall Street Journal essay on the economy with the phrase: Shared sacrifice follows every disaster. It’s only a matter of deciding who shares it. Thinking about some of the choices Lori and I have been making in our own household, it’s not surprising that there’s a huge slump in ticket […]
What’s the value of entertainment?
Hollywood’s going nuts this weekend, because of a deal between Lionsgate, Groupon, and Fandango, to pack theatre seats for the premiere weekend of Matthew McConaughey’s new movie, “The Lincoln Lawyer.” Here’s how the deal works. In most cities, it costs $11 to see a first-run movie. Lionsgate and Groupon offered a deal for $6 tickets […]
