Music Journalist Throws Herself From The Free-CD Train

noah | April 17, 2008 5:05 am

Attention aspiring publicists hoping to get your up-and-coming bands name-checked in the new issue of Vanity Fair: Lisa Robinson of Vanity Fair has had it with your unsolicited promo CDs, according to an e-mail she allegedly sent out to publicists today. Why? Because looking around at piles and piles of unlistened-to CDs fills her with an existential dread about the seemingly insurmountable tidal wave of music simply in existence as of the present second? Nah, that’s boring. Instead, she’s going green like the magazine that employs her and asking promo companies to stop clogging her inbox in the name of the environment!

To all:

Given the rising costs of paper, postage, plastic, envelopes and human effort, the economic problems faced by the music industry, the myriad ways of finding new music in the digital age, as well as all of our deep concerns for the environment, I would like to request that you remove me from any of your mailing lists that send out unsolicited CDs or press material.

D***** ********* from my office will contact you when I need something specific, and we can make arrangements for delivery at that time.

Thank you very much. Lisa Robinson Vanity Fair Magazine

One wonders if digital promos are A-OK, or if they fall under the category of “press material”–one also wonders if she’s operating out of environmental concern or the fear that she’ll have the pants sued off her by Universal Music Group. So many questions!

Lisa Robinson: Environment, Si!; Flacks, No! [Velvet Rope]