As you might have noticed, this is a bittersweet week around here; because of budget cuts, we’ve had to say goodbye to pretty much all the Idolator contributing writers, from columnists to daily bloggers. The site is going to go on as a solo project of sorts, although the news cycle might run at a slightly slower pace. I just wanted to take a moment on this crappy day to thank everyone who’s contributed to the site during my tenure, from the people who helped me sift through the news cycle every day to the columnists, each of whom expanded the focus of the site.
So, to Mike Barthel, Dan Gibson, Lucas Jensen, and Christopher R. Weingarten; and to Andy Beta, Chuck Eddy, Tim Finney, Alex Goldberg, Matt Goldenberg, Rob Kemp, Anthony Miccio, Molly McAleer, Chris Molanphy, Kate Richardson, and Al Shipley–not to mention all the other writers and friends who pitched in with a guest-blogging day or two–thanks. Each one of you brought something to the site that I never could, and it was a pleasure working with you and learning from you.
Special thanks to Jess Harvell, who was a fine foil and remains an even finer friend, and Michaelangelo Matos, whose organizational skills on our year-end wrapups were only matched by his enormous reservoir of patience. Finally, thanks to Brian Raftery, without whom I wouldn’t be sitting on my couch typing this right now.
(And of course, thanks to you, too.)
Thank You Friends [YouTube]
Wow, sorry to hear. Best of luck to everyone!
mike posted a goodbye on his personal site, btw:
http://barthel.tumblr.com/post/98940605/cue-the-green-day
Disclaimer to the many kind folks who read and enjoy my column here: I have asked Maura to continue writing “100 and Single” on a volunteer (unpaid) basis, and so for at least a few months, I hope, it will continue.
Thanks to the folks who’ve commented this week that they’d continue to read my column if I took it someplace else. Given the loyal audience and friendships I’ve developed here — and, not for nothin’, the bleak landscape for paid music-blog work, as alluded in various posts this week — it seemed logical to keep it going here.
I hope those of you pop/chart geeks who enjoy it will keep reading. After all, y’all are the reason I plan to continue writing it: I enjoy the smart feedback from the Idolator commentariat, and this site just feels like home.
Thanks to Maura for giving me that home, and best wishes to all my fellow writers, both those who are sticking around and those leaving for other virtual locales. You guys have all made me feel appreciated, and the admiration is mutual.
Thanks everyone for all of your insightful and thought-provoking writing. Hopefully your hard work will go rewarded.
P.S. Thanks to Maura as well for keeping the ship running! I’ve been a reader since you guys have started (although am a comment lurker) and just want to say that your work is very very appreciated.
Aww, you’ll all be missed very much!
I hate it when my favorite bands break up.
Dang. I will not mourn the Idolator, but will regret the changes, and hope that the comments sections remain robust and thoughtful. LOL ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!
I haven’t stuck my head in to every individual comment thread as I should’ve, so I hope the various contributors are reading here — as a reader I’d also like to thank each and every one of them for a consistently entertaining and thought-provoking blog. Idolator is pretty much the only general-interest music blog I read (Stereogum et al. are just too detached and snarky for me, it’s such a turn-off), and all of you made it something special. So thanks, ladies and gentlemen.
And I have to admit, it would’ve stabbed me hardest to lose 100 AND SINGLE, so I’m glad to hear it’ll continue, if sad to note it won’t be getting the rewards it deserves.
@Chris Molanphy: Nice to know that. 100 and Single is my favorite feature on Idolator, mostly because of you.
Do you know of any other Idolator writers taking the same route as you?
Everyone who writes here has produced work worth reading. I don’t want to use the past tense cause its sad. Thanks to all the writers for all the columns. I wish we could get a page with links to all the new homes for the departing cast, but that might be unrealistic. Anyway, i’m going to miss the writers, and am ready for the new Idolator.
Sorry to hear the news. You guys have done a great job and I enjoyed reading all your stuff. Thanks for keeping things interesting without being pretentious.
@drinkypuss: here’s the list i have. i don’t have blogs for lucas (who will be contributing the odd piece here or there) or jess…
mike: http://clapclap.org and http://barthel.tumblr.com
dan: http://dangibson.tumblr.com
chris w.: http://twitter.com/1000timesyes
matos: http://m-matos.blogspot.com
al: http://narrowcast.blogspot.com
chuck @ rhapsody: http://blog.rhapsody.com/chuck-eddys-chuck-it-all-in/
andy: http://andybetablog.blogspot.com
tim: http://dancingaboutarchitecturetv.com/
matt g: http://metalsucks.net
kate: http://averagethansmarterbear.blogspot.com
anthony: http://anthonyisright.blogspot.com and http://scandalist.com
molly: http://www.themollsshow.com
rob’s band: http://www.punkmetalkaraoke.com/
alex’s band: http://www.myspace.com/graphicsband
I have admittedly done nothing on that Tumblr yet, but if you’re looking for pro bowling and All My Children commentary, it’ll be the place to be starting on Monday.
Also, I can be hit up on Facebook, if anyone starts having Dan Gibson withdrawals.
@Maura: THANKS!
This is a real bummer. Idolator is one of my favorite blogs–consistently well-written, covering a huge variety of topics (not just music, even!) insightfully and with a sense of humor about its subjects and itself. Idolator’s one of the few places I can go to these days that doesn’t treat music, or the music business, like an ironic numbers game. Thanks for everything, departing folks, and don’t work so hard you burn yourself out, Maura!
@Maura: I don’t have a blog though maybe I should? I had one but it’s a secret. I will hopefully continue doing the AnonIMous’s and act as a liaison between us and our wonderful Idolawyer (and fantastic musician) John P. Strohm and Joe The Engineer.
Oh, and Big Star. Wow. That made it that much more bittersweet. Thanks, Maura. *sniff*
You guys can’t do this now. It’s finals season. I’m already nursing a stress headache, my emotions are on edge, and I know that if I click on that video I’m probably gonna start crying.
Dammit… you guys better stick around. Who else am I seek for counsel when I find myself liking “Kiss Me Through the Phone”?
That this would happen at Idolator while other crappy blogs remain afloat being their usual crappy selves is yet another example of an unjust (blog) world.
No!
:(
I’ve been loving all of your work lately (and since the start); I’ve learned a lot here - no one else out there is as un-scene-pandery and intelligent. I will continue to follow.
Good luck to everyone.
I recall a post where Maura was quite angry, and my comment was that she was so mad, I just initially thought it was Dan writing it. I maintain Dan was ghostwriting it. I’ll really miss his stuff (grumpy-toned or otherwise).
I look forward to following everyone’s own deal and hope idolator keeps the best pace it can. Chin up.
@TheRunningboard7: I’m generally a happy person, I promise.
@Chris Molanphy: I was really happy to hear your column will continue, Chris. I’m definitely considering following your lead to some extent, but that’ll probably depend on how crazy the next few months are for me.
The combination of voices Idolator has had the last couple years has been really great to be a part of and just to read, some people I’d previously enjoyed reading and some folks I probably wouldn’t have been familiar with otherwise and will continue to follow. My one big regret is that I never got to do more daily blogging duty; the couple times Maura handed me the ball, I stupidly tried to do it while at my day job, and really struggled to get in a decent number of posts and I felt bad that I didn’t kick ass at it like I should’ve. With all the PTO I have saved up I shoulda just stayed home and had some fun with it. I’m really confident that Maura will keep this place as interesting to visit as a solo venture as it’s been as a group effort, and going forward I’m sure I’ll be inundating her with more links and suggestions than ever, which she should feel free to use or ignore at her discretion (since I’m sure I’ll send a lot of dumb stuff only I care about).
Guess I’m late, but I will miss reading what you guys had to say. Idolator is one of my favorite reads, and easily my favorite music blog, and the different contributors here had a lot to do with that. In all honesty, I’m not sure I ever paid attention to the bylines on any music writing until I started reading this blog.
I’m glad there’s at least still going to be an Idolator, and I’m confident Maura will be able to maintain the quality and thoughtfulness I’ve always found around here (but, yeah, to echo the above, please don’t let yourself burn out!). And I’m happy to hear there will (might?) still be 100 and Single, too. It’s my favorite chart coverage, by far.
Thanks to everyone. Idolator has truly influenced my taste in music, and how I think about music, for the better.
Damn. Idolator has consistently been one of the best written blogs in music. Keep it up Maura.
Thanks to everyone involved at Idolator, my musical tastes have broadened, and my knowledge has grown. All of the writers, with their distinctive voices and pet bands, have made Idolator a daily stop from the get-go. Godspeed to the departing, and keep up the good work, Maura.
@Dan Gibson: I’m already having withdrawals and it’s not even Monday yet.
God, first I find out about Bea Arthur and now this. If the weather weren’t so fucking gorgeous this would be a really terrible weekend!
this is ridiculously bittersweet, so i’ll just say to everybody, “good luck and godspeed.”
i’m glad you’re still around, maura. i’ve come to rely on this blog and i love your voice. plus anyone who loves “law & order” the way you do needs to be heard.
(ps to lucas - i hope to run into you one night in atlanta, argue gently with you about music, then buy you the beverage of your choice.)
@silkyjumbo: We shall hang out! Except I don’t know who you are.
Godspeed indeed. Just registered now after much lurking, always thought that Idolator nailed the required tone for writing about the “music business” - suitably jaundiced about the business, while still hopelessly giggly about the music. Loved the bird’s eye, meta view of the (cough) blogosphere too. Now I’ve got Big Star’s Kangaroo going round and round my head. Amen.
thanks guys. i’m still around, so i hope you all stick around too.
@Maura: As sad as I am to see everyone go, I feel like this almost warrants a “Hey! I’m not dead yet, and neither’s Idolator!” post.
This makes me really, really sad, as Idolator is pretty much my favorite music blog, and the only one I go to on a consistent basis. Glad to see that “100 and Single” will continue for the chart geeks like myself. I’ll still be a loyal reader, and hopefully, enough of us will stick around to continue what has to be one of the best comments section on the web.
@Thierry: yeah, word! it’s not over…though it’s gonna feel odd for a while.
maura- best of luck, it’s got to be tuff to adjust. let us know if we can assist…. musicnewsnet[dot]com…