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It’s Time (For Me) To Say Goodbye

Hi everyone. Just wanted to let you know that today is my last day as editor of Idolator. The site will continue on, and I will continue to write about music, but we’ve decided to part ways. Despite my nominal status as a “writer,” I am straight-up terrible at goodbyes. So I just have a list of people to thank before I exit stage left.

Thank you to Brian Raftery, Lockhart Steele, and Nick Denton for calling up a music writer from the baseball-house-organ minors. Thank you to Jeff Leeds and the folks at BuzzMedia for putting up with me from 3,000 miles away all these months. Thank you to Jess Harvell for being a terrific foil. Thank you to Christopher R. Weingarten, Lucas Jensen, Dan Gibson, Anthony Miccio, and Mike Barthel for being awesome co-bloggers. Thank you to Maggie Bandur, Andy Beta, Chuck Eddy, Tim Finney, John Gary, Alex Goldberg, Matt Goldenberg, Rohin Guha, Eric Harvey, Rob Kemp, Molly McAleer, Chris Molanphy, Kate Richardson, Dan Rivkin, and Al Shipley — and anyone else who I might have forgotten, please accept my deepest apologies — for pitching in with some of the best music writing I ever had the privilege to edit. Thank you to all the incredible commenters who added to every bit of this site’s essence, to anyone who ever linked to something I wrote, to the people who transformed from e-mail addresses to friends over the past three-plus (!) years, to you reading this right now. I am so lucky to have done this for so long.


If you want to find me, I’ll be around the Internet… try as I might, I can never stay away for too long. You know?


-30-


Spice Girls – Goodbye (VideoClip) [Dailymotion]

 
By Maura at 5:45 PM on Mon Nov 9 2009
Posted to: ,
  • Oh man. And so goes my favorite music weblog. Seriously, Maura, thank you for everything, it's been a joy and a pleasure to have a site as good as Idolator for as long as we did.
  • marahe
    seriously. i echo dyfl. i can't believe this. idolator won't ever be as good.
    maura, love you. for real.
  • You will be missed, Maura. Best of luck in all of your future projects!
  • cruzich
    Boo! Best of luck to you Maura!

    [takes Idolator off RSS subscriptions list]
  • LeighBlack
    OH NO! Who will mock Vicki with me??

    Best of luck, Maura! Idolator has been my favorite music blog for a long time and it's all due to you.
  • emdashes
    Maura, brilliant lady of music: can't wait to see what you do next. And anytime you want to expand your beat and write about design...
  • moulty
    Very, very sad to see you go...thanks for a great run. All the best.
  • MAURA NOOOOOOOO! It's official. Today is the WORST.
  • Oh man, this has completely killed me.

    Your work here has been brilliant and true, Maura. It is hard to see that go.
  • romastrega
    Awwwww Maura. I could always count on you for both Jarvis and Girls Aloud items... it won't be the same here without you.
  • kicking222
    WHAT?!?!?! I... wow. I'm stunned and saddened. Maura, your writing- even about musicians I couldn't possibly care less about- is nothing short of stellar. I honestly don't know if I will continue to read Idolator (though I'll certainly give it a chance), but I do know that wherever you write next, I will read it there.
  • mahkiavelli
    Man, this blows. Good luck to you in your future endeavors - your commentary on all things music-related will be missed.
  • johnlempka
    From the bottom of my heart, thanks Maura for always being such a truly generous writer. You really spoiled us. It's been a joy.
  • Kate Richardson
    I just want to say that Maura has done many, many things for me:

    1) gave me money to write, which still amazes me
    2) trusted me as a 19-year-old college sophomore with guest blogging duties
    3) edited JoBromance
    4) let me bring Jimmy Buffett into the blogosphere on numerous occasions
    5) encouraged nearly (but not all, thank God) all of my low-traffic ideas

    ...and the list goes on. She was an amazing boss and will forever be one of my favorite writers. This one's for you, Maura...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPD-4HZtahM
  • Sad-making. Best of luck in future whatevers!
  • Kate Richardson
    *nearly all (but not all, thank God) of my low-traffic ideas
  • dsven
    Awww, this is really too bad. I love (loved?) Idolator and you were the main reason.

    I guess the only positive for me is that my productivity at work is sure to improve....

    Sad to see you go Maura. On to bigger and better things!
  • DanasGotAGun
    This is horrendous news, truly. I can only wish the best for Maura, even though she's LEAVING US, because how could I wish for anything else for the person who had the singular consistently tolerable/awesome commentary on all of ridiculous indie bands of the latter part of this wretched decade.

    Also, it made me feel like not the only person who knew about JC Chasez's solo career and Kathleen Hanna.
  • michael.pop
    This is a total gut-punch. Thanks for all measured and reasoned writing you've done here. Your insight and intelligence will be missed.

    And thanks for turning me onto Flop!
  • fre2daa
    God, this is really a sad day. Idolator is may favorite music blog, change is scary, etc. Thank you, Maura for all the terrific work. You'll be missed :) / :(
  • chris_m
    Damn! Sad to hear. Thanks for your writing. It's been a hoot.
  • One hell of a ride and it was great to see it all from the first day on.
  • I always look to see "who wrote that entry", and I smiled every time that it said "Maura". Good luck to you in your future endeavors, and here's hoping the other folks here carry the torch as well as you have.
  • mike
    I've never commented before, I was always waiting for the right time (you know, actually have something worthwhile to say) but I figured now is a good time.

    Thanks Maura for all the great entries and like everyone's already said, this is one of the best music blogs (if not the best. And if not that, definitely the smartest hah).

    This comment should prove that for all the comments you'll get saying thank you, there are so many more who don't comment but still appreciate.

    THANKS!
  • This made me really sad to read. Much like rockymtranger, I always mentally thought "oh, of course" when I saw your name on an entry that echoed my thoughts exactly on one thing or another. I lurk more than I comment but I wanted to wish you the absolute best of luck in your future endeavours. You'll be missed.
  • Weezy F Baby
    Shit...this is the end of an era. Sad to see you go...good luck with all future endeavors!
  • walkmasterflex
    wow. i just left my job today too

    i've been pretty absent on this site for a while but it's sad to see you go maura, i always enjoyed your posts
  • I can only repeat what others have said. Your writing has made Idolator one of "those" I visited on an hourly basis (yeah, I'm sad/bored) and even if -- sometimes especially when - I disagreed with what you said I always admired and appreciated the skill with which you said it.

    Or, in other words, Bye byes.
  • ben
    sigh. Wishing you all the best &c., Maura, but I'm not going to lie... this is kind of sending me into le malaise.
  • Idolator was the reason I started blogging in the first place. I don't know what to say here, other than best of luck Maura, and thank you. I could only hope to be as witty, relevant and insightful as your words have been.

    ==TJ==
  • fabulousrobots
    I am so sad. Who will post the exact same things I think about American Idol? Where will I read about Charlotte Hatherly and other musicians largely ignored by blogs?
    We will miss you and best of luck in all you do!
    xoxo
  • Dammit. And good luck.

    And I really should wait until tomorrow for this, but:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cNRd7lUBrk
  • Janelleyo
    Oh man. Maura, you will be missed around here! I was uneasy when Brian left, but you made it easy to fall in love with Idolator all over again, and now, well, who knows! I hope you have huge, wonderful things in store for your near future!!!
  • As long as we're posting exit music:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pevh-FgyCmc

    DO IT 'CUZ I LOVE IT.
  • jonian2008
    I'll miss your Gokey bashing and all the weirdly similar underdog bands we both like. Thanks for making the dismal music business seem interesting again.
  • Evie
    All this means is that you will go on to front the highest-selling death metal band in history, or the equivalent:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz90i0dgJcI&...
  • Dear Ms. Johnston,

    Like Mr. Raftery before you, you always treated me nice despite me just being some random dude on the internet. I've enjoyed following the site since you took over for him and was really glad to see you stay on when Buzznet took over.

    I liked watching the round table videos you did on music blogging a while back and hope you don't stray too far because you've got more sense for what's going on around these parts than I could ever dream for.

    I think the time that best defines your stay with the site is when you were left to be the lone writer on the site a while back. I think you stepped things up and things around here really kicked ass. They still do, and I hope you continue that trend wherever you land.

    Thanks & good luck,
    -Chris
  • Chris Molanphy
    In 2007, Idolator founding editor Brian Raftery was the first person to invite me to guest-edit and submit features like "Canon Fodder."

    But it was Maura, later that year, who invited me to launch "100 & Single," probably the geekiest chart dissection ever written. I wouldn't have even ventured anything so deep and obsessive if she hadn't emboldened me to try it.

    The last two years have been, full stop, the most rewarding period of music writing I've ever done, and I have Maura to thank for all of it. She is a great editor, a sharp commentator and, I am proud to say, a dear friend. The Internet is a sadder place for music fans today.

    Godspeed, Maura -- we'll follow your musings wherever you care to share them.
  • nooooo!
    but it will never be the same!!
  • TheRunningboard7
    This upsets me, surprises me, and has left me stretching to try to fill this space with anything more meaningful than a thank you. With you at the helm this blog felt a lot more like a community in the comments section than other blogs (especially with the rate you and other authors post in the comments). Despite the blog's downsizing to pretty much just you with some guests, you kept it solid. Best of luck, Maura!
  • grainy16mm
    This blog, shortly after I discovered it, introduced me to Camera Obscura, which grew to become my absolute favorite currently-active band (aka more or less quite literally changing my life for the better).

    For that (and also for the resulting few years of intelligent entertainment [and, well, thought]), I thank you.

    Also, I'm totally following you on tumblr anyway like a proper creep, so yeah. :)
  • NeverEnough
    You truly will be missed.
  • Maura, you have truly commandeered one of the great music websites of the past few years. I'm going to miss it, but I know you'll be back soon with another worthwhile project. All good wishes from out here in the Midwest.
  • ObtuseIntolerant
    I find it hard to believe the site will go on without you, Maura...It's really one of the only music blogs I can tolerate, let alone embrace and love as I have under your editorial guidance. So naturally, I'll keep following you as you go elsewhere. Good luck!!!
  • Audio Verite
    I will miss anyone who posts videos of Johnny Gill performing Rub U The Right Way on Arsenio Hall. Go on with your New Jack self. Hmmmmmm not sure how I feel about this, I hate change and I rarely find music blogs/sites I enjoy, in fact this is the only one, I know it will change, here is hoping you find something soon, I never follow twitter, but I will check in on yours to see where I can find your next writing gig.
    Or feel free to email me when and where you start writing.

    Peace,
    Sean
    AfterTheBefore@hotmail.com
  • Al Shipley
    Sad to see you move on, Maura, both as a reader and as an occasional contributor I'm a huge fan of what you've done here over the years. Good luck!
  • WHAT! Ugh, we'll miss you... please tell me you're writing the rest of F2K, at least!
  • Susan
    Just, boo. Eff this year in the ear. This was my first favorite music blog and you were my first favorite music blogger. I look forward to seeing what you do next and wish you all the best.
  • I'm sorry but I need someone other than myself to snark on Mariah and her wacko lambs as well as shower Amerie with her proper dues. *sniffle* You'll be missed here.
  • borntohula
    sad! thanks for being so great at what you do, maura. i will continue to follow you, wherever you end up heading.

    while i never really shared your love for acts like kelly clarkson, it was the consistency of your writing and devotion to the topic that always brought me back. your pieces were always refreshing for their opinions, and they were always on-point.

    thank you.
  • RobMurphy
    Cosign all. But at least now Maura can devote her full attention to her other blog at gerardvsbear.com.
  • TriedandTrue
    Well this is a real kick in the teeth on this early, dreary Chicago morning.

    Good luck, Maura!!!
  • Nicolars
    Maura,

    You are truly too good for the crumbbums at Buzznet, you deserve bigger and better things. This was a music blog done right, you have a lot to be proud of here -- still, it is time for you to find a better home.
  • Maura leaving Idolator < My Humps
  • Wow. It really is an end of an era. Thank you, Maura, for being the first person to pay me to write about music. And thank you for all the good times here. I never commented as much as I should/could have -- but I'll really miss this little community. It won't be the same without you. xoxoxo
  • Audif Jackson Winters III
    I'm completely gutted. Idolator is one of the last sites I can think of that felt personal without being *about* the blogger herself. At this stage in my life I travel so far out of critical/writerly circles that this place felt like a refuge for that side of my personality.

    Maura, you did a terrific job, and please know that this particular reader has a tremendous amount of gratitude and appreciation for your work.
  • chachwitablog
    Wait WHAT?!? You're leaving? I feel blindsided.

    Good luck and success in all you do. I'll miss you here!
  • Congrats on a great run, Maura. Looking forward to seeing your byline pop up elsewhere!
  • ScrabbleChamp
    Well, this sucks. Sigh....anyway, despite only commenting about 3 times in total, your writing over the past couple of years definitely made my work week waaaaaaaay better, and got me into some music I NEVER would've listened to otherwise. You'll be missed!!

    Anyway, good luck with everything! OK, time to go check out this "maura.com"....
  • Thierry
    Blue sadface of death.
  • drinkypuss
    I would say that you "rocked" the internet, but I know that you don't really like this term. Thanks for giving an adult a place to crow about Fall Out Boy. Good luck!
  • sicksteanein
    Booooo!
  • silkyjumbo
    well, dammit. now where can i go for great music analysis sprinkled with "law & order" references?

    sorry to see you go, but i look forward to seeing you pop up elsewhere.
  • dsven
    Is a post-Maura Idolator even worth visiting? Maura wrote 90% of the posts here...

    Buzznet, I'm now past the initial shock stage, and have moved on to anger. You guys suck.
  • baconfat
    waaaaaaaaaaah!

    your news makes me feel like this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb2NW3QfonI

    but i'm glad i was able to meet you in chicago last year and tell you in person how much i appreciate this blog and the amazing work you put into it.

    best wishes on your future endeavors.
  • dntbfwe
    Oh no! Oh my! I'm just devastated. Maura, Idolator was always my first stop on my daily rounds of the internet - simply essential reading, especially during Idol season. Also, your appreciation for (and gossip about) UK girl groups kept my addiction to Girls Aloud and Sugababes perpetually stoked. You've introduced me to a number of bands I might otherwise never have had occasion to hear (Joy Formidable for the win!), and been a tireless champion for artists who deserve far more attention and sales than they get (hello Charlotte Hatherley! hello Siobhan Donaghy!).

    Whither now for my Sugababes updates? Whither now for my Katy Perry related hate/snark? Whither now for Gokey bashing?

    Speaking of whom... I will now always remember you by this song, which I was listening to when I read this tragic post.

    http://www.movieline.com/2009/11/danny-gokey-un...

    (Maybe you and Karina Longworth, recently retired from Spoutblog can unite your powers for some totally awesome music/film/media blog. Or something... I can't take losing both of you in two weeks).

    Jake

    (why oh why did I wait till now to make my first, and now last, post....)
  • @dsven: probably not. I will only be staying for Chris Monalphy...unless he's leaving too. If that's the case, then congratulations, Idolator, you are out of my Firefox favorites.
  • sorry Chris. I spelled your last name wrong..."Molanphy", "Molanphy", "Molanphy"....
  • Catbirdseat
    ...AND you squeezed one last first-class trip out on the company dime before departing, well done!
  • propaganda-artist
    This really is devastating. I loved that this was a "cool" music blog that embraced all types of music, not just the Pitchfork-approved shit.

    Keep on keeping on, Maura. Good luck to you where ever you may go.
  • agolden
    Maura, best wishes and best of luck. Idolator won't be the same. Wherever your next destination is writing-wise, I'm sure we'll all follow there. (those days when I worked with you at your job before Idolator seem like a million years ago).
  • insideoutbox
    that's too bad for us, but on to bigger and better things for you! all the best!
  • Poubelle
    Best of luck on your future endeavors. I'll really miss what you did here. Idolator has introduced me to so many new acts, and also (in cases like Jarvis or Kelly Clarkson or Amerie) written many great things about the ones I already knew and loved (or, in other cases, knew and hated). Your posts were always wonderfully written, and excellent reads, even if I didn't entirely agree. Idolator has long been one of my favorite blogs, not just of music blogs, but of sites in general, and it is your work that made it so.

    (Sidenote: I'm not sure how much I'll keep reading, either, if 100 and Single is gone, too.)
  • Maggie B
    After twelve years as a professional writer, I have never had a better editor than you. I only wish I had gotten to write more for you.
  • thesemodernsocks
    Good luck out there, Maura. You made this site what it is, and ought to be mighty proud of that.

    Cheers.
  • Brian Raftery
    I guess I should be treating this as sucky news. But I think it's rather amazing that, during her three years of Idolatorizing, Maura never abandoned her integrity, her smarts, or her love of Tapemasters Future of R&B mixtapes. She also refused to succumb to the sort of reflexive nanny-nanny-boo-booism that, as a music blogger, was her God-given right. Maura's a good egg. Scratch that: A GREAT egg. And though I'm sure her absence will be felt, I'm genuinely excited to see what she does next.
  • Lucas Jensen
    Thanks, Maura, for giving me the coolest job I ever had, even though I really didn't know how to write so good.
  • The world that is Idolator feels bankrupt without you. While I wish whomever is running this site luck, I would urge them to work very hard at having 1/10th of Maura's fortitude and skill. If you manage to get that far, you'll just be starting to be the writer and editor that she has become.

    Maura, it has been a great honor watching you come into your own. It really bums me out that I'm finally well enough to get back into the action, and you've moved on. Wherever you land and whatever happens, I am proud to have you as a friend. May I some day have the power to express to you my gratitude and admiration for your work by giving you the same opportunities you gave to so many of us.
  • dippinkind
    crap! go on vacation for 3 days and come back to find this has happened... well, best of luck in your future endeavors, Maura, and see you later Idolator (since, having looked at all the new posts, it now appears to suck very muchly).
  • Steve Roby
    I never cared about American Idol or a lot of the pop stars Idolator covered; I read it because of *how* that stuff, and a lot of stuff that did interest me, was covered.

    Thanks for an entertaining read over the last few years. Goodbye, Maura. And goodbye, Idolator.
  • ChickenCrab
    "I never cared about American Idol or a lot of the pop stars Idolator covered; I read it because of *how* that stuff, and a lot of stuff that did interest me, was covered."

    I've been trying to find a way to describe how I felt about this place, and this is pretty much it. Well said.

    Good luck in your future work, Maura. It's been a fun ride.
  • This seems to be shaping up like the Ben Lyons/Ben Mankiewicz version of "At the Movies."
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