CONSEQUENCE

Congratulations to the CONSEQUENCE team on Drum Week! In the 2 weeks since launching, the editorial series has already amassed over 2 million page views across our site, as well as tens of millions of social media impressions. Over 70 drummers contributed to this project, including legends like Mike Portnoy, Charlie Benante, Josh Freese, Janet Weiss, Dave Lovering, and Gina Schock. It was a total team effort and proof that a quality editorial package can still defeat the algorithms. #musicjournalism #music #media #drummers #drums #drumweek

This week CONSEQUENCE enters its 17th year of existence. As probably most other independent publishers can attest, the last year has been a challenging one. I'd argue the most challenging one yet. In the last 12 months, Google rolled out multiple core updates to its algorithm, which has especially impacted small- and medium-tier publishers. Facebook further deprioritized news. Elon wrecked Twitter. And there's much uncertainty about how the emergence of AI will impact the publishing industry and media consumption going forward. It's all led to much anxiety and many sleepless nights about the future of this industry and publications such as ours that remains very much unsettled. And yet through these challenges has emerged many intriguing opportunities. Earlier this year, we began exploring the possibility of establishing a publisher collective with fellow independent brands. While we're still shaping what exactly this collective will look like, the numerous conversations I've already had with the folks behind publications has been inspiring. Despite the aforementioned obstacles, there remains an immensely dedicated group of individuals who are passionate about covering music and pop culture, amplifying new talent, and writing about art in ways no algorithm or AI could replicate. I'm proud to be part of that group. Over the last 17 years, Consequence has grown, evolved, and diversified, launched new verticals and undergone a name change. It has featured a masthead of countless great writers and editors, some who have gone on to do amazing things elsewhere, and others who are still making their mark here today. But at it's core, Consequence’s mission statement remains unchanged: to bridge the gap between the underground and mainstream, and to cover art with enthusiasm, not pretension. 17 years later, I think we're still doing a pretty good job living up to that aspiration. I'd be remiss not to thank our readers. Some of you have been with us since the beginning, others of you have only joined us more recently. No matter how long you've been a reader, thank you. This was never the plan 17 years ago when I was just a 19-year-old kid randomly starting a Blogspot named after a Regina Spektor song. Back then it was a thrill when we cracked a 100 daily readers! The number of daily readers may have grown since then, but my gratitude for those of you who visit has not lessened. I don’t—and never will—take your support for granted. #media #music #musicindustry #publishing #anniversary #consequence #consequenceofsound

For CONSEQUENCE, Mary Siroky penned a brilliant essay on how Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter being snubbed by the Country Music Academy is proof that country music gatekeeping is still very much alive and well. #musicindustry #music #media #countrymusic #beyonce

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've spent the last several weeks speaking with independent publishers about potential ways to support one another. With CONSEQUENCE, I have had a first-hand view of the media landscape for 17 **long** years. And I can say with certainty that this current era is the most volatile and unnerving time for all media companies, but most especially independent publishers. Social media platforms, after years of building up their user bases on the backs of publishers supplying them with endless amounts of free content, are mostly out of the content distribution business. AI has completely thrown the future of search on its head. Subscriptions and email marketing are now the most reliable forms of audience growth and retention, and yet subscription fatigue is a very real thing, as evidenced by the consolidation of streamers. Not to mention the cost of creating compelling new content each and every day. While I'm heartened to see stories about OpenAI and Google striking deals with publishers such as NY Times and Hearst to pay for their content, we've also seen these pay-to-play deals before, and usually they don't end well (see: the stark reality facing media companies in Australia after Meta recently announced it will no longer renew its commercial agreements). I also know that such deals are usually reserved for publishers with the largest scale. When it comes to the "little guys," we're on an island of our own, left fighting for revenue, users, and traffic amidst massive headwinds that are only going stronger by the day. No one is coming to our rescue, which is both unfortunate and short-sighted given that many of the best and most resourceful pieces of journalism are often found on independent sites. How many of today's best musicians got their first break after receiving initial exposure on a small music blog? And how many publications still around today are dedicating hours of time each week listening to submissions from up-and-coming artists, or watching screeners of self-directed films from a first-time filmmakers? If you thought our pop culture was homogenized now just wait until these last few publications are gone. While I am under no delusion that this warning will change the minds of any big players (or even be read by them in the first place), I have been heartened by the conversations I have had in recent weeks with fellow independent publishers. Despite the aforementioned challenges, there remains a collective of talented and passionate individuals who remain committed to giving it their all. They continue to invest in art, and continue to create content that goes against the grain. What I have also learned is that these individuals share the same perspective as I do: for all of us to succeed going forward, it's essential that we view each other as partners and not competitors. (See the rest of my note in the comments) #media #mediaindustry #journalism #publishing