RE: review in NY Rock

["David Alexander McDonald" <stree@azstarnet.com>]

Okay, this whole pay-for-a-review stuff *stinks* to hell, and I speak as
a professional music writer with a lot of words to my credit; I can also
speak as a musician.  Sure, I generally get paid for the writing (in
some instances, I'll serve up free work, on my site, or elsewhere), but
that comes out of the coffers of the company I work for, not the pockets
of the artists I'm writing about.

Now, if I was to be paid to write about an artist, it would be in a
PR/promotional capacity, period (somebody has to turn out those windy
press releases, y'know.)

For reviews, the bottom line is: you send me your album, you take your
chances on my getting to it, and writing about it in the course of my
week, or depending on what my assignments editor sets me up with (at All
Music Guide, I get a great deal of flexibility with indie releases.)
The artist's investment ends at one or two copies of the album (it's
preferred that a copy is sent for the archives, for scanning, and for
the technical wizardry.)

Any review site, at the most, should be ready to accept ads from artists
who are having their CDs reviewed.  Sticking an artist for $20 and
dissing the album to boot is really cheesy.

Any of you are welcome to send me your albums, and push me to make them
a prority in getting the assignments set up.

But I will never ask you for money.

David

-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen P. Goodman [mailto:spgoodman@earthlight.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 12:33 AM
To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
Subject: Re: review in NY Rock



----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Lawson" <steve@steve-lawson.co.uk>
To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 16:22:PM
Subject: Re: review in NY Rock


> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "
> > > I HATE reviews like this
> >
> > And...he had to pay $20 to get the review!
> >
> > "#  Reviews are $20 each. Please make check payable to NY Rock.
> > (Note, we have top-notch writers and do not expect them to work for
> > free.) Payment guarantees an honest, objective review. Refunds a re
> > not granted for any reason."
>
> OMG, that's unbelieveable - I'd seriously consider suing - 'top-notch
> writers'? I know kids as young as 8 or 9 that would write better than
> that...

Well, the 'column' IS called Street Beat.   Though after a reading of
some
of the other reviews, I think there's more emphasis on Beating than
anything else.  And he wants us to not only send a CD but PAY him!  This
jerk ought to work for one of the Big 5 record companies!

Note that the 'writer' not only criticizes the supposed 'ease of
production' that comes with Digital/CD-Recorders, coming just short of
using the word 'masturbation', but does so using an even easier tool for
such sloppy
self-gratification: his keyboard.

"Do you like music?  Oh, I know, everyone SAYS they do."
                - David Byrne in "True Stories"

S.P. Goodman
EarthLight Productions
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