letter from gothamist's a+e editor

Wow, I haven't checked out Idolator since it launched! After numerous emails with the link to a post on there today though, I was forced to revisit it. So, in response to Idolator's recent post about the management company I founded (not "co-founded" as they state) and my job here as Arts + Entertainment Editor, I have a few things to say.

If Idolator is going to tout themselves as "real journalists", they should do some fact checking. I'll help them out here:

I never booked a band at a Movable Hype show that I managed. Every single band that I manage I started to manage AFTER they played Movable Hype. Here's how it went down in every case: I booked a band because I loved their music. I spent time with them at the show, saw them perform and either they asked me to manage them or I asked them if they needed management. This would either happen almost immediately or months later.

It is very simple: I liked a band, I booked a band, I ended up working with that band. I'm not quite sure how this is unethical, unusual or of all things worthy of a post on your fine site.

As far as the posts I had written BEFORE I started to manage these bands, why would I take down each interview or mention of the band prior to me managing them? I hadn't written about them as anything more than a fan of their music. A couple of times I may have mentioned one of the bands I manage in a "Pencil This In" post, always adding a disclaimer that I managed this band.

As far as this quote from the post: "And sometimes, Carlson's glowing Gothamist praise is recycled as a press quote on 5th Floor's website without credit, which is pretty unethical, not to mention insufferably lame." I have no idea what you are talking about, as the only Gothamist quote in there, that was written before I started managing that band, is credited as a Gothamist quote and even links to the post.

So you attacked Ultragrrrl and now me, who's next? I'll try to think of a list for you of other bloggers who love music and are living their lives trying to help bands (over, say, constructing snarky commentary and hateful posts about musicians and people they don't know).

Also, why do Gawker sites link to Curbed so much? Could it be that Lockhart Steele works for Gawker and, seperately, runs Curbed? No way, you're all way too ethical for that.

Comments

[Ugh]

I just showered and was getting ready for bed; now I need to bathe again. What a farce: salaried Tools stir up bogus noise to generate more ad revenue for their Masters. I'm sure this nonsense has nothing to do with your criticism of their vapid payola enterprise.

[mf]

"love music" is a little much, don't you think? You are the type of person that is ruining music.

[idolator < chernobyl]

ruining music? fucking imbecile. you ever take a shit in a lake? do you eat fish. jesus christ. stop ruining my life.

[Grrrrrl-friend]

*haha*

You compared yourself to Ultragrrl; diggin' your own grave, honey.

[b]

that bit of "serious journalism" was dumb. just dumb. keep on loving music and telling us about it.

[spencer]

i can't wait for the winner of this battle to be declared... by... the...

[Dodge]

Eff those guys...talking about them only gives them strength...It's tabloid blogging...don't worry about 'em.

[Hans]

Uh... call me old fashioned, but you either write about bands or you write for them. Period. if you don't see a problem here... well, check your numbers.

I understand that you've mostly done the right thing with noting your affiliations when you write about your bands. But why would you ever write about a band you manage?

The internet is fast and loose about crediting sources and other ethical questions, but the music industry has a history of payola and other behind-the-scenes dealings. In particular, why would you put the Gothamist quote on the Takka Takka press listing? The quote isn't great and there are a bunch of other ones there. Having it there is just asking for trouble.

And even though I don't agree with thee way they brought up the issue or think that they are completely right, they do make a strong point: if you manage a band, you should not promote them through other means full disclosure or not. And attacking their factual correctness or journalistic integrity is strawman/red herring arguments. You need to address the real issue.

Sorry for being harsh. I enjoy the blog. But I am a little tired of bloggers pushing emusic without saying that they get a kickback and people copying other original content and portraying it as their own.

Finally, the BrianVan comment sums things up pretty well.