Faithful readers may remember an article I wrote a couple of years back about why Paste Magazine is better than Rolling Stone. Now, I’ve received an appeal for donations from my favorite music magazine.
Free Music in Return
Paste blames their hard times on the global recession and lack of advertisers, and asks that fans send money in exchange for access to an MP3 selection by such musical artists as: Arrested Development, The Decemberists, The Hives, Bob Mould, Cowboy Junkies, G. Love, The Jayhawks, Indigo Girls, Yoko Ono and The Avett Brothers.
Change in Production
Paste also incurred a lot of production costs by including a CD of new music bound in every issue. I enjoyed watching the subtle design variations of the sleeves and how they were incorporated into the magazine itself. I also saw the magazine undergo some unpleasant design changes within the magazine as Paste attempted to cram more into less pages. Now the new Summer Festival issue of Paste is roughly the size of a TV Guide. Sigh.
The Pile o’ Paste
I have a special pile of Paste magazines and CDs that I like to randomly paw through. I love that I have been introduced to so many new bands via Paste such as: Little Big Town, Foy Vance, Mates of State, Jeremy Fisher, The Weakerthans, Manu Chao, Spoon, Ingrid Michaelson, Tift Merritt, Over the Rhine, The Frames and The Hold Steady. Paste is not only looking for the new, hot thing in music. The Paste CDs have celebrated some already established musical artists as well including: Radiohead, Michael Franti, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Michelle Shocked, Cake, Allison Moorer and Maceo Parker (you know, from James Brown’s band).
Magnet to Rolling Stone to Paste
I used to subscribe to Magnet but found the music too esoteric, too avant-garde. Paste magazine music has always been more roots music oriented, which is the polite way of saying country and blues it seems. Other Paste genres of music include alt country, americana, folk, indie rock and jazz. Paste’s musical tastes have always had more substance than Rolling Stone. While Rolling Stone seeks out the best and loudest and most promoted performers, Paste magazine seeks out musical artists that deliver quality and creativity. Unfortunately, quality and creativity in the music industry doesn’t always produce a ton of cash. I will be contributing some cash to Paste magazine because I still value what it offers to me as a discerning music fan and consumer.
Ask yourself - what would you do to save music and entertainment resources you love and admire?
