Is SPIN really circling the drain?

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I find the idea that it's "gotten" insular in the last two years sort of mystifying, if only because the typical non-music-geek complaing about Spin is that it's ALWAYS been insular. I mean, five years ago they were writing about turntablism and sound-boys, stuff that, for better or worse, is WAY more insular than rock bands with hooks and attractive frontpeople.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Thursday, 26 February 2004 07:00 (9 years ago) Permalink

I'm not arguing insularity Andy, they're ambulance-chasing. And driving on the left.

― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Thursday, 26 February 2004 07:29 (9 years ago) Permalink

What's wrong with driving on the left? And I have to say I have no problem with music magazines subsidising their music section with fashion spreads (and the resulting ads), as long as the music section is unaffected. Better that than downgrading your music section by talking about inconsequential musicians in a trite way to bring in a broader audience.

― Jedmond (Jedmond), Thursday, 26 February 2004 07:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

I can't understand Chris Ott's posts on this thread at all.

Except he doesn't like brits?

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Thursday, 26 February 2004 10:11 (9 years ago) Permalink

SPIN used to be way more New York-ish, with more of a snobby attitude, sort of this subversive nature and snarky editorial that was more SPY than Rolling Stone. I miss that aspect; as SPIN has drifted more and more towards the mainstream, it has lost its sense of identity and verve. Without cheerleading the Strokes and the White Stripes on every issue, they'd barely be hip at all. And that feature where the artist names their influencial albums was a concept blatantly lifted from Blender. The elephant in the room here is that Blender is eating SPIN alive.

I fully understand that embracing "lifestyle" brings in the big advertising dollars (fashion), but in this case it has made the magazine much less enjoyable.

― don weiner, Thursday, 26 February 2004 13:22 (9 years ago) Permalink

Not-as-good-as-it-used-to-be it may be, but give me Spin over Rolling Stone ANY DAY of the week. You?

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Thursday, 26 February 2004 13:34 (9 years ago) Permalink

OTM

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Thursday, 26 February 2004 13:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

True, but you can say that about any magazine, give me O over Rolling Stone any day of the week.

― Jedmond (Jedmond), Thursday, 26 February 2004 14:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

I prefer Rolling Stone. Music coverage is equally bad in both, but Rolling Stone occasionally has interesting political features.

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 26 February 2004 14:39 (9 years ago) Permalink

Magazines suck.

― Jasper Patches (Dating Ikea), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:01 (9 years ago) Permalink

yeah, i agree about R.S. Rollong Stone's non-music reporting/coverage has always been its strong suit.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, but seeing features on Toby Keith and DMB is just too depressing..

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:05 (9 years ago) Permalink

SPIN used to have some really great pieces in the back of the magazine about non-music stuff that were real eye-openers. I haven't seen any good ones lately. What irks me is how the staff has turned itself into celebrity figurines. I read the magazine thinking, "I feel too uncool to be reading this shit." And I'm a frickin writer. I imagine it's incredibly off-putting for some kid in her bedroom.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:14 (9 years ago) Permalink

Remember when Spin had like 10 features about how HIV and AIDS were not causally related? This was late 80s.

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:27 (9 years ago) Permalink

Last time I read Spin, Guccione Jr was still at the helm, pimping John Mellencamp. So I guess Hank Rollins and Legs McNeil don't write for 'em anymore either?

I feel old.

― doug watson (solid air), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:32 (9 years ago) Permalink

Well, they still have non-music features, like... "Friendster more addictive than crack!!!"

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:35 (9 years ago) Permalink

Celia Farber's AIDS coverage was overall pretty impressive, especially considering the venue.

I agree with you Jeanne that the staff thing is getting annoying; Sia Michel's Letter From the Editor has been completely cloying from minute one (complete with all the "Look at me, I'm at the cool places with the cool people pictures") and the endless pimping of staff tomes is a chore. Spitz' gossip column is unbearable. But I still like the reviews quite a bit.

― don weiner, Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:35 (9 years ago) Permalink

SPIN needs to be put out of its misery. It hasn't mattered since about 1988.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:38 (9 years ago) Permalink

I think it's been even longer than that...

― Jasper Patches (Dating Ikea), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

what did Sia Michel do before Spin? I had never heard of her until i saw her picture in Spin.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:55 (9 years ago) Permalink

She was a receptionist somewhere.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:56 (9 years ago) Permalink

Once SPIN lost Legs McNeil and John Leland it was all over (though I still like Klosterman).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:57 (9 years ago) Permalink

man, Spin hasn't mattered since 1972 when I was reading it

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

Don, all "letter from the editor" pieces in any given magazine are like that. It's sort of the purpose. But I know what you mean. The mag feels like a big Friendster publication or something.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

really? and then she became the editor in chief of Spin? cool.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

Jeanne otm there. "Letter from the Editor" pages are almost universally cringe-worthy (really wanna vomit? Read Alan Light's one from the debut issue of TRACKS).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:59 (9 years ago) Permalink

i still miss the old details. when it was just pictures of stephen saban on a couch with diane brill.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 26 February 2004 16:00 (9 years ago) Permalink

and i still miss rock scene when it was just pictures of lisa robinson on the couch with joey ramone.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 26 February 2004 16:01 (9 years ago) Permalink

How great would it be if Letter from the Editor *actually* portrayed what went on: "Motherfuckers in the mail room misplaced the press kit for the new Dinkie Bubble album so that fucked shit up royally. And don't get me started on motherfuckin' Hack McInkspot handing his review A WEEK LATE. Thanks, assmonger, it's not like we're on DEADLINE or anything..."

That would rule.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Thursday, 26 February 2004 16:03 (9 years ago) Permalink

the offensiveness of "Letter to the Editor" is nothing compared to the "Making Out with UltraGrrl". i just want to rip that page out every month and forcibly shove it down the throat ofd the next pseudo-hipster i see.

SPIN was a godsend for me in high school (1990-1994), living out on a farm in the middle of central Illinois. sure it wasn't all that subversive or underground, but to someone raised on country and Top 40 it was a whole new world. i still pick up an issue from time to time, mostly because it's more affordable than the import prices on the decent British mags. but i'm always wondering why.

― jonviachicago, Thursday, 26 February 2004 16:05 (9 years ago) Permalink

Hack McInkspot!! Ha Ha, i've got a new nom de plume. thanks, Jeanne!

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 26 February 2004 16:05 (9 years ago) Permalink

It's true that most Letters From the Editor are unbearable, but I don't remember as many celebs-with-editor pictures as the Michel years have produced...maybe the Bobby Jr. years had the same thing but I can't remember anymore.

While we're on the subject of Tracks, I can't believe how lifeless and personality-free it is.

The UltraGrrl thing is awful. I'd forgotten about that.

Gawker calls Details "The gay magazine for straight men" or something like that. Classic.

― don weiner, Thursday, 26 February 2004 16:24 (9 years ago) Permalink

Sia does seem especially intent on telegraphing her celeb-compatibility. Still, Guccionne Jr. wasn't that different.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 26 February 2004 16:26 (9 years ago) Permalink

Did Tracks just steal their whole idea for a magazine from Harp?

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 26 February 2004 16:52 (9 years ago) Permalink

i agree about R.S. Rollong Stone's non-music reporting/coverage has always been its strong suit.

What? You mean the non-music journalism about the NYC guy with the biggest penis in the world or people who make living room speed and eat it until their teeth fall out?

I'd call it the white-trash beat for voyeurs but not hard-hitting or strong.

― George Smith, Thursday, 26 February 2004 16:53 (9 years ago) Permalink

Remember when Spin had like 10 features about how HIV and AIDS were not causally related?

Yes, SPIN, supporter of whackos and rubbish science.

― George Smith, Thursday, 26 February 2004 16:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

Killer email ady...CompuServe is still going?

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 26 February 2004 17:10 (9 years ago) Permalink

>>> Remember when Spin had like 10 features about how HIV and AIDS were not causally related?

Remember when Foo Fighters and Dave Grohl were pushing this agenda, playing benefit shows for that wacko group "Alive and Well." That was insane... I wonder if they still support that cause.

That said, I think Spin is perfect. I expect nothing more. Each issue lasts me exactly one lunch break, once a month, where I look at the pretty pictures as I eat some soup.

― Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Thursday, 26 February 2004 17:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

it really ws better two or three years ago but its still ok

― $$, Thursday, 26 February 2004 17:42 (9 years ago) Permalink

is anything in your world as good as it was in 1988, alex? anything? if you love 1988 so much why don't you go live there

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Thursday, 26 February 2004 17:54 (9 years ago) Permalink

What's up your ass?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 26 February 2004 18:32 (9 years ago) Permalink

George, they've had better stuff than the dude with the big penis in Rolling Stone! Now, come on. I mean all those killer white trash kids! Don't forget about them. They were great. when i was 16 i had a picture of ricky kasso on my bedroom wall right next to a huge piece of paper with the chemical formula for LSD on it.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 26 February 2004 18:45 (9 years ago) Permalink

that sounded harsher than i meant it to, alex, but seriously you go on about how everything's gone downhill since 1988 so often!

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Thursday, 26 February 2004 18:48 (9 years ago) Permalink

I was speaking strictly in terms of SPIN magazine, Fritz, and it wasn't one of my usual tirades about how stuff was much better then (which isn't categorically true, by the way). SPIN, however, used to be ahead of the curve. Now it struggles to keep up with the curve, panting like an exhausted walrus.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 26 February 2004 18:51 (9 years ago) Permalink

Alex is right Fritz. Except I guess I'd put it a bit later, maybe '90? I dunno, whenever Leland and Kogan and Sheffield and Eddy and Coley and McNiel and so forth stopped writing. I mean, no offense to any ILXors who contribute but the current writing just can't compete with that lineup, no fucking way.

― Broheems (diamond), Thursday, 26 February 2004 18:52 (9 years ago) Permalink

i drank a lot of Meister Brau in 1988.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 26 February 2004 18:53 (9 years ago) Permalink

My favorite "letter from the editor" ever was in a Details magazine from its latter "phase one" days. The editor wrote a column talking about this wonderful $3500 leather jacket he purchased, and then weeped about how he was too frightened to wear it out anywhere, lest it get damaged by rain/wind/etc. I hope it's keeping him warm in Central Park at night, haha.

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 26 February 2004 18:53 (9 years ago) Permalink

a lot of Blatz and Iron City too.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 26 February 2004 18:54 (9 years ago) Permalink

I drank Miller that I would steal from the convenience store I worked at as a stock-boy (16, 1st ever job!) I would go carry some garbage out to the dumpster in back, except I'd carry a six pack out with me and then hide it behind the dumpster. Then after my shift was over I'd drive around back and grab the beer.

― Broheems (diamond), Thursday, 26 February 2004 18:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

Meister Brau--back when a microbrew was a microbrew. Now there's a thread--microbrews circa the 1980s (or even more fun, the 1970s when I was collecting beer cans as a kid.)

Either way, Alex is right that SPIN was way better back then. Anyone remember the Michael O'Donohue columns? That guy was a scream, the best back page they've ever had. I've got a few of those columns on my hard drive if anyone wants a repost (SPIN used to keep them at their website, back when they first came online.)

Rolling Stone used to have better non-music writers, too. William Grieder I liked even though I never agreed with much of his stuff. PJ O'Rourke is better than anyone they've had in at least five years on staff there.

The more I think about it, the more I think I've been harsh on Sia for putting her mug all over her page. Bobby Jr. was more of a publicity whore, and she's better looking. But the direction of the magazine is still shit.

― don weiner, Thursday, 26 February 2004 19:07 (9 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 1968 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

That Bleecker Bobs piece was excellent.

― guy fieri with shit streaming down his nostrils (stevie), Friday, 31 May 2013 14:34 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

All CEOs are Col. Cargills in these bad times

― Drugs A. Money, Friday, 31 May 2013 14:41 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

i know ILX is Pedantland, but when I said "reported music feature," I meant long stories with multiple sources like our feature on the final days of Bleecker Bob's or our look at music in the prison system, not phoners with bands.

makes sense. that music warden article is fascinating.

― wk, Friday, 31 May 2013 15:51 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

features on a record store going out of business and music in the prison system, weird that vision didn't pay off

― balls, Friday, 31 May 2013 16:23 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

I enjoyed reading that prison one just now

― Algerian Goalkeeper, Friday, 31 May 2013 18:00 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

You're such a jackass "balls"

― i didn't even give much of a fuck that you were mod (forksclovetofu), Friday, 31 May 2013 22:34 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

― i didn't even give much of a fuck that you were mod (forksclovetofu), Friday, 31 May 2013 22:35 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

is that really the best google image search you got from 'balls'

― iatee, Friday, 31 May 2013 22:36 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

game-related lolz of some fashion

― i didn't even give much of a fuck that you were mod (forksclovetofu), Friday, 31 May 2013 22:37 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

game-related ballz of some fashion

― how's life, Friday, 31 May 2013 22:51 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

You're such a jackass "balls"

― i didn't even give much of a fuck that you were mod (forksclovetofu), Friday, May 31, 2013 5:34 PM (55 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Friday, 31 May 2013 23:36 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

if that is your real name

― stefon taylor swiftboat (s.clover), Saturday, 1 June 2013 00:08 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

― christmas candy bar (al leong), Saturday, 1 June 2013 03:28 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

you'd think brazil nuts would be waxed or in a shell

― i didn't even give much of a fuck that you were mod (forksclovetofu), Saturday, 1 June 2013 04:59 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

WDYBLL

― unfinest DN (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Saturday, 1 June 2013 19:18 (2 weeks ago) Permalink

2 weeks pass...

"Spin Magazine, which shuttered its print edition in December 2012, is coming back to print. Hansen believes there’s a four-issue-per-year model that he thinks he can make work."

http://www.digiday.com/publishers/spin-medias-moving-forward/

― maura, Monday, 17 June 2013 20:20 (3 days ago) Permalink

Can I send these fucking Car & Drivers back and get the rest of my SPIN sub?

― shohreh aja/danteloo (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 17 June 2013 20:24 (3 days ago) Permalink

hahaha

― markers, Monday, 17 June 2013 20:24 (3 days ago) Permalink

Hansen said Lucid is setting up the company to get into the craze that’s sweeping the industry: advertising content. But unlike most other media properties, Spin Media’s version of advertising content will have editorial doing the heavy lifting for brands.
“We’ll never win a Pulitzer Prize,” Hansen said. “Celebrity content is a commodity. The key is what you do with it. You have to delineate between what’s edit content and sponsored content, but do that in a way with a distinction that does not decrease the editorial experience.”
This service, called “Spin Productions,” is a dedicated creative team that’s integrated with editorial. When it comes to advertising, the company believes if a publisher can contextually integrate advertising with content, higher levels of performance, and, yes, higher CPMs will follow.

ugh god gross

― shohreh aja/danteloo (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 17 June 2013 20:26 (3 days ago) Permalink

Q: Is SPIN really circling the drain?
A: Yes.

― shohreh aja/danteloo (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 17 June 2013 20:26 (3 days ago) Permalink

SPIN is the drain

― temporarily embarassed millionaire (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 17 June 2013 20:31 (3 days ago) Permalink

"We'll never win a Pulitzer Prize" -- truer words have never been spoken

― geeta, Monday, 17 June 2013 20:36 (3 days ago) Permalink

maybe they'll start a pulitzer for best sponsored content

― iatee, Monday, 17 June 2013 20:38 (3 days ago) Permalink

"Celebrity content is a commodity. The key is what you do with it" = "We devalue real writing. We are talentless advertising-hungry hacks who will run this publication into the ground as fast as possible and then cash out"

― geeta, Monday, 17 June 2013 20:44 (3 days ago) Permalink

Doing print issues again after they tossed the editor and announced their intent to "contextually integrate advertising with content"...No thanks Mr. TruCar/Geo-Cities guy

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 13:54 (2 days ago) Permalink

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