Is SPIN really circling the drain?

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.

I feel old.

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.

That would rule.

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.

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.

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.

Yes, SPIN, supporter of whackos and rubbish science.

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.

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.

I moved recently and actually came across some of the fabled golden age pre'88 issues in a forgotten milk crate at the back of my closet. some of it was pretty great indeed - especially an article on cookie-puss era beastie boys, but a lot of it was pretty thin. there was really LESS in it - huge empty spaces on the pages, big fonts disguising 3 paragraph long stories, fan-ziney articles about nothing and only a couple of pages of record reviews. and legs mcneil was way past his prime by that point too - if you want to get all golden age-y about stuff. he mostly wrote about how shit everything was compared to 1978!

i was into spin more later because - before vibe & the source & rappages, maybe even before Word Up! - they were the only magazine I could find covering hip hop - albeit with a pretty big NYC Def Jam Beasties-PE-Run DMC slant to it but that was fine by me at that point.

I read it pretty much every issue up until the end of the grunge and the beginning of Electronica Fever in the summer of Trainspotting. I have no idea if it's good or bad anymore. Pretty much all music magazines bore me to tears now - but I think that might have as much to do with me as it does with it not being 1988 anymore ;)

so apparently no one at spin works there anymore and upon the news I just realized I never emailed someone back in my attempt to resolve back invoices (which to be clear is largely my fault and I hate and am ashamed of it). but the new managing editor/apparently the only employee now? has no contact info anywhere and standard email format is bouncing. does anyone know who I need to talk to?

(also just to be clear this is not me attempting to pitch, I am just trying to be paid for past work, I’m really sorry if that’s still scabbing)

I don't think anyone would consider trying to collect backpay scabbing fwiw sorry I don't know who to contact atm.

Sincerely hope you get your money. A magazine I worked for in 1988/89 went bankrupt, just after Christmas but before I'd cashed my most recent paycheque. (ATMs were around, but I wasn't using them yet, so I usually took a couple of extra days to get to the bank.) Pleaded with the publisher via a long-distance call to Quebec--it was something like $700 or $800 for two weeks, money I definitely needed--never got a cent of it; learned very quickly where employees are in the bankruptcy line.

🚨Some personal news 🚨Today is my first day as managing editor at SPIN. Stoked to get started with this legendary publication and yes, I'm taking freelance pitches

— Daniel Kohn (@danielkohn) February 4, 2020

Says he wants pitches, offers no way to contact him.

katherine, you should hit me up privately, i can try and help you out

(not thru my ilx email)

to clarify for anyone who is wondering: roughly half of spin's remaining staff (like 4 of 8 people) were laid off in september, including myself. the parent owner sold spin to a PE firm a month or so ago (at the same time stereogum bought itself out) and as part of that deal, the remaining staff was told they would not be offered full time employment at the new company. spin was officially transferred between companies this week which is why daniel kohn popped up as the "managing editor of spin" today.

my understanding is that the PE firm has no intention to staff spin back up in any real way and will mostly be relying on freelancers

Man

That explains the responses to Kohn’s tweet

I never emailed someone back in my attempt to resolve back invoices

Yeah trying to get paid for work you did before a company went to shit is noble! I hope it works out—I've been in your position before and it's incredibly frustrating.

thanks, headway seems to be happening at least

New editor Kohn hasn’t tweeted in 3 days ( was called a scab in 1 comment)

hang tight

Longtime former Spin writer Charles Aaron has cancer . There’s a Go Fund Me to help him

https://www.gofundme.com/f/tuawbp-charles-aaron-cancer-treatment-fund?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&fs=e&s=cl

🫡 https://www.spin.com/2024/03/spin-u-s-army-team-for-week-long-austin-takeover/

no one wanted their name on that

Lol yeah "Written by Spin Contributor" is sure something. I wonder if they were just hoping a bunch of people would clown them online for this to drive traffic to the site? Basically never see anyone share anything from it minus some local musicians in my town who got very excited someone (also local) got a piece published there. The piece was very bad.

Ah it is a "PARTNER" right at the top with a link to an Army site or something. Looks like it is just a paid promo spot made to look like a piece from Spin.

SPIN still has a couple big names on bylines.