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A Message From Jason; Because He Has No Other Title Ideas

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by Melody Bot, Oct 7, 2020.

  1. Melody Bot Oct 7, 2020
    Melody Bot

    Your friendly little forum bot. Staff Member

    This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply.

    Years from now, I’m not sure I’ll be able to adequately explain to someone that didn’t live through 2020 precisely what it was like. It’s been a year unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my lifetime. Things I never thought I’d see are happening on such a regular basis that I feel myself fluctuating between numb anxiety and flashing white-hot anger. When the pandemic began in March, I reacted by tackling some projects I had on my list for a long time. I redesigned and rebuilt the entire main website and launched that in May; I then brought back hundreds of pieces of old AbsolutePunk content and got that part of the scene history back in our database. Over the past eighteen or so weeks, I’ve also been writing weekly articles that first re-ranked all of the “best of” lists from 2005 through 2015, and then deconstructed my entire musical journey starting in 1998 and tried to tell the story of how I fell in love with music and the history of beginning AbsolutePunk. These have been welcome distractions in these weird-ass times.

    Usually, in August, I do some kind of “supporter pitch” on the website. I’ve done it the past three or four years to remind people about our membership program and talk about how it’s because of the supporting members that this website can exist. I try not to be too annoying about this because I’m not great at self-promotion, but if I don’t do it, I always feel like I’m not trying as hard as I could be. This year, with all of the racial injustice, pandemic, and so much more going on, I never could find the time that felt right to do it. After finishing my article project last week, I spent some time brainstorming what other kinds of articles I could write that I think would be fun to tackle, and I also did my annual deep dive on the state of the website and how I’m feeling about everything. The bottom line is the pandemic really fucked with my plans.

    From the end of March through this month, on average, the website’s ad revenue was basically cut in half. We saw more traffic than usual, and virtually half the income from the ads. That’s not great. I don’t know if, or when, the ad revenue will return to something resembling what it looked like at the beginning of the year. So I realized before I can start thinking about my next article series, I have to write up some pitch about our membership program. So here I am.

    The basic gist of the math is the website makes money two ways. About half of the revenue comes from the (I know, awful) ads that run on every page of the website. The website and forums combined do millions of page views, and therefore millions of ad impressions every single month. However, the online ad industry is such that those impressions are worth very little. That revenue being sliced basically in half makes my ability to do this independently for a living very difficult. The second way we can operate is through our supporting membership program. We have three tiers of membership, all with the exact same perks. At the entry tier, of $3 a month or $25 a year, it comes down to pennies per day. And, being a member, you no longer see the ads on the website. It’s such a better experience. The website is built to be very fast and responsive, and without the ads, it really is.1

    The bottom line is if 1% of the people that visit the website every month were supporting members, we’d be wholly sustainable and far less susceptible to volatility in the ad market. I know that there’s a bunch of subscription services starting up; every app is a subscription, every podcast is launching new membership programs, and it can be overwhelming. I’ve tried to make ours as user friendly as possible and as simple to use as I can, but one of the reasons you see this from so many independent publishers is it’s one of the best ways to have predictable revenue. And if I’m going to be able to keep publishing content on the website every day, writing articles each week, doing the weekly newsletter, and maintaining and adding features to the community, that kind of predictable revenue is the only way forward. Without it, I have to find some way to make up the difference in the hefty ad decrease.

    That’s the pitch. I know there’s a lot of people that read this website daily. I know thousands post in the forums every single day. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who reads anything I write and all the kind words over the past few weeks related to the “My Nostalgia” series. I’ve always tried to be completely upfront and transparent about how this website operates, and I know this latest update is a bit of a downer. We were on track for a great year until the pandemic, but now things feel in flux. I understand the self-employed and independent life; I’ve been doing it for a long time. There’s always ups and downs. But I didn’t see this year playing out the way it did. But we’re here now, and I’m trying to make the best of it and make decisions based on how things sort out next.2

    Next week I plan to write about some of the most memorable “dramatic” moments in our music scene and the behind the scenes stories I can recall. I think that will be a whole lot more fun to write.

    Thanks for reading, please consider becoming a member. No ads! Dark Mode! Being able to talk with me about Ted Lasso’s brilliance in the supporter forum!

    1. I know some people view the website with an ad blocker on, which I get, but please consider being a supporting member instead and having the ads removed in a way that also helps us be able to keep existing.↩

    2. On that note, if you’re reading this and know of any job you think I’d be good at, please reach out. I can send you a resume if you’d like, but I’d be interested in talking about music, tech, marketing, content creating, or really anything you’d think my skill set could help with.↩

    more

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    dwpaulin, JRGComedy, Mary V and 10 others like this.
  2. srorick10101 Oct 7, 2020
    srorick10101

    TubaShorts

    Absolutepunk / Chorus has been my homepage for over a decade. It's long overdue, but I'm happy to finally be an official supporter today!
     
    Christian Romero, Sherlock Mahomes, RileyWitiw and 15 others like this.
  3. Anarchivist Oct 7, 2020
    Anarchivist

    Terrible Guitarist

    Done. I can't count the number of times I've been giddy about news that I heard for the first time here.
     
    Christian Romero, Sherlock Mahomes, RileyWitiw and 9 others like this.
  4. 150Wrds Oct 7, 2020
    150Wrds

    Newbie

    Same. I've visited this site for more years than I can remember and found nearly all my favourite bands because of Jason and the other writers. Just became a supporter, well worth it for something which has shaped my musical taste.

    Jason, do you have an option to show ads when a member? I'm more than happy to see the ads, they are the least obtrusive they can be, so you've obviously spent a lot of time and effort in making that happen. I'd be happy to be a member and see ads.
     
    Sherlock Mahomes, RileyWitiw, EntryLevelDave and 4 others like this.
  5. Remove
  6. morken Oct 7, 2020
    morken

    Not everything means something, honey Supporter

    I feel for you Jason. I'm gonna upgrade my account for a while, hope that helps.
     
    Sherlock Mahomes, RileyWitiw, Matt Chylak and 2 others like this.
  7. Jason Tate Oct 7, 2020
    Jason Tate

    liner notes is back Staff Member

    I really appreciate it, and now when you view the page it'll be even faster and look better! Thanks for the years of reading.

    Haha, thank you!

    1) Thank you!

    2) Your avatar really is a great October mood album. I should go listen to that.

    3) There is currently no option like that, but really don't feel bad about it. I appreciate the idea but for one, the ads really do pay so exceptionally little per view that it's more than ok, and for two, I really do think the website should be experienced ad-free for the best experience. I have worked so hard on making it as fast as possible and the ads have always been the biggest determinant to that goal.

    Thank you! I really do appreciate that. Weeeeeeeeeird year for everyone. :-/
     
    Anarchivist and anonimito like this.
  8. 150Wrds Oct 7, 2020
    150Wrds

    Newbie

    No worries then! I know the feeling, I'm a web developer too, so making a website fast is always a massive aim, and then our marketing team add every JavaScript file possible to track people and my world falls apart :crylaugh::crylaugh:
     
    JamesMichael, sawhney[rusted]2, anonimito and 2 others like this.
  9. CyberInferno Oct 7, 2020
    CyberInferno

    Line below my username Supporter

    ScutFarkus, AFoolsGlory, Matt Chylak and 2 others like this.
  10. SamLevi11 Oct 7, 2020
    SamLevi11

    Prestigious Prestigious

    Took the plunge. I'm lucky in that during this whole situation, I've actually found a better job and start soon. Using some of the extra money to help fund the things I appreciate and these forums are somewhere I enjoy being.
     
    slickdtc, sawhney[rusted]2, anonimito and 1 other person like this.
  11. mynamesgeneric Oct 7, 2020
    mynamesgeneric

    Regular

    I've tried 2 different credit cards from 2 different browsers and they keep coming back declined. Looks like there may be something up with Stripe?
     
  12. Jason Tate Oct 7, 2020
    Jason Tate

    liner notes is back Staff Member

    Hmm. Let me take a look ...

    I don't see any issue on the backend, transactions are going through (huge thank you to everyone that's signed up in the last hour, an increase from the last week is an incredible thing to log in and see). Can you private message, or email me, and I can see if I can track it down by the email address you're using and see what the error code could be? I tried looking using the email address associated with this account, but can't find anything and am not sure why you would be seeing that.
     
  13. Jason Tate Oct 7, 2020
    Jason Tate

    liner notes is back Staff Member

    First, thank you very much, I appreciate it, and second, congrats! That's awesome. One of my close friends had the same thing happen and I'm glad there's some good news still going out in the world!
     
    anonimito and SamLevi11 like this.
  14. Remove
  15. Jason Tate Oct 7, 2020
    Jason Tate

    liner notes is back Staff Member

    :crylaugh:
     
    anonimito likes this.
  16. Jason Tate Oct 7, 2020
    Jason Tate

    liner notes is back Staff Member

    metallikunt, palebluedot and anonimito like this.
  17. Buscemi knows best Oct 7, 2020
    Buscemi knows best

    You owe me a Sausage McMuffin

    Done. Happy to throw a few bucks to a place where I've found new bands to love for well more than a decade (under the influence?). I owe you and this community a big thanks for that. Appreciate your honest post about the dogshit year that is 2020.

    Also, holy fuck had I been sleeping on dark mode. This is the only way.
     
    dwpaulin, Sherlock Mahomes, sawhney[rusted]2 and 3 others like this.
  18. fredwordsmith Oct 7, 2020
    fredwordsmith

    Trusted Supporter

    This community is essential. To have fewer than 1% of people on here as paying members is actually kind of shocking.

    If you don’t pay for things that bring you news or joy, they’ll cease to exist. That’s how life works.

    The first person to pledge (and fulfill) a subscription for someone else gets a year on me. Let’s pay it way forward and see how much we can grow this daisy chain. Let’s put our dollars where our mouths, ears and eyeballs are.

    Jason, if there’s a better place to amplify this, let me know. Thanks for all you do for this place. Let’s fund the hell out of it.
     
    CyberInferno, blast0rama, RileyWitiw and 4 others like this.
  19. ARo24 Oct 7, 2020
    ARo24

    Regular

    I’m long over due as well. Here’s to hoping you can bounce back to finish the year on a better note. I appreciate all the content and the quality the site has provided over the years.
     
    anonimito likes this.
  20. dzyjay Oct 7, 2020
    dzyjay

    Regular

    A few months back we made a bet that Tom would / wouldn’t join blink again in some capacity in 2020. Looks like I’ll be here for awhile.
     
  21. The Comfort Oct 7, 2020
    The Comfort

    Spotify Supporter

    Just signed up :)
     
    anonimito likes this.
  22. Matt Chylak Oct 7, 2020
    Matt Chylak

    I can always be better, so I'll always try. Supporter

    Pay for things you like. It's that simple!
     
    fredwordsmith and anonimito like this.
  23. Remove
  24. Mary V Oct 8, 2020
    (Last edited: Oct 8, 2020)
    Mary V

    pissed off, funny and warm Supporter

    Changed my monthly subscription from PayPal to Stripe. More than happy to chip in and keep a website I love going!
     
    anonimito likes this.
  25. AFoolsGlory Oct 8, 2020
    AFoolsGlory

    @MattW182 Supporter

    I use this website and the forums as some of my main sources of news, to discuss the things I like, and to find new things to like. The amount of bands or shows or games I've discovered through Chorus/ Absolute Punk is innumerable. I lose count of how many times a day I open the site.

    Bit embarrassed to say I've never been a Supporter before, but changed that now. Happy that the money is going to support the site and ensure it remains a smooth and pleasant experience!

    Although my bank has just called me thinking that the payment was suspicious activity, but it was worth it haha!
     
    anonimito, Mary V and fredwordsmith like this.
  26. burningstariv Oct 8, 2020
    burningstariv

    Chasing that 2007 Warped Tour feeling Supporter

    Long time reader going back to I don't even know when. Really appreciate all the work you've put into the website over the years. I know self-promotion can suck, but you have built a community that wants to see you succeed and continue on with the website. I'm stoked that I'm finally a supporting member. All the best!
     
    anonimito and AFoolsGlory like this.
  27. slickdtc Oct 8, 2020
    slickdtc

    Regular Supporter

    It’s this transparency that made becoming a supporter a year and a half or so ago an easy decision. I appreciate Jason acknowledging that everyone is asking for just a buck these days, so you do have to devote your financial resources to what you really love and use the most. When I weighed that, it was easy to throw a few bones his way. I get all kinds of cool news from this site. For the price of a latte a month? No brainer. The hardest part is getting your ass in gear and signing up, so a nice kick in the rear once a year isn’t even self promotion, it’s motivation.

    At one point my card expired and I was reverted back to the ad-supported free version. Never again!!!

    Its a nice feeling to see so many respond to call to action.
     
    Mary V, anonimito, fredwordsmith and 3 others like this.
  28. Jason Tate Oct 8, 2020
    Jason Tate

    liner notes is back Staff Member

    Thank you! I really appreciate that. And yeah, 2020 has been a real mother fucker. Would really be nice to have things swing in the opposite direction toward the end of the year.

    Haha, glad you like dark mode! I'm a big fan of how that turned out.

    Yeah, to be fair the website does get a lot of traffic, some are just drop ins every few days, some just come from Google and were searching for something, so it makes some sense. For me I'm always kinda looking at the return visitor numbers, or even the number of people that post on a daily basis on the website, and seeing how those line up.

    That said, yesterday and today so far was by far the biggest day jump in memberships since probably the day I launched everything. So that's a huge, positive sign. Also shows me I should probably be more willing to self-promote more often, but it's just so counter to what I'm comfortable doing ...

    Thank you! I really appreciate it.

    If he proves aliens are real, I'll call it a draw. :crylaugh:

    Thank you very much!

    Nice! Thank you Mary, it means a whole lot to me!
     
    Mary V, anonimito and fredwordsmith like this.