Paste (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Paste is a monthly music
and entertainment
digital magazine
published in the United States
by Wolfgang's Vault
. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film
and Culture
."
, was founded as a quarterly in July 2002 by Josh Jackson, Nick Purdy and Tim Porter. It switched to a bimonthly format amid increased popularity and the addition of Joe Kirk to the managing team, and continued to grow in 2005, when Paste fulfilled remaining subscriptions for the competing magazine Tracks, which had ceased publication of its print edition. Paste became a monthly with its August 2006 issue. During its eight-year run, Paste was nominated for a National Magazine Award four times.
For two years in the mid-2000s, Paste had a weekly segment on CNN Headline News called Paste Picks, where editors would recommend new albums and films every Tuesday.
In October 2007, the magazine opted to try the so-called "Radiohead
" experiment, offering new and current subscribers
the ability to pay what they want for a one year subscription to Paste. The results were excellent, raising subscriber base by 28,000, but Paste president Tim Regan-Porter noted that the model is not sustainable and that the magazine would lose money on the deal; there were hopes that the new subscribers would renew the following year at the current rates, and that the increase in web traffic would also increase subscribers and attract additional advertisers
.
Amidst an economic downturn, Paste began to suffer from lagging ad revenue, much like other magazine publishers had been feeling in 2008 and 2009. On May 14, 2009, Paste editors announced a plan to save the magazine, by pleading to its readers, musicians and celebrities for contributions. Cost cutting by the magazine did not stem the losses, and rather than shutter the magazine, Paste has hopes in receiving donations to help lift the magazine out of the crisis. The main crux cited for the financial troubles is the lack of advertiser spending. A similar situation happened with the magazine JPG
, which led to subscribers and fans of that magazine to create a 'buzz' about JPG online, garnering enough attention for a buyer to continue the contribution-based model of that magazine.
In 2009, Paste launched an hour-long TV pilot for Halogen TV
called Pop Goes the Culture.
On August 31, 2010, Paste suspended the print magazine, but PasteMagazine.com continued to cover music, film, books, TV and video games online.
and Android tablets roll out, making use of new digital capabilities such as Apple
's Newstand application.
, Americana
and indie rock
, the magazine also covered independent film
and book
s. Each issue originally included a CD
music sampler, but was dropped in favor of digital downloading as a Going-Green
initiative. Featured artists included Ryan Adams
, Blackalicious
, Paul McCartney
, Regina Spektor
, The Whigs
, Fiona Apple
, The Decemberists
, Mark Heard
, Woven Hand
, Milton and the Devils Party
, Liam Finn
, The Trolleyvox
, and Thom Yorke
. Many of these artists also contributed to the Campaign to Save Paste.
s list of "50 Best Magazines", and appeared on the list again in 2007. Paste was also named "Magazine of the Year" by the PLUG Independent Music Awards
in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, Paste was nominated for a National Magazine Award in the category of General Excellence, and in 2010, associate editor Rachael Maddux' writings were nominated for Best Reviews.
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
digital magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
published in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Wolfgang's Vault
Wolfgang's Vault
Wolfgang's Vault is a private music-focused company established in 2003 dedicated to the restoration and archiving of live concert recordings in audio and video format and the sale of music memorabilia. It began with the collection of the late promoter Bill Graham, and added multiple other music...
. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and Culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
."
History
The magazine, headquartered in Decatur, GeorgiaDecatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
, was founded as a quarterly in July 2002 by Josh Jackson, Nick Purdy and Tim Porter. It switched to a bimonthly format amid increased popularity and the addition of Joe Kirk to the managing team, and continued to grow in 2005, when Paste fulfilled remaining subscriptions for the competing magazine Tracks, which had ceased publication of its print edition. Paste became a monthly with its August 2006 issue. During its eight-year run, Paste was nominated for a National Magazine Award four times.
For two years in the mid-2000s, Paste had a weekly segment on CNN Headline News called Paste Picks, where editors would recommend new albums and films every Tuesday.
In October 2007, the magazine opted to try the so-called "Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
" experiment, offering new and current subscribers
Subscription business model
The subscription business model is a business model where a customer must pay a subscription price to have access to the product/service. The model was pioneered by magazines and newspapers, but is now used by many businesses and websites....
the ability to pay what they want for a one year subscription to Paste. The results were excellent, raising subscriber base by 28,000, but Paste president Tim Regan-Porter noted that the model is not sustainable and that the magazine would lose money on the deal; there were hopes that the new subscribers would renew the following year at the current rates, and that the increase in web traffic would also increase subscribers and attract additional advertisers
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
.
Amidst an economic downturn, Paste began to suffer from lagging ad revenue, much like other magazine publishers had been feeling in 2008 and 2009. On May 14, 2009, Paste editors announced a plan to save the magazine, by pleading to its readers, musicians and celebrities for contributions. Cost cutting by the magazine did not stem the losses, and rather than shutter the magazine, Paste has hopes in receiving donations to help lift the magazine out of the crisis. The main crux cited for the financial troubles is the lack of advertiser spending. A similar situation happened with the magazine JPG
JPG (magazine)
JPG is a magazine, published 4 times a year by 8020 Publishing, which focuses on photography. The content of JPG is user-created and submitted via the magazine's website. When photos are submitted to the website, they are voted on by members of the site's community for inclusion in the next issue...
, which led to subscribers and fans of that magazine to create a 'buzz' about JPG online, garnering enough attention for a buyer to continue the contribution-based model of that magazine.
In 2009, Paste launched an hour-long TV pilot for Halogen TV
Halogen TV
Halogen TV is a television network that airs feature-length films, documentaries, short films, and original reality programs that center on making positive social changes and making the world a better place.-History:...
called Pop Goes the Culture.
On August 31, 2010, Paste suspended the print magazine, but PasteMagazine.com continued to cover music, film, books, TV and video games online.
Reemergence
On May 28, 2011, Paste Magazine announced it was bringing back its weekly subscription services in a digital layout. The mPlayer is currently available as a beta until September, when subscription services will begin and native applications for the iPadIPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
and Android tablets roll out, making use of new digital capabilities such as Apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
's Newstand application.
Content
Although Pastes focus was music, covering a variety of genres with an emphasis on adult album alternativeAdult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
, Americana
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
and indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
, the magazine also covered independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
and book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s. Each issue originally included a CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
music sampler, but was dropped in favor of digital downloading as a Going-Green
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
initiative. Featured artists included Ryan Adams
Ryan Adams
David Ryan Adams is an American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, Adams left the band and released his first solo album Heartbreaker in 2000...
, Blackalicious
Blackalicious
Blackalicious is an American hip hop duo from Sacramento, California made up of rapper Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Chief Xcel . They are noted for Gift of Gab's often "tongue-twisting", multisyllabic, complex rhymes and Chief Xcel's "classic" beats...
, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Regina Spektor
Regina Spektor
Regina Ilyinichna Spektor is a Russian American singer-songwriter and pianist. Her music is associated with the anti-folk scene centered in New York City's East Village.-Early life:...
, The Whigs
The Whigs
The Whigs are an American garage rock band from Athens, Georgia, consisting of lead singer and guitarist Parker Gispert, drummer Julian Dorio and bassist Timothy Deaux.-Biography:...
, Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple McAfee Maggart is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Apple met international acclaim for her 1996 debut album, Tidal, which was a critical and commercial success...
, The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's...
, Mark Heard
Mark Heard
John Mark Heard was a record producer, folk-rock singer, and songwriter originally from Macon, Georgia, USA....
, Woven Hand
Woven Hand
Wovenhand is a band from Denver, Colorado led by former 16 Horsepower lead singer David Eugene Edwards. Woven Hand's music combines elements of neofolk, alternative country, post-rock, punk, industrial music, folk rock, old-time music and native American music, among other influences.-History:The...
, Milton and the Devils Party
Milton and the Devils Party
- Overview :Milton and the Devils Party is an American Indie rock band from Philadelphia, PA. It was formed in 2001 by singer-songwriter-bassist Daniel Robinson and guitarist Mark Graybill. Drummer Bob Falgie joined in 2006....
, Liam Finn
Liam Finn
Liam Mullane Finn is a New Zealand musician and songwriter. Born in Australia, he moved to New Zealand as a child...
, The Trolleyvox
The Trolleyvox
The Trolleyvox is an American Indie pop band from Philadelphia, PA. It was formed in 1996 by Andrew Chalfen and Beth Filla.The band's style drew comparisons to The New Pornographers, while a YouTube video for "Just You Wait" turned it into an anthem against George W...
, and Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
. Many of these artists also contributed to the Campaign to Save Paste.
Awards
In 2005, Paste was listed at #21 on the Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
s list of "50 Best Magazines", and appeared on the list again in 2007. Paste was also named "Magazine of the Year" by the PLUG Independent Music Awards
PLUG Independent Music Awards
The PLUG Independent Music Awards, or just PLUG Awards, began in 2001 as a "cartel" of music lovers ranging from DJs and managers to indie retailers and fans.*This event is not in any way associated with the .-2008:...
in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, Paste was nominated for a National Magazine Award in the category of General Excellence, and in 2010, associate editor Rachael Maddux' writings were nominated for Best Reviews.