Paste Magazine Music Samplers Go Digital

When I first discovered Paste magazine, I thought that someone finally got it right.  For years I had pissed and moaned about how music magazines were missing the boat – why just READ about music, why not actually share the MUSIC? So I held my first issue of Paste with the same excitement that I held issue number one of Spin, issue number one of Wired and issue number one of Mondo 2000; THEY GET ME. But as usual, it doesn’t take too long before those good things come to an end.  Usually right after I subscribe, the magazine changes policy in an cost-cutting effort.

Paste was amazing in the early days because they provided both a music sampler CD and a video sampler DVD in the same issue.  The CD would almost always contain a few jems each month and the DVD would focus on music videos, live performances, movie trailers, some occasional shorts and usually a sponsor or two.  Where could you get more for a$5 investment beyond a CD, a DVD and a great read? Actually it was even cheaper when subscribing, so that’s exactly what I did. Just a few issues later, I got the notice that they were axing the DVD sampler. And now, a couple years later, the February 2009 issue will be the last newsstand issue with a CD sampler.

According to page 32 of that issue, Paste claims they ship more than 2,000,000 CDs each year. They surveyed their subscribers and discovered that most are ripping the CD to digital and tossing the disc. Subscribers can still opt-in to receiving the physical discs, but everyone else, especially newsstand purchasers will receive a special code in each issue to download their digital samplers.  I love the idea of a special printed code unique to each magazine/person, but I like the idea of a physical CD and DVD more.   But that’s likely just my prehistoric self showing a fondness for shinny objects…

SO, why should musicians and bands care about Paste?  Because they are clearly paying attention to the trends toward digital.  And while most music magazines are still struggling to figure out how to survive, Paste seems to have things well in-hand.  The Paste website, according to both traffic monitors Alexa and Compete, saw some of the highest traffic counts in their online history right towards the end of 2008.  And while Rolling Stone still has several hundred thousand more website visitors (and magazine readers) than paste, during 2008 the traffic to Paste’s website grew by 571% compared to Rolling Stone’s meager increase of 17% (according Compete.com).

Beyond the slick digital sampler code, Paste has also created a VIP club for just $3.95 per month that I’ll be joining very shortly as well.  Beyond a cool “Members Only” t-shirt, I will also score early access to the next 11 issues of Paste digitally, all the back issues digitally, 24 full albums (digital), 11 digital samplers, exclusive MP3’s and finally a handful of those DVD Samplers that I loved so much, so many years ago.  If you want to be as cool as I’m going to be, you can subscribe as well by visiting their VIP page.  Might be your best $4 music investment for the month.

In the meantime, here’s what you need to know to get your music to Paste magazine and to their monthly Paste Culture Club podcast:

Contact Nate Douglas at:
Paste Magazine
Attn: Reviews
PO Box 1606
Decatur, GA 30031

Once your stuff arrives, follow up with Nate by email or phone: 404-207-1182

For the Paste Culture Club Podcast, contact Kevin Keller by email or phone: 404-207-1190

I look forward to reading about your band, hearing your music and watching your vids, all on the new digital versions of Paste!

-pjc