Hi Grant and Peter.

Well, I'm a long-time reader and a member of the younger, web-savvy (addicted? obsessed? afflicted?) generation, you might say.

I'm also a musician and I hear I got my first No D ink in the new issue, thanks so much.

I'm pretty much heartbroken that you won't be publishing anymore. You guys have been an oasis for me, promise that there is a place for musicians/fans such myself, and I'll really miss getting No D in my mailbox.

Anyway, you might take a page from successful online music magazines like Pitchfork and bulk up on reviews and news accompanied by downloadable mp3's.

I sympathize with your concern about the 10,000 word article not translating to the web, and I agree the podcasts could be a viable option.

Also, downloadable pdf files might be an option. People could print them or read them from a computer with more reader-friendly software.

Also, being online could allow No D to have more of a "forum"-like existence, with discussion boards and interactive features.

The obvious suggestion is to be able to listen to music by the artists we're reading about. In fact, that is the one way in which the website could be even better than the print mag!

And don't forget that your advertisers will likely be willing to advertise on the website, since they know what a devoted audience you've got -- Internet ads are cheaper for them than print ads, and it would bring in some revenue for you guys. I for one read every ad, just as faithfully as I read your articles. I've bought plenty of CDs because of ads in ND.

Brainstorming:

1) While I'm not wild about podcasting long features, it's not a wholly bonkers idea, especially if music were woven into the podcast (either fully licensed songs, or short enough samples to obviate licensing), so that you have a kind of audio narrative ala This American Life or whatever.

2)More efficient archiving of and richer presentation of reviews (See Pitchfork)

3)Contributing Editor blogs

4)More aggressive and comprehensive news section

5)On the podcast tip: downloadable audio interviews with artists, producers, writers, photophers, designers--anyone, really, the ND audience might care about

6)Exclusive artist performances, some as free MP3s or videos, some for $$

7)A rating system for users, allowing folks to interact with the site in a quick and easy way by rating or recommending their favorite articles or mp3s or videos

8)Diarists, ala a site like dailykos.com, where regular readers/subscribers, who contribute excellent comments to established blogs or reviews, are occasionally solicited to post their own content in a diary or blog form

9)Live review section, updated as aggressively as possible, ideally with photos and videos

10)A comprehensive database of ND-ish bands with links to their sites

11)A full, searchable archive of past issues

12)A wider, more generous, but still discriminating range of coverage, one that fulfills the promise of "the past, present and future of American music."

All off the top of my head, with obvious caveats about feasibility, payability, etc.

And apologies to Grant in advance--whose head will explode by the end of this comment--but sans serif fonts for any text over 5 lines long. The conventional wisdom re font readability on the web is that serif is harder on the eyes--and here I agree with the convention.

Roy has some good ideas, but...

I can get music from artists' myspace page or their website. Please don't do anything redundant.

Continue writing thoughtful reviews of new releases and recent live shows. Keep those features, for sure. Perhaps even expand the live shows part by having more space for contributors to post reviews.

I do not want to hear you read an article just so I can get a podcast. If I cannot read it at my computer, I still have a printer attached. Anyway, how long does it take to read 3000 words? I bet it takes no longer than listening to 3000 words read by Grant or Peter. BTW, some of my favorite stuff has been the long articles over the years I have been reading ND.

I book artists for our local theater. If you had a feature where presenters could post upcoming shows, I would contribute regularly. How many tickets would I sell? I don't know. We are selling out all our shows now, so not many. But the artists would get some wonderful PR when people see their show in NC is sold out.

FWIW, I do not know where I would go to read about new and old artists in this genre. Who else would cover Chris Smither and The Greencards and Crooked Still and Lori McKenna and Jimmy Dale Gilmore?

Please don't stop thinking about tomorrow!

How about a complete, fully researchable archive of all reviews and features, those published in the past as well as those posted from here on out?
To fund this project, perhaps you could charge some kind of premium fee (one time? monthly? annual? annually?) and/or include this feature with others in a package of special premium features.

And there is no reason at all that the on-site material has to be limited to MP3 audios. This is 2008. The new acts covered by ND are Lost in MySpace, even with video on the sites--because they don't and can't draw attention of the Interested as featurettes, blogs and links on ND Online would.
That column called "film at 11" is a natural for providing clips from DVDS or downloadable videos also advertised on the site--and new video of relevant performers and their performances could be shown in clips and discussed too. ND has BEEN, in part, blog-like , in part a news outfit, as well as serial profiler in most key ways, from the beginning-- and aggregator of a specific flavor of musical material. If we focus on the content we've been responsible for, lauded content that has kept that readership all along, and avoid getting trapped in nostalgia for a means of delivery, this could be a significant PROFESSIONAL contributor to the conversation about American music for years to come. And it could look a lot more like a conversation-not a monologue.. I might add, the long form pieces ought to be available as a premium for the truly interested--very possibly on a pay-per-read basis. The will not be too long for those who don't find them too long--and prove it!

Podcasts are so yesterday. Plus, someone has to read them out loud and record them, and they're as ephemeral as any conversation. You ought to check out the Kindle, Amazon.com's portable reader. That's one way of putting your articles in the hands of people who want to read without sitting in front of a screen (not to imply you shouldn't have a robust web site). I'm sure there would be ways of linking the text to Mp3 files, directing traffic back to you site, etc. Going to electronic media is the way to go for you because your production costs are time plus whatever you have to pay a web-savvy developer to do the stuff you say you can't (but I'll bet you can - web developers are idiots just like the rest of is, they've just learned the secret lingo). Selling web advertising is making a lot of money for a lot of folks. I think you could revolutionize Americana marketing. Look at MUSICIAN'S web sites for ideas - they're becoming electronic marketers, Matthew Ryan's MySpace page is a good place to start. Your coming attractions listing is a real godsend. What if those titles linked to a sales outlet that gave you a piece of the action? Lotsa possibilities out there in the ether. Think outside the paper box!

Responding to Doug--yes, we can listen to mp3s on myspace, and no doubt in your profession you know what you're looking for. It's a jungle out there, though, if you don't already know the name of a band you might like. I favor mp3s right on the ND site so people don't have to leave the site to hear the band.

Have to add a salute to the paid archive idea, too.

Also, it might be cool for any senior editors to have their own blogs at the site. If they want. I know they do a lot more thinking about different aspects of music, and more artists, than we have been privileged to read bi-monthly.

Finally, Grant, I think you should mock up the pages for your webmaster. You might be surprised how much control you can get over the reading experience.

Like most new technologies, this website business, for you, should start out immitating what you've done before. Over time, you'll come to be pretty excited, I think, about all the stuff you can do out here without the limits of the printed page.

Linda

While I certainly sympathize with the desire to keep ND making money during this transition to the digital world, I'd just remind folks that the New York Times premium service hasn't exactly been a success. And they're the New York Times.

I just received my next to last ND in the mail yesterday and was very sad to read the news of its demise. Especially since I never worked up enough courage to submit a review for consideration.

The long articles in ND were part of what inspired me to change the format of my own music blog from the typical mp3 posts into 100% legal (mp3s only posted with permission) full album reviews. Granted, I don't get the traffic of the big name mp3 blogs. But I've found that the number of regular readers has steadily increased and people seem to appreciate the time I take to write about music.

So I hope you don't feel pressure to turn this site into a Stereogum or Idolator clone. Those sites serve their purpose, but I much prefer longer winded blogs like Said the Gramophone, Songs: Illinois, and Covers Lay Down (all of which I feel Muruch fits in with).

I would suggest that whatever form your online writing takes in the future, you include an RSS feed for each blog. That way people can subscribe through feed reader sites like Bloglines and I think that makes longer posts much easier to digest.

And selfishly, I really hope another magazine will fulfill the next year of subscriptions, since I just paid to renew my own.

Good luck with everything and please keep writing. We curmudgeons need to stick together. :)

I can't even put forth in words how saddened by the demise of the Nd print publication. It honestly is the only music related print media I read these days.

I have no suggestions for the online version, as I didn't really utilize it much for obvious reasons, but I do wish you the best of luck and I'll keep my fingers crossed that the indie print media sector will have a sudden upswing and ND will be in print yet again (hey, a girl's gotta stay optimistic in this day and age).

Hi guys,

I always enjoyed reading the reviews of shows from around the country. The smaller venues - the better.

So if I had it my way I hope you would continue live show reviews written by various field editors.

Do you currently have a stable of writers in various "music cities" that regularly report? If not, could you?

I know many people, myself included, that would love this. I think many reviewers would relish the opportunity for you to assign them a show to review for online publication.

One thing NOT to do is allow a place for EVERYONE to comment on various shows. Although a well rounded opinion is nice, I would not like to sort through a thread of messages/arguments over whether or not an artist's show was a good one or not.

Sorry to hear about the future of print. I'll miss it a ton.

All the best.

- Matthew Francis Andersen

>>
Anyway, how long does it take to read 3000 words? I bet it takes no longer than listening to 3000 words read by Grant or Peter.
>>

For what it's worth, it's highly doubtful I'd be reading my own stuff in a podcast. You've heard of a face made for radio? I've got a voice made for newsprint.

Hi there,

I was trying to think about what I feel that I am paying for with a music magazine subscription...
To be honest I don't think it is the wealth of exposure and experience that is brought along by you guys that appeals to me the most, because it takes a lot of time for me to consume music. I think what I crave is the collecting and the tangible culture of the musicians. And only second to that being able to slowly discover myself what you have already written is worth discovering...

I would happily pay the same subscription for a mailed CD which brings up a full screen electronic version of the magazine. Well... and a poster would be nice. This is really the PDF idea but on CD - I would prefer a disc for the same reason as I do in my album collection - it's nice to have it in a drawer instead of a virtual folder.

I'll miss the magazine, Chris

I just like hearing about those artists you write about and new music reviews. Darn it is all great.

Roy has a great comprehensive list of ideas. Ixnay on the podcasts, though, unless they are interviews with artists. Most authors create prose much more deftly than they can read it. That's why Stephen King has Frank Muller and Harry Potter has Jim Dale. Use several page links like online newspapers if you need more ad space or xlick-throughs.
Not so keen on the San Serif idea. That's for kids who never cracked a book and learned to read on MySpace.
And Doug is just wrong - he may have time to spend online avoiding redundancy, but most people would like as much content available as they can lay their mice on. Any business model for an income-producing website must keep eyes on the page and clicking through to a maximum.
How about regional editions in the future with local, knowledgeable editors to follow trends, scenes and concerts?
Keep it a 'community', because we still love y'all.

Long time reader here. Along with expanding the website, a No Depression podcast is a must. With whatever you want to put on it. Be it interviews or whatever.

A consultant is a person who borrows your watch, tells you what time it
is, pockets the watch, and sends you a bill for it.

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