I have been a dedicated reader then subscriber since the beginning. Peter's article this month on Zeitgeist reminds me of one of the bands that lead me to your pages. After I moved from Nashville to Charleston and ultimately into the nether-regions, I knew I could get good advice and substance from you guys. This mag has been water in the desert to me for years. I know this sounds trite but I mean it: Farewell old friend.
Julian Mason Beaufort SC

Well, the Bookazine is a good news, after all. It would be an interesting way to collect what happened in the previous six months; moreover, for us readers that would be a sort of archive we can go to whenever we need your point of view about artists, records, books, films...And the first issue will have to be #76, of course!

Although I feel sad that the print version of ND is ending I am very much looking forward to the online version. I think this could be very good indeed.

I cried when I received the last issue and read that ND would be ceasing publication. I've been attached to many magazines over the years but none of them has been as important to me as ND. I'm thrilled that you'll be continuing on the web and in print.

I too am sad and happy at the same time. Though I don't go as far back as some of your loyal subscriber/readers, I quickly acclimated to the writing style and identified with the content of "No Depression."

The excitement of a stronger web-site presence and the semi annual publication just about takes the withdrawal pains away! One can tell from the questions in your survey that the possibilities are right on track with what we have grown to expect from our monthly "fix."

The mention of an online stream and or podcast really caught my attention! I haven't listened to broadcast radio on a regular basis in over twenty years. To be able to listen to a ND radio station during my work commute and while working around home augmented by a semi-annual book/zine publication is just what we need to cure our ills!

Oh!, and please don't stop selling ND gear! I'm still wanderin' the back streets cryin' 'cause I didn't get a Chantry Badge T in my size before they ran out! In fact, why not print some tee-shirts, caps, etc with the web address so that ND street bums like us can advertise the new product?

To those reading this that haven't taken the survey, what are you waiting for? (And remember boys and girls, a preposition is a terrible thing to end a sentence with!)

I too was devastated when I read that you were closing down the store. I've got to say that ND was (and will continue to be I am happy to hear) such a big part of my life. I am just so darned happy that you will be continuing to to bring so much enjoyment (dare I say joy) to so many of us.

Have I been the first in the world to receive ND #75? I don't think so but...there it was, in my mailbox, yesterday, waiting for me coming back from work. I started reading it at 6.00 p.m. and I spent all night on it. Great, great, great. Thanks again and stay hard on the new website.
Ciao from Nusco, Southern Italy.

You can't take a website on a plane, to the beach, or to bed - I'll be eager to see the bookazine, but have my doubts about how often, or if at all, I'll check the ND website because I spend my working time in front of a computer and prefer not to spend my recreational time in front of one. I've really enjoyed the magazine and will miss it.

Not happy with decision to stop the print edition. This change likely will mean that I rarely, if ever, see the new form of No Depression. Like a previous poster, I work all day on a computer, so I don't(try not to) spend time on the computer at home. Oh well, was great while it lasted.

Sad to see such a great source of info on new, unknown artists, latest releases, gig reviews etc not coming to my mailbox any more.....good to see you are continuing in some form!

Dear ND-friends,

As a loyal Dutch subscriber almost from the beginning I was very disappointed reading the news about stopping ND. Now I am delighted to hear that you are going bi-annualy. Here in Holland we allready have such a bookazine(it's a quaterly) and called Wah Wah. Funny title, nice long "short stories". Indeed in our small country it can exists, so there should be a market in your big USA!
Go forward and if Grant and Peter and Kyla are interested in Wah Wah they can contact me.
PS: keep the great Mary in your team!

Kind musical regards,

Joop

Hi Web ND: I, too, will miss receiving ND in the mail. There's something about holding a well-built magazine in your hands and readily flipping back and forth. Reading and re-reading sections like flipping through a family photo album. But, as the saying goes, when one door closes another opens. To that end, I'm excited about the opportunities web media affords ND. For starters,it's interactive and constantly evolving. A strong community is founded on communication - the dialogue that neighbors and friends share about issues, activities and inspirations affecting their lives. This dimension of the ND community will florish through your web site. The following is a list of suggested site functions: 1) All music is local. We know and experience local, talented, creative, and unknown musicians in our communities. Develop your website so we can post photos, links, songs and reviews of these folks. 2)Create a section for members to list their favorite local music venues. Most of us travel. It would be great to have a local's suggestion on where to hear good music and grab a pint. 3) The same is true for music events. I've appreciated ND for advertising and reviewing Americana music events; but, there are really cool local music festivals we never hear about. 4)Musicians often create in other mediums. It would be great to broaden the artistic mediums posted on ND - painting, photography, poetry, recorded spoken word. Thanks for years of great work. I'm looking forward to what's next. Peace

I've finally come to accept the end of the magazine (buying a stockpile of back issues has helped) and am excited about the book and website. I would be thrilled to see a ND radio show/podcast. There are some great programs on the community station here (st. louis) with a combination of music, history, and reviews. I don't know about the logistics of shopping around a national show but I'd love to see it.

Just wondering....

When it was announced that the print edition was shutting down, the following statement was made:

"First things, then: If you have a subscription to ND, please know that we will do our very best to take care of you. We will be negotiating with a handful of magazines who may be interested in fulfulling your subscription. That is the best we can do under the circumstances."

Is this still the case for those of us who had several issues remaining on their print subscription?

Thanks for a great ride!

Good news! Glad to hear of the expansion of the website and the bookazine. Please remember that you have a wealth of material in your back issues. Digitizing past articles would be another great addition to the ND site, and another avenue for advertising revenue. It would be nice for those of us that missed a few issues over the years and don't want to purchase printed back issues, and very nice to be able to search/browse through archives. Opening on-line comments to past articles could create renewed interest. Seems like an inexpensive way to experiment with "monetizing" your content. Keeping an eye on your web analytics will be key to discovering what works and what doesn't - who knows maybe the long format article really won't be dead after all. As a personal preference, I'd prefer larger ads that don't blink or move. You'll probably want to work within industry standards on ad sizes though. For a design tip, take a look at what others have been doing in regard to grid based designs on the web:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/04/14/designing-with-grid-based-approach/. Also, please note that your "contact us" link seems to be broken.

It's great that you will have an online presence, and for that I'm grateful. But, like all the other correspondents I've just been surveying in your last issue, which just arrived on my doorstep today here in Peterborough, Ontario, I will miss the magazine greatly. It's been the best.
Right now we have "Redbird" playing downstairs. I would probably never have come across this CD if I hadn't been getting your magazine. Its joyful yet soulful combination of roots music -- life affirming, even down to finding out that "grass grows so slow" got us through some difficult health troubles these past few years.
One of the things I loved about your magazine was that you covered Canadian artists -- very rare in American media. (Did you hear of the death of our local Willie P. Bennett a month or two ago? A great Canadian songwriter. Wondered if there'd be something about him in this last issue, but no . . .)
Anyways, loved the magazine, and your politics and sense of what makes life worth living and struggling for and understand ... all the best. See you on the Net, I guess (sadly).
Robert Clarke

we all gotta go someday, but ND goes out on top w/perhaps one of their finest issues! Buddy on the cover, Old 97's, Robert Forster/Go-Betweens, Billy Bragg, Blue Mountain, etc...Wow!
So long, & thanks for all the fish.

The bookazine is a great idea but a horrible word. I recently picked up a remainder copy of the 'Music City Reader 2005' - a great anthology of writing from all over the place and did wonder if the future of ND might lie in something similar. You are right - the web is not the place for long-form writing.

Re - the website - think hard, involve your users and plan, plan, plan. I'm the producer of the BBC's Music website (www.bbc.co.uk/music) and it's fair to say that we haven't cracked where we sit in the evolving landscape of music on the web.

The internet is the natural home for music discovery. What I will miss most about the mag is finding out about artist I'd previoulsy never heard of. This should be the core of how the website evolves.

Best wishes - Nigel

Thanks for helping me to find some great music. I came to the party a little late (about 3 yrs ago or so) but appreciated having a magazine that wrote about the music I loved, & helped me to find more of it. The last issue was a great one. Way to go out strong! I'll watch for what comes next . . . Latch from NJ

I've spent the last couple days with issue 75. Thanks for putting Buddy on the cover and all your kind words. Thanks also for giving us such a soulful...magazine and focal point.

Best wishes from California's Central Valley
Brian

just like the music, there are a precious few who carry on the tradition of documenting, caring and thinking about the music that we love and--for some of us--defines us. I'm glad to hear that NO DEPRESSION is not going away entirely and I never really believed that it would. please continue the amazing coverage, vast reach and unshakable respect for the music we all have such a hard time defining.
with all the love in the world,
landon kirksey
thunderstorms and neon signs
dot blogspot dot com

I've read your mag faithfully for about 12 years, the last 10 via subscription. I had never subsribed to a music mag before New Depression which I started reading with issue 6 but was occasionally frustrated when my local Borders did not get Issues they promised me (Missed Issue 10&13 though I now have them) and hence the reason for my sub which started with issue 20. I will be forever in your debt for turning me on to music I would never have heard otherwise in the backwaters of Scotland, particularly in the early days when the WWW was still in its infancy and no other mags covered the music classed as Alt Country. I have purchased Hundreds and Hundreds of albums based on the advice recieved in your mag from impartial reviews by reviewers and extended feature Editors who really new what they were talking about and who I began to think of as family because of th common bond.
I will miss you all.

Mark

This is the end of an era...as corny as that sounds. Down here in New Zealand we get very little live music action...it's just too far and expensive to come...so for a long time No Depression was the best way to find out about great music...especially 'alternative' country.

Thanks for all the discoveries I made via your mag. While the bi-monthly has died (and gone to heaven I'm sure) the book idea lives on and will be a great asset to keep! I'll keep it near all my copies of ND...like all things good they are too valuable to throw away.

Good luck with the website...I look forward to be able to read, and hear (?) tracks from new and established artists.

I feel bad that the hardcopy has been discontinued. Where I live I had to beg a couple of retailers to carry your magazine. There isn't any place (music retailers) that know about the artists you cover, let alone sell their product. Through your product I have turned friends and music fans onto artists they may never have found about. Your magazine has emptied my bank account and run up my credit card balance, but you won't hear me complaining, it was worth it.

Big drag! But keep us posted about the bookazine. You guys have elevated your karma by keeping the music alive for a long time!

Very sorry to see the magazine end.I looked forward to each issue and expanding my musical horizons. Best of luck in all future endeavors!

It's just too sad that this great magazine is gone and I must agree: This is the end of an era. Gone much too soon because there are a million stories to be told and countless artists to be discovered.
I'm looking forward to whatever will come, knowing the WWW can't replace what I lost right now. My mailbox just loves paper, especially if it is as beautiful as yours. Good luck with the website your dedicated reader and humble rider.