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RE: His role...

62.11.147.159

In Reply to: RE: His role... posted by mkuller on February 01, 2008 at 15:05:58

>It seems to me to be a waste of his considerable talents, but I suspect >he's tolerating it.

>After all, he's getting a regular paycheck without the headaches of >owning and operating a magazine

Mah, Mr. Kuller…. I think (and you would have to know it very well, having worked for years with HP) that a man accustomed to be at the helm cannot become a simple sailor.
I think HP, after all, is not content of the actual state of TAS (and of his actual editorial leadership) but - for some reason – he is forced to support it: after all, I don’t think he would have difficulty to find another magazine where he could write (and for much money)…

Follow Ups:

Think about it for a minute... - mkuller 11:37:24 02/04/08 (0)
> ...I don’t think he would have difficulty to find another magazine where he could write (and for much money)…>

There is really only one audio magazine I can think of that is successful enough to hire him - that would be Stereophile.

It would cost them quite a bit, no doubt - and what would they gain?

Their circulation is 2 to 3 times that of TAS. So I would assume most, if not all, TAS subscribers already buy Stereophile.

How would they pay for all of the additional incremental costs without a big bump in circulation which translates into more advertising dollars?

They couldn't.

For better or worse, I think he's pretty much stuck where he is.
Respectfully disagree re: "another magazine." - John Marks 12:57:23 02/02/08 (28)
First, as a practical matter, AMM has or at least had writer contracts. I am sure that HP's contract takes into account his value to the franchise. Just like popular music stars and sports stars, the contracts are there for reasons and one breaks such a contract at one's peril. Furthermore, one induces such a breach at one's mega-peril.

Secondly, I must disagree both on the question of whether there is even one print magazine that would give HP a regular berth, and second, whether anyone would throw more than a couple/few thousand dollars per ***full*** column at him.

Here's a data point: Brock Yates was recently taken for a ride by Car & Driver and kicked out in a good neighborhood, as they say.

***Could*** an up and running or startup webzine get angel or venture funding to put HP's stuff up? Sure, just like Brock Yates will now write for www.ttac.com But that is not a proven business model.

And I don't see a print magazine stepping up. Too much history, too many iffies.

If JA decides to prove me wrong, fine. But holding my breath I am not!

JM
- RE: Respectfully disagree re: "another magazine." - galnat 14:37:42 02/02/08 (27)
  ..uhmm, Mr. Marks, you paint a dark scene. HP "prisoner" of TAS and without way of escape? If the situation were this, then we will have to resign to lose his talent and vision.
  But I can understand the argument that the personal history and the ego of HP can turn out uncomfortable for other magazines..
  (P.S.: sorry to all for my bad english.)
  
  Edits: 02/02/08
  - The purpose of a contract is to limit a person's freedom. - John Marks 17:25:22 02/02/08 (26)
    If a record company puts a lot of money behind a new young singer (despite the fact that the small print really means that the amounts are advances or loans), they almost always require the young singer to sign a contract that provides that the new young singer, for a term of years, can make records or perform or lend publicity only at the direction of their record label.
    
    This is the way business works. Why should a record label's shareholders be held hostage (I match your extravagant metaphors) to the goodwill of a young person whose head is subject to turning.
    
    In the present case, TAS was all but bankrupt. An investor came in with ready cash to reinvigorate the franchise. Last I heard, $6 million had gone down the rathole. Given the history of HP's business affairs, why should anyone trust his memory and sense of gratitude? So, I assume there is a contract that says that for a term of years, HP can only write for or by leave of AMM. That's life in the big city.
    
    If HP wanted to "escape," all he has to do is stop renewing the contract and wait out any "cooling down" non-compete period, which is often as long as two years.
    
    I do not think that the reluctance of any other print magazine to take on HP has anything to do with personal history or ego; publishing is not much different from the music business. Business first.
    
    My estimation is that there are not more than 15,000 people worldwide who wake up in the morning hankering for the next dose of HP's writing. Putting a magazine in their hands had been a money pit of Titanic proportions. Most managers will look at the costs and benefits and say, "Next."
    
    I bet JA could increase Stereophile's circulation by printing an edition in Esperanto. But the increased revenue would never offset the costs. Since the mid-1980s, the buzzword has been to "rightsize" a business. Perhaps the "rightsize" for TAS would have been an expensive, print-only, no-ads magazine aimed only at the 15,000 hardcore HP fans; forget spending money to get the circulation up to 40,000 or whatever.
    
    We'll never know.
    
    I am not gloating, it is a sad state of affairs; there were many squandered opportunities along the way.
    
    Your English is fine.
    
    Cheers,
    
    JM
    - agreements are like snowflakes - jdouglas51 06:52:46 03/08/08 (0)
      ...but an advance(pre-paid royalties) against future royalties is historically common.
    - Next time - E-Stat 19:32:34 02/02/08 (24)
      tell us what you really think!
      
      rw
      - Hey, be happy! ... at least - bjh 07:59:15 02/04/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Next time posted by E-Stat on February 02, 2008 at 19:32:34
        
        the windbag didn't sneak in a reference to the Latin Mass! That's gotta count for something!
        
        Everything matters, don't forget to tweak your placebos!
      - My guess is that most audio writers have ruined a few napkins - John Marks 07:29:56 02/03/08 (22)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Next time posted by E-Stat on February 02, 2008 at 19:32:34
        
        Doing the math on on-dead-trees audio magazine startups.
        
        And as far as I can tell, it just doesn't work.
        
        My educated guess is that Stereophile and TAS got in early enough and got well-enough established, and, most importantly, either didn't make fatal mistakes or found people to bail them out, and here we are.
        
        AUDIO magazine was a great magazine, in its day. Tom Miiller's and Myles Astor's magazines were valiant efforts. Listener had its quirky charms. I miss them all! I even miss Stereo Review, from its golden days. Pick up a 1970s Stereo Review issue on eBay. There have to be at least 100 records reviewed per issue. Yes, the equipment reviews were jejeune, we all know that. But neither TAS nor Stereophile ever covered the breadth of recordings Stereo Review did.
        
        I am speaking only for myself here, but, it looks to me as though a few generations (brief ones) of big-city management have painted Stereophile into a corner. Once a subscription costs $12, it's hard to get $28 again. At least hard to keep the circulation numbers up. If TAS is going down the same path (dirt-cheap subscription offers), IMHO that's too bad, it's a one-way path as far as I can tell.
        
        Nothing lasts forever.
        
        Cheers,
        
        JM
        
        RE: My guess is that most audio writers have ruined a few napkins - rwiley 08:40:38 02/14/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: My guess is that most audio writers have ruined a few napkins posted by John Marks on February 03, 2008 at 07:29:56
        
        John...thanks for reminding me of "Audio". I always looked forward to receiving my monthly issue. Especially enjoyed the "Audiomart" at the back. Edward Tatnall Canby? Never did "get" his articles/reviews but I'm sure some did.
        
        RE: My guess is that most audio writers have ruined a few napkins - galnat 02:12:39 02/04/08 (5)
        
        In Reply to: RE: My guess is that most audio writers have ruined a few napkins posted by John Marks on February 03, 2008 at 07:29:56
        
        Mr Marks, your approach can be correct, from a strictly juridical point of view (the contractual tie) and economic (the profit for a publisher)..
        My opinion (perhaps banal and "romantic") it is that the business has ruined the original attitude of some magazineses (I refer to TAS and Stereophile, with HP and JGH practically reduced to the role of icons) and the same starting attitude of other magazines business-oriented (like Play/Audio Adventure and Fi, for example).
        On Internet, many web-magazine plays as an annoying advertising spot.
        Harry Pearson (for which, I believe, you don't have big liking) is - perhaps (I don't know him) - a man debatable but a genial reviewer; actually (without wanting to offend anybody) we have some HP-wannabe, but without his basic genius and vision.
        And this represent, IMHO, a loss for the chronic passionates.
        Personally, I would like that 15.000 passionates suffices to sustain is sustaining a magazine audio (but perhaps it is an utopia).
        
        Edits: 02/04/08 02/04/08
        
        I hear what you are saying, but, the marketplace has spoken. - John Marks 08:38:47 02/04/08 (3)
        
        In Reply to: RE: My guess is that most audio writers have ruined a few napkins posted by galnat on February 04, 2008 at 02:12:39
        
        Could a different approach to "brand management" have resulted in a different state of affairs?
        
        Perhaps, but not inevitably.
        
        I subscribe to Sports Car Market magazine. It costs $58 a year. Their core readership is a few thousand people who can write the multi-million-dollar checks for classic cars. The rest of us a dreamers, or looking for advice on $2000 bargain classics. Why should SCM price a subscription at $12? Jay Leno wants to read the magazine, or not. He never sees the bill, he has people to do that stuff.
        
        No audio magazine seems to have managed the same thing. Perhaps because for a lot of people, they want information to make a purchase, and then they are happy, no need to keep up. Classic cars are probably more of a hands-on thing than stereo.
        
        Personal feelings or the lack of personal feelings aside, if I received a solicitation for a new magazine that would be all HP all the time, for the same money I spend on Sports Car Market, I would decline the offer.
        
        It's not hard feelings it's not sour grapes, it's just I am just not that much into his writing these days or for the past several years. IMHO, when Frank Doris was editing TAS and Michael Fremer was writing, there was a crackle of electricity to TAS that no audio magazine has had before or since, and HP was a sideshow. An interesting and sometimes informative sideshow, but the rest of the cast made greater contributions. NB I am not talking about myself, I wrote for TAS only at the end of the first regime, and for the first few years of AMM.
        
        I sincerely wish the best of luck to anyone trying to start an on dead trees audio magazine today. I don't think it can be done as a rational business model. That doesn't make me turn cartwheels of joy, but it seems to be the truth.
        
        Cheers,
        
        JM
        
        So it's really all about you - LOL! (nt) - mkuller 13:33:37 02/04/08 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: I hear what you are saying, but, the marketplace has spoken. posted by John Marks on February 04, 2008 at 08:38:47
        
        (nt)
        
        Huh? - John Marks 14:53:15 02/04/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: So it's really all about you - LOL! (nt) posted by mkuller on February 04, 2008 at 13:33:37
        
        Huh?
        
        I never said it was all about me.
        
        I am saying that I am a if not the type of the target customer for TAS, and it's a non-sale, which is not something I'd say about Hi-Fi +.
        
        JM
        
        [Sigh] nt - clarkjohnsen 12:00:47 02/04/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: I hear what you are saying, but, the marketplace has spoken. posted by John Marks on February 04, 2008 at 08:38:47
        
        s
        
        " ... reduced to the role of icons." - Dave Pogue 04:20:41 02/04/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: My guess is that most audio writers have ruined a few napkins posted by galnat on February 04, 2008 at 02:12:39
        
        I kinda like that :-)
        
        mr. pedant! c'mon! - luigi22 14:43:15 02/03/08 (11)
        
        In Reply to: RE: My guess is that most audio writers have ruined a few napkins posted by John Marks on February 03, 2008 at 07:29:56
        
        'jejeune'? and don't even try with 'it's a typo'.
        
        OK! It's just like the Pork Pig witticism! That may help me remember. - John Marks 08:44:35 02/04/08 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: mr. pedant! c'mon! posted by luigi22 on February 03, 2008 at 14:43:15
        
        Je-june.
        
        n. P-porky P-pig's f-favorite m-month.
        
        # # #
        
        Goo-goo good one! nt - clarkjohnsen 12:02:20 02/04/08 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: OK! It's just like the Pork Pig witticism! That may help me remember. posted by John Marks on February 04, 2008 at 08:44:35
        
        z
        
        :) (nt) - luigi22 16:08:06 02/04/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Goo-goo good one! nt posted by clarkjohnsen on February 04, 2008 at 12:02:20
        
        .
        
        No pay = no sleep-on and no spell-check - John Marks 18:00:33 02/03/08 (7)
        
        In Reply to: RE: mr. pedant! c'mon! posted by luigi22 on February 03, 2008 at 14:43:15
        
        I burnish every word for Stereophile. Not for AA.
        
        Truth is, I have a terrible memory and I can't spell; I am alway fooled by homonyms and cognates. And I didn't look either of those up.
        
        I type "by ear," and I often find I type a homonym.
        
        Live with it.
        
        Anyway, Jordin Sparks sang well enough for the Super Bowl, but someone should really take her aside and convince her that she doesn't need to yodel, it is so "Ghost Riders in the Sky."
        
        JM
        
        "I often find I type a homonym." So do you ever speak a homophone? nt - clarkjohnsen 00:41:13 02/04/08 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: No pay = no sleep-on and no spell-check posted by John Marks on February 03, 2008 at 18:00:33
        
        f
        
        "You can homeapigeon, and you can homealoan... - David W. Robinson 09:44:25 02/06/08 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: "I often find I type a homonym." So do you ever speak a homophone? nt posted by clarkjohnsen on February 04, 2008 at 00:41:13
        
        ...but you need context to parse your homophone."
        
        --Probably anonymous
        
        ;-)
        
        david
        
        Buddy, are you homophonic? (Don't tell!) nt - clarkjohnsen 12:23:03 02/07/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: "You can homeapigeon, and you can homealoan... posted by David W. Robinson on February 06, 2008 at 09:44:25
        
        z
        
        yeah right, 'live with it' - luigi22 19:56:14 02/03/08 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: No pay = no sleep-on and no spell-check posted by John Marks on February 03, 2008 at 18:00:33
        
        if it was anyone else, i would would care not a whit. you? correcting everyone around here with that annoying tone? not a chance i'll ignore it.
        
        btw, homonyms and cognates? why not leave it at bad spelling? what language is 'jejeune'?
        
        nice try with the jordin sparks deflection too.
        
        RE: yeah right, 'live with it' - Ted Smith 20:27:00 02/03/08 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: yeah right, 'live with it' posted by luigi22 on February 03, 2008 at 19:56:14
        
        Howdy
        
        I actually like writers who attempt to be more precise and don't dumb down their writing to the lowest common denominator...
        
        -Ted
        
        i agree... - luigi22 21:50:57 02/03/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: yeah right, 'live with it' posted by Ted Smith on February 03, 2008 at 20:27:00
        
        but again, john marks can sound really grating with his 'lessons', hence my pleasure.
        
        I was rather relieved - Bruce Kendall 19:35:17 02/03/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: No pay = no sleep-on and no spell-check posted by John Marks on February 03, 2008 at 18:00:33
        
        that she didn't attempt to turn it into a gospel song.
        
        It is incredibly difficult... - mkuller 12:27:04 02/03/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: My guess is that most audio writers have ruined a few napkins posted by John Marks on February 03, 2008 at 07:29:56
        
        ...to make a profit publishing a special interest magazine.
        It takes an *average of 5* years for a new, successful magazine to become profitable. In recent history, Maxim was the exception to that rule and turned a profit in about 2 years.
        Word has it that the current owners of TAS have not made a profit yet in 7+ years.
        When I look back over the landscape from the late-1970s forward littered with failed audio publications, there were many that were well financed but failed nonetheless. Perhaps the owners didn't have the patience and fortitude to stick it out that long.
        I can still recall those days in the late-1970s when I looked forward to receiving Stereophile, TAS and even the Audio Critic, but they were published so irregularly that sometimes it was 6 months or more between issues.
        You named Stereo Review, Audio, Tom's Play, Listener and Myle's Ultimate Audio as some of the publications you miss - here are a few others that didn't make it:
        The Audio Critic (went sideways after a 7 year break, now internet)
        IAR (went internet)
        Audio Horizons
        Audio Alternatives
        High Performance Review
        Sounds Like
        Fi
        And still limping along:
        Audiophile Voice (the editor told me he can survive on 5000 subscribers)
        Sensible Sound
        I'm sure there are others I've neglected to mention.
        We should embrace Stereophile and TAS (such as it is) and enjoy them while we can.
        When they're gone we'll look back on today fondly as 'the good old days' of audio review publications.
        
        Edits: 02/03/08 02/03/08
        
        RE: My guess is that most audio writers have ruined a few napkins - Myles B. Astor 10:13:04 02/03/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: My guess is that most audio writers have ruined a few napkins posted by John Marks on February 03, 2008 at 07:29:56
        
        John,
        
        About the music section and reviews. The funny thing is that people such as Larry Klein actually had ears back in the early days of the mag. Look at a list of his top sounding LPs (Connoissuer Society, Mercury, Elektra, some great DGGs, etc) and one would be amazed. Makes one wonder what happened to his ears down the line though?
        
        Myles
        Myles B. Astor
        
        RE: My guess is that most audio writers have ruined a few napkins - rdf 08:58:09 02/03/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: My guess is that most audio writers have ruined a few napkins posted by John Marks on February 03, 2008 at 07:29:56
        
        "AUDIO magazine was a great magazine, in its day."
        
        Today's mags are just starting to approach Audio's tech chops when Heyser was on staff. On the other hand, I won't miss BV Pisha's bi-annual review of the Shure V15 or Jon and Sally Tiven's sophomoric music reviews.

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