Where's My Christmas Card?
I've read Alternative Press on and off since 1999 and have subscribed since early 2002. I won't be renewing my subscription.
An Open Letter to Alternative Press
"Let’s be honest- Alternative Press has seen better days. What once was the authority of the underground (albeit for a short while) is now a vehicle for major-label emo and Hot Topic punk. Considering how Editor-in-chief Jason Pettigrew recently urged his readers to go see the Taste of Chaos tour (the My Chemical Romance, Used, and Senses Fail festival of pseudo-goth gimmicks and eyeliner), expectations were low for a tour bearing the Alternative Press name."
- Ashley Rigazio
He said:
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Jason Pettigrew <XXXXXXXXX>
To: <editor@soundthesirens.com>
Subject: CHEERFUL INQUIRY
Dear Editor: I'd like to send Ashley Rigazio a Christmas card this holiday season. Do you have an address I could send that to come December? Thank you so much.
Cordially,
Jason Pettigrew
ALTERNATIVE PRESS
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In response:
I've read Alternative Press on and off since 1999 and have subscribed since early 2002. I won't be renewing my subscription. Looking back at my comments, I realize that they were harsh and ill-supported - I'd like to apologize for that. I'd also like to clarify my opinions for your consideration. I’m sorry for singling you out but, as a fan of your work who has seen you push bands you truly believed in over the years, I expect better from your magazine than what I have been receiving in the mail as of late. I know you’re not going home and putting on Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. You probably rock out to exciting bands that are pushing the envelope and trying to do something different, something that doesn’t promote harming one’s self and wearing guyliner. I want to hear about those bands.
Yes, I understand that a magazine is a business and you need to sell issues and attract advertising. Covering popular, commercially-driven bands is a necessary evil; I often photograph bands I don’t particularly enjoy for Sound the Sirens and review shows that I wouldn't have gone to otherwise so I can gain exposure for my work. Regardless of its practicality, I find AP's extremely narrow-minded approach to music troublesome.
AP has whittled down "alternative" to just the Warped Tour scene – is this a reflection of heavy advertising by the tour, its sister tour Taste of Chaos and their sponsor, Vans? There is music beyond the Warped Tour, and it is glorious. Explore the alternative genre instead of relying on the current TRL pop-punk crossovers. Fall Out Boy, while I adore them, is no longer an alternative to anything. Those boys are everywhere. So, instead of adding to overexposure, let your young readers discover new bands they will love.
You cannot ignore the fact that the same bands frequently pop up in AP’s pages and on the covers. Coheed and Cambria was featured in issue #207 and graced the cover of the very next issue. Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Brand New, Taking Back Sunday and the All American Rejects had all been the subjects of cover stories before this year. There are enough bands battling for exposure that this redundancy is unnecessary. AP is in a more powerful position now than it was ten years ago and can afford to take risks by balancing bankable stories with coverage of alternative artists outside the emo/pop-punk/hardcore sub-genre. Also, I can’t help but wonder if those little bands that the scene has loved and lost over the last few years (The Movielife, Northstar and countless others) would still be around had they had an AP cover or just a little more exposure. Maybe that’s idealistic and simplified, but are bands giving up because of the favoritism of press coverage?
However, my main problem with Alternative Press isn't the fact that many of the same bands are repeatedly featured. Criticism of AP is only refuted, not taken into consideration and used to improve the magazine. For example, as subscribers aired their grievances on the other AP (absolutepunk.net), an AP staff writer responded by telling everyone they were wrong. These are loyal subscribers to your magazine! They are your core audience, your raison d’etre. They are never wrong! Listen to them before it's too late.
Sincerely,
Ashley Rigazio
P.S. - Please don't send the Hot Topic army after me. I'm allergic to pleather.