Earlier this week, I had learned from internal sources that the print edition of Paste Magazine was going to be put rest but didn’t want to post anything until the word had been official for fear of getting in trouble at my job. The past couple years have been really hard for magazines and I’ve seen the demise of some beloved publications. Increased postage and printing costs coupled with a decrease in advertising revenue is enough to cause financial problems leaving a magazine no choice but to stop printing.
It’s like the survival of the fittest. The best magazines will thrive leaving the weakest to fold as an online only property or cease to exist at all. This is especially true of the music category as we’ve seen with the ending of publications like Blender, and Vibe. The landscape is changing for music. Digital outlets like MOG, Pitchfork, Sterogum, and Absolute Punk offer readers timely up-to-date news and reviews on their favorite artists in lieu of waiting for a monthly magazine subscription. In order to stay on top these music publications need to find a dedicated subscription base and a healthy stream of ad revenue.
It is a sad day. Paste was a great indie music publication. The thing I will miss most is those free CDs that use to come with subscription in the mail. Those were cool.
Here is a statement from the magazine:
“Today Paste Media Group announces, with deepest sadness, the suspension of the Paste magazine print product.
Struggles with mounting debt were made public last year when our readers responded with generosity to save the magazine. But the prolonged downturn of the ad market has forced a hiatus. All subscribers have access to the digital version of their magazines through the June/July issue on PasteMagazine.com. Paste, while considering strategic alternatives, is focusing on its digital assets, including PasteMagazine.com.
We thank all of those who have shown such tremendous support to a vision of independent media focused on Signs of Life in Music, Film & Culture, including subscribers, advertisers, writers, photographers, illustrators, publicists, record labels, movie studios, book & game publishers and others in the press.”
Farewell Paste, I hope that you thrive with your online property!