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#209 12/2005
MIKE SHEA:
“Use Us.”
Twenty years ago, in the very first issue of AP, I wrote in an editorial with that headline the following statement: “In the end, all we can hope for is that we will succeed in adding to the support the local scene needs and deserves. We may last a few months, or we may last five years; we don’t know. Yet, we won’t give up.”
It is very true that, originally, we had no idea how long AP was going to be around. We just kept doing it, and when others would have given up, we kept doing it; and when we should have given up, we kept doing it. We just never gave up. Whether we were up against the multi-million-dollar companies of Rolling Stone or Spin or some well-funded competitor that was started directly to come after us, we just kept going. It’s become such a part of my personal philosophy that when I was in Philly last year, I stopped at Philadelphia Eddie’s tattoo parlor and got inked on my forearms a phrase in Spanish that Latin rock manager Tomas Cookman had told me was chanted at Mexican political rallies: “Jamas Vencido!” Translation: Never Give Up. Now, anytime the stuff hits the fan and things become trying in my life or at work, I just look at my arms and keep going.
And you know what? After all this time, after all the ups and downs we’ve had, we keep going month after month, issue after issue, for the same reason we started 20 years ago: to support the scene. There’s still so much we want to do in this age of PureVolume and MySpace; so many ideas we have about helping young, unknown bands. What you’re seeing each month in our “AP A&R” column is just the beginning of what we have planned. This summer, probably around August, we’re going to be re-launching our web site; completely redesigned and reconfigured. Before that, in June, you’ll be able to hear us do the same on “The AP Show,” which will premiere on the Ethel channel on XM Satellite Radio. Sounds like a lot already, but it’s just the beginning for us. The beginning of the next 20 years of AP.
So, let’s make a deal, all right? We’ll keep putting out a quality magazine that you’ll like as long as you keep writing us. Cool? Maybe you haven’t realized this yet, but we really do read all the reader mail you send us. Scott, Aaron Burgess and I are constantly reading the “AP Mosh Pit” area on our website, checking to see what you’re talking about and answering your questions. All of those opinions and messages to us essentially create the magazine you get each month. (And before you e-teams for bands start thinking too much, we can tell when we’re getting assaulted by you.)
Anyway, I think that’s a fair trade, don’t you? By constantly letting us know how we’re doing, you’ll help keep us in check, too. One of our biggest fears here is becoming the “Goliath” we always fought to destroy. We’ve always been the David, y’know? To us, Goliath represents the Big Corporate Magazine world, where the advertisers and bean counters determine the content of the magazine. That’s the last thing we want to become, and, believe me, we get into debates here about what is right for us as a magazine and what’s ultimately right for you as a readership. (Notice how we don’t tuck AOL CDs into the bagged issues of AP anymore?)
So, look: To the next gen of AP readers, I say use us. We really are your magazine. If you’re an unknown band from the middle of the country and you’ve got something to say, let us know. If you think you have it in you to be a great music journalist, let us know. Your poster art is raved over by friends and bands? Let us know. Your photography skills developing some killer photos at concerts lately? Let us know. We want you to be a part of AP because you are a part of us. We couldn’t do this without you each month. Here, I’ll even do this for ya: you can find me directly over on MySpace. Go to: MySpace.com/MikeSheaAP. I know I’ll probably get flooded, so please be patient if I don’t respond fast. We just really do want to hear from you. Tell us what you like, what you don’t. Go for it.
Seriously, everyone here at AP-Norman, Katherine, Christopher, Dawn, Jonah, Leslie, Angela, Jason Ley, Jason Pettigrew, Ted, Rob, Eddie, Aaron Wilson, Aaron Burgess, John, Scott and me-we all thank you for supporting us over the past 20 years. All of us feel so lucky to be working here and creating a magazine that’s making a difference in a lot of bands’ careers and turning people onto some great new music. It’s indescribable.
So, that’s the plan for the next 20: If you keep using us, we won’t give up. Deal?
See ya on Warped Tour...
(Oh, and did I tell you we’re starting a new magazine, too? Watch this space...)
