Tag: Highlight Magazine

Categories
News

Blogger Spotlight: Jessica Klinner (Highlight Magazine)

It has been way too long since we updated our Blogger Spotlight series, but whatever delays have come up in recent months end today. We have a string of interviews with the next generation of music writing leaders to share in the coming weeks, and we think among them will be one or two people whose work you soon come to depend on in order to know everything great in the world of entertainment. We only promote the sites and people we believe in, so you can rest assured that if you’re learning of them here on Haulix Daily then there is something to their work worth reading. We get the future we support, and this is our way of hoping to influence a positive change in how we discuss music. Enjoy.

Jessica Klinner has been building her reputation in the worlds of alternative music and journalism for several years now, but 2016 has found her coming of age in a big way. After taking lead of Highlight Magazine earlier in the year Jessica has continue to carve a path for herself in this industry that has quickly established her as one of the more knowledge and intelligent voices found within the world where Warped Tour mainstays and pop-rock newcomers collide. We turn to Jessica’s work whenever we need to find the next band who will remind us of the positive power music can wield, but also to learn about the young writers she has chosen to take under her wing. Few websites have a contributing staff as talented and driven as Highlight, and Jessica’s work behind-the-scenes is partly responsible for that. Here, in a rare discussion about her journey, Jessica tells us how she made it this far, and offer a quick tease as to where she may be headed in the future.

Haulix: Hello, Jessica. How are you doing today? Is it as hot there as it is here in Minneapolis?

Jessica: I’m doing great! I don’t know how hot it’s been in Minneapolis, but it feels like Satan’s armpit here in central Alabama! The humidity is absolutely stifling. Hopefully you’re not experiencing heat to that awful of a degree!

H: You have a long history with Highlight Magazine. Can you tell us how you first learned of the site, and when you initially joined the team?

J: I’ve been involved with Highlight since the very beginning. I was brought on as a writer before the first issue launched in April of 2012. I had been following co-founder Ashley Osborn on Tumblr because I was a fan of her photography. She posted that she was starting an online magazine and needed writers and photographers to join the team. I had just finished my first semester of college and had no clue what I wanted to do with my English degree at the end of my undergraduate career. At the time, I had dreams of becoming a photographer, but didn’t think I was anywhere near good enough to shoot shows for an outlet. Instead, I submitted an essay I wrote for a college scholarship (because it was the only writing sample I had up to that point) and got an email about a month later asking me to join the writing team. They must have not had very many writers apply because I’m pretty sure that essay was terrible haha!

H: You’re a great writer, so I imagine you wouldn’t have much trouble finding a place willing to share your work. What made Highlight the place for you?

J: Thank you! At the time that I joined Highlight, no content had even been published on the site and no issues had been released so I wasn’t sure what I was getting into–I just knew that I wanted to write. Since the beginning, Highlight has been based around positivity and highlighting the genuine artists in the music industry. That was set in place when I joined the team and I loved that concept. Throughout my time at Highlight, that focus has become even more important to me because of how negative the industry can be. I also just loved the community surrounding Highlight. We were all just a bunch of kids working on a passion project. So many of our contributors have gone on to do amazing things in the industry.

H: You’re now at the helm of the site. When did that happen, and how?

J: I took over the site in April of this year. Jenn Stookey (former editor in chief) and Cara Bahniuk (co-founder and art director) had been discussing the possibility of stopping the monthly issues. They approached me to see if I was up for taking over the site because they didn’t want Highlight to end completely. I had been serving as managing editor for the magazine for over a year and was more than ready and willing to take over.

H: For those who have never run a site before, can you give us a rundown of your duties and responsibilities?

J: Absolutely! I spend most of the day replying to emails and sending out pitches for future features. This is probably my favorite thing to do because I love connecting with people in the music industry and discovering new artists/bands. All this is done between juggling my real job functions at an 8-5. When I get home, I normally answer more emails and schedule posts for the next day. I also edit through all the posts, set up photo shoots, request photo passes for our photographers, and many more things I’m currently forgetting about.

H: How would you describe Highlight Magazine to someone who has never heard of it before?

J: Well first and foremost we are a website focused on positivity and highlighting the genuine artists in the industry. When Highlight first began, we were mainly focused on the Warped Tour scene, but as editors have changed, we have grown outside of that and now cover a wide variety of genres. We LOVE featuring up-and-coming acts and running fun features. We aren’t so much focused on news posts as we are presenting quality content to our readers.

H: Now that you no longer publish a digital monthly magazine, what are the main draws of the site that separate Highlight from your competition?

J: When we were putting out our monthly issues, we used all in-house photographers for every single feature that we did. There were exceptions at times because of scheduling conflicts and other complications, but I’d say out of the 50 issues we produced, 98% of the photographs were taken by our staff photographers. When we moved to just a website, I was nervous that we would lose that. I wanted to still be able to give our photographers the chance to do photo shoots with bands, but didn’t know if publicists would be up for it since we were no longer doing the issues. Luckily because of the history we have, our photographers have still been able to do photo shoots with bands.

Also we really try to feature all different types of artists. We want to expose our readers to artists and bands who love what they do. You won’t find us featuring a band that has a bad reputation. We really want to give credit where credit is due. We don’t post as much news as I’d like, but I’m really proud of the content that is posted on the site every day.

H: Looking toward the future, where do you see Highlight Magazine in a year from now? Two years?

J: Before the end of this year, I want to go live with a brand new website. We are in desperate need of a digital face lift at Highlight. Beyond that, I would love for us to be able to get to a point where we can pay our contributors. It’s something we’ve been trying to work out for years, but just haven’t been able to make it happen yet. And in a dream world, I would love to go back to making monthly issues and get Highlight in print. That’s the ultimate goal.

H: What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were just getting started in music writing?

J: It’s not as glamorous as you think. I was drawn to music writing because I read Alternative Press religiously and looked up to the editors and writers who were on staff at the time. But as I got more and more involved in the industry, I started to see through the facade and realized that everything is not as it seems. The bands you look up to aren’t always the nicest and people are often more concerned about money and sales than featuring bands that deserve recognition.

H: If the site disappears tomorrow (and we hope it doesn’t), what would be your favorite memory from the you spent working on it?

J: There’s been so many, but I think my favorite memory would be just getting to know all of the contributors. I’ve made some really great friends through Highlight, and I get to visit with many of them on a regular basis and meet new ones whenever I travel. I wouldn’t be who I am without Highlight, and I’m so thankful to Jenn and Cara for giving me a shot at running the site 🙂

Categories
News

Blogger Spotlight: Jenn Stookey (Highlight Magazine)

Hello and welcome to the final spotlight column of the week. We have covered some brilliant minds in recent days, and it should go without saying the same applies to the person featured in today’s article. If you have a journalist or site you would like to recommend for a future installment of this column, or if you have any questions regarding the blog and/or our services, please email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

No great music site gets to be the apple of the industry’s eye without having a solid team of dedicated contributors, and for Highlight Magazine there is perhaps no better team player than Jenn Stookey. From setting up all online features for the zine, to instructing the digital marketing team, advising news posters, and contributing to the physical publication, there is almost no aspect of Highlight Magazine that Jenn is not directly involved in each and every week. Her free time is very limited, but in recent weeks we were able to track her down and learn how she manages to keep everything under control while still pursuing her college education. You can learn everything you need to know about her journey in the paragraphs below.

If you want to stay up-to-date with everything Jenn is working on, be sure you bookmark and frequent Highlight Magazine. Additional questions and comments can be left at the end of this post.

H: For the record, state your name, job title, and the publication(s) you work with:

JS: My name is Jenn Stookey and I’m the managing editor with Highlight Magazine.

H: When you think of your earliest memories with music, what comes to mind first?

JS: Musicals definitely. I was apart of them from kindergarden and up and my family would always take trips to see the traveling Broadway shows as well as listen to the soundtracks all the time. So weird, but I loved it!

H: Do you remember the first album you purchased with your own money? Do you still own it today?

JS: I honestly can’t remember which one I bought with my own money! It was probably a Hilary Duff CD. She was my idol growing up and is still someone I look up to.

H: Everyone finds their own way into the music business. What first inspired you to look at career possibilities within the entertainment industry?

JS: Vans Warped Tour 2009. I had wanted to be a physical therapist before that but that day changed my whole outlook on the music industry. I remember thinking, if something as simple as music could bring hundreds and thousands of people together for the same reason and actually change lives and get fans through hard times in their life, why not be apart of it?

H: I believe you’re still in school. If so, where do you attend and what are you currently studying?

JS: I am currently at Belmont University studying Music Business. I’m technically getting my business degree but most of the classes are geared towards the industry.

H: Some people choose to skip college in hopes of diving right into the work force of the music business. What lead you to continuing your education past high school?

JS: My parents definitely. And I think I’m one of those people who if I didn’t go to college, I would regret it later.

H: You currently reside in Nashville, but you’re originally from the state of Illinois. What opportunities, if any, did you have in your hometown to pursue your interest in music?

JS: My senior year of high school I really wanted to be a DJ at a local alternative station but they only way to do that was take a college broadcasting course. So second semester I took the course and was a DJ for a year and a half! It was a pretty sweet deal.

H: Onto your work with Highlight Magazine. When did you first join the team, and what can you tell us about the application process?

JS: I joined the team in May of 2012. It was a weird beginning actually. I was at a William Beckett concert at Schubas in Chicago and our editor-in-chief, Ashley Osborn, was at the same show. We followed each other on Instagram and noticed we were both there so she wanted to talk before the show was over. I had never had a real conversation with her before this night, but we met outside and talked about anything and everything. It was very cool. She started talking about Highlight and I had said I had always wanted to be a writer for it but I thought she already had everyone she needed. Right then she offered me the position to be Online Editor and I couldn’t pass it up! So I became apart of the team and we built up our online presence from there!

H: There are a number of great music in existence, so what drove you to apply at Highlight?

JS: I knew Ashley from the internet, as everyone knows everyone these days, and I knew she was driven and extremely talented. I wanted to be apart of something I believed in and I definitely believed that the magazine would succeed, which is why I was interested.

H: The competition for traffic on music blogs has never been as fierce as it is right now. What is it about the content offered by Highlight that you feel sets your efforts apart from everyone else?

JS: We don’t like to focus on the petty stuff. Our mission is to focus on the genuine people in the industry and to focus on positivity. We aren’t going to bash artists and we aren’t going to interview them about rumors or drug and alcohol addiction. We want to present others in a positive light and fill in our readers on how their favorite artist overcomes struggles, not the struggle itself. Not many publications do that anymore, but I think it’s important and shows a side of the industry not many still believe in.

H: For your position, what does a normal week of work for Highlight Magazine entail?

JS: It’s pretty busy. I probably spend at the least two or three hours a day, even on the weekends, constantly reading emails. I set up all of our online features, instruct our digital marketing team and our news posters, as well as sometimes helping with content for the physical issue. I kind of do a little bit of everything.

H: If you could offer one piece of advice to bands hoping to be featured on Highlight in the future, what would it be?

JS: Don’t contact us via Facebook. We are all about being professional, and email is the way to go. Make sure your email holds proper grammar and a formal email structure as well. Just be professional about it because if it seems like the they haven’t taken the time and effort to make themselves look good, then I’m not going to want to take my time and effort deciding whether they would be a good fit.

H: Like many bloggers, you make little-to-no income for your efforts. Why continue doing it?

JS: Yeah, I make zero income haha. I do it because it’s made me learn so much about the industry from the inside. It has taught me how to time manage extremely well and I’ve made so many connections. Plus our team rules and I love giving upcoming writers and bands a chance to get noticed. I came into this position knowing how to do absolutely nothing. It was all trial and error, and still is.

H: If you had to choose, what has been your greatest accomplishment as an industry professional thus far in life?

JS: With Highlight, I would say getting to the point where industry professionals recognize me and trust me. I think trust is huge on the business side of the industry and it can be hard to climb back up if you have a bad reputation.

H: When it comes to receiving music for review/feature consideration, which distribution platform(s) do you prefer and why?

JS: Anything that is easy to stream. I’d like to think I’m tech savy, but I’m not as much as I should be. SoundCloud or via Dropbox are normally my favorite.

H: At this point in life, what is your ultimate career goal?

JS: I’ve been asked this so much lately. I have no idea what career I want. I’m leaning towards management but honestly, as long as I’m somewhere where I love the work I do and I can help musicians be discovered, or be part of the reason they get out on stage every night and inspire their fans, then that’s good enough for me.

H: What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about the music industry?

JS: I don’t know about the biggest misconception, but I know back home people don’t really know what the “music industry” means. I feel that just a general lack of knowledge about what it is creates all of these rumors and stories from people who don’t understand what it is. There are so many components that go into the business and each interact with each other. There’s no way that the industry could be where it is today if we all didn’t have a part.

H: If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

JS: How judgmental and greedy people are. We’re all in it for one reason, because we initially loved music so much we wanted to be surrounded by it. However, once someone reaches a certain point in their career I feel like they have a tendency to forget about that. The music doesn’t judge and it’s not greedy and neither should professionals.

H: Before we let you go, do you have any additional thoughts you would like to share with our rears?

JS: If you want to be in the industry, it’s going to take some work but it’s definitely not impossible. I see time and time again people say they’re going to make it but they sit inside all day and don’t get out there. Surprisingly, there are more opportunities out there than one might think and people WILL help. You just have to make it a priority if it’s something that you really want. Create your own luck and pave your own future! If no one else believes in you, then know that I will!

Categories
Job Board News

Blogger Spotlight: Ashley Osborn (Highlight Magazine)

Welcome to the second Haulix Blogger Spotlight of the week. This time around we are headed to the windy city known as Chicago, Illinois to speak with talented young writer who is working tirelessly to create a new kind of music site that is sure to please those with a nostalgia for the glory days of entertainment magazines. She is not alone in her pursuit, and in the months ahead we plan to feature a number of people working alongside her, just as we have done with multiple sites in the past. If you have a writer you would like to recommend for a future installment of this column, please email james@haulix.com and share your story. You can also contact us via Twitter and Facebook.

Today’s highlighted talent is the co-founder of a digital publication that has taken the idea of a modern webzine to places none of the other sites featured up to this point have dared to explore. She and her team are amongst those leading the online music journalism evolution, and it is a truly pleasure to share her story.

Highlight Magazine is not your typical music blog. They feature similar news coverage and exclusives as any other site, but once a month they also publish a digital magazine offering in-depth reporting and gorgeous pictorials (for free, no less). They cover everything that falls under the category of ‘could one day be on Warped Tour,’ and in a little over have attracted a dedicated online readership built thanks to solid marketing and strong word-of-mouth. Leading the team (along with her two co-founders) is Ashley Osborn, a Chicago native with a passion for music and photography that is second to none. We spoke with ashley about the inspiration for Highlight Magazine, balancing her rising popularity as a photographer with her commitments to the site, where she sees the industry headed, and much more. You can read about her adventures in music below.

If there is one thing to take away from Ashley Osborn’s story it’s that hard work and good networking skills are key to success in the music industry, and that goes for musicians as much as it does members of the press. Talk to people, not at them, and learn about their journeys in the business. You never know where your connections may lead, and even if the go nowhere you’ll at least have a new friend who can relate to your struggle.

Ashley Osborn can be found on Twitter, as well as in the photo pit at major music festivals across the country. Those of you looking for latest music news can find it on Highlight Magazine’s official website. If you would like to see some of Ashley work as a photographer, click here to view her portfolio.

H: For those unaware, please state your name, the site you work for, and your role at said site:

AO: Ashley Osborn, Highlight Magazine, Editor-In-Chief/Co-Founder/Photographer

H: I believe you’re the first blogger based out of Chicago to be highlighted in this feature. What was the first album you fell in love with, and when did you know you wanted to work in the entertainment industry?

AO: I hate being that guy (hehe)! But I’d have to say Fall Out Boy’s Take This To Your Grave. It came out when I was in one of the most awkward stages of my life. A close family friend that used to babysit me (I was 11 at the time) was a scene kid and had me listening to all of this incredible music starting at the age of around… eight. But that album was definitely one that caught on. When I was around 11/12 I began going to shows a lot more with her and by the time I hit 7th & 8th grade I was definitely way into the Warped Tour scene. Never looked back. Started joining street teams for labels and assistant managing some local bands with social media/marketing. I just loved it and I loved that the community was such a family!

H: Being a blogger is about more than just typing, and one of the things you’re probably most known for is photography. Where does your interest in this medium come from?

AO: When I used to go to bigger shows I used to see this local Minneapolis (hometown) photographer, Joe Lemke, and he always intrigued me. I literally ALWAYS had an obsession with awful point and shoot cameras. I’d go to shows and all I ever really cared about was having photos to remember. I’d always snap way too many from the crowd (so weird). And eventually at a Paramore show in late 2009 I talked to Joe and he told me about what he does and that’s when I was like, “Holy shit, I’m going to do that.” After that night I saved up to get my first camera.

H: First camera? What you use now?

AO: I got a Canon Rebel XS in 2010 and then a Canon EOS 7D in 2011, worked with a 5D Mark ll for a while and I just bought a 6D!

H: Back to the site. You’re one of the co-founders of Highlight Magazine. How did you and Cara (the other co-owner) meet?

AO: We actually met at a Bayside / Saves the Day show at House of Blues. We were always in the photo pit together (Cara is an amazing photog who used to shoot for Beyond The Barricade with her co-founder, Jenna) and we never talked. Randomly this night we did and the rest is history!

H: So you meet, and we assume you became friends shortly thereafter, but where did the idea to start a website come from?

AO: I was actually at Chili’s (the best restaurant on earth) with our other co-founder McKenzie (Mackie) Hughes. Her and I had talked about our love for the industry and how I wanted more opportunity to work with (shoot with) artists because I was getting really serious about my career. We basically discussed the state of the industry for hours over endless chips and salsa + diet coke. Mackie and I knew that we wanted to start a magazine that was unlike the rest of the zines out there. One that only focused on positivity and overcoming struggles. One that could help the underdog and spread ideas/lessons across the board. I knew that Cara had interned with Alternative Press and I loved her work so I immediately brought her up. I remember telling her this idea that night and she was in!

H: Unlike most blogs, Highlight Magazine is actually available in magazine form (digital, of course). Can you tell us a bit about the decisions that lead you to create something more than your typical music blog?

AO: A lot of it was the actual magazine part. Something people could read through page by page and hold in their hands. Since we wanted Highlight to be a community we knew this would be fitting (in our minds at the time). I also was sick of all of the same old styles out there and I knew we could create something brand new. I’ll never forget the night Cara sent over the first draft of Highlight at the end of Feb 2012. I actually teared up because it was so amazing and I was so excited. She created it all from SCRATCH.

H: In addition to the digital monthly magazine, Highlight also features daily news updates, exclusives, and the like. How do you decide what content makes the magazine and what is better left on the newsfeed?

AO: Jenn Stookey is our managing editor and Anjel Lopez is a goddess who literally helps with everything. Her and Jenn coordinate all of the online side of things. When publicists come to us with pitches I try to accommodate the best I can – especially with the up and coming acts since that’s what we are about. But I send out more press requests than I can even calculate sometimes. We aim really high. 75% of the emails I get back are still no’s but it’s okay – makes it interesting!

H: How far in advance do you plan the cover articles for Highlight Magazine? *Bonus points if you reveal next cover star*

AO: Anywhere from five months to five days. Things get pretty insane… Nothing is ever set in stone. Somehow September’s cover artist (I can’t say who but I can say they are from Australia) has been planned for about two – three months now!

H: When you’re interested in discovering new music, where do you look?

AO: Honestly? My inbox. I also search around on random spotify playlists a lot!

H: What advice would you offer aspiring new talent hoping to be featured in a future issue of Highlight Magazine?

AO: Please do not Facebook message me. Email me! I read everything – truly. And if I can’t help I forwarded it to Jenn and Anjel! But I can say that you should make sure your band has solid support behind you. That sounds weird. But it’s hard for us to feature really small bands because we aren’t a huge world-wide publication (yet). We need your help with promotion and we need your fans to be excited you are joining our family.

H: When it comes to receiving music for review and feature consideration, which services do you prefer and why?

AO: I know this is a Haulix interview but I love Haulix… When I dabbled in starting my own PR company I even used it! It’s very easy and it let’s me see everything I need use and download to all at once. I also use dropbox (the entire magazine runs via dropbox).

H: Highlight Magazine is currently a free publication. Do you have any plans to monetize your efforts in the foreseeable future?

AO: We made an attempt actually in June to have $1 digital downloads. It’s weird for me to talk about this but here it goes. Highlight averages 18K impressions an issue, when we tried to monetize it we didn’t get near that. It was never our goal to make money. Sure it would be really nice and we do have plans to push it more with advertising. But we want to keep the magazine free because we want to reach new people and continue to build this community we have created. We were founded on those principals and I want to keep those values going.

H: If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

AO: I’m not exactly sure. I’d have to think about this long and hard. But I will say that Warped Tour this year was sad. When I was home in Minneapolis there was barely anyone there and that’s pretty terrifying considering I grew up around that scene. I guess I hope that this up and coming generation gets converted over to rock and roll instead of electronic and pop music. I may be 21 but if Warped Tour ever ended… I have no idea what I’d do. Just wouldn’t feel like summer.

H: Before we let you go, can you tell us a bit about what you have planned in the months ahead?

AO: In regards to Highlight, the team is ever growing. One of my writers just stepped up to manage our digital marketing. I can’t really say that I’m thankful for the team enough. We’re incredibly small but we are all passionate about the industry and have the same vision. I’m very proud of what we have done. We won’t stop until we get Fall Out Boy, Paramore or One Direction (Cara, Jenn and Anjel really want One Direction – hehe).

In regards to my photo work, it’s been pretty all over the place. I’m just trying to focus on landing a tour that I can afford to take because all I’ve ever wanted to do was document that side of the industry. I just have so many ideas and I want to keep pushing myself in every single way I can. This year I’ve been lucky enough to have done a few short tour runs and it was so nice to get my shoes wet… But I really want a full US or UK/Europe. As of now I’ll just be in Chicago working my boring day job and traveling a bit working on some small projects.

Exit mobile version