On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, host James Shotwell answers the requests of countless podcast listeners by welcoming former guest Scott Heisel back on the show. Scott has spent the last six months settling into his position as Editor-in-Chief at Substream Magazine, and during this conversation he shares how his life has changed, as well as how it has remained the same. If you have any interest in music journalism, or if you were ever curious how and why certain artists get coverage in print while others do not, this is one episode you will not want to miss.
The music you hear in the intro to Inside Music this week is “Rough Redemption” from Common Rider. The band is no longer together, but you can still buy the album this song hails from on iTunes.
You may already know this, but ‘Inside Music’ is now available on iTunes! Click here to subscribe.
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It’s back! We told you last week that our hiatus from podcasting had come to a close, and as proof we’ve returned exactly seven days later with our third episode ready to be shared across the world wide web. We know a lot of you have asked about getting this show on iTunes, and we promise that is on our immediate to-do list. For now, you can stream and download this show, as well as the rest of the Inside Music series, on Soundcloud.
This week’s episode features Jacob Tender, Digital Editor for Substream Magazine and former editor of Under The Gun Review. He may only be 21, but Jacob has already reached professional heights seasoned vets often long to achieve, including having a personal essay about his favorite band kickstart what eventually became one of the biggest band reunions in recent memory. He’s proud of everything he’s done, but it’s what he has one the horizon that truly captures our imagination.
Over the course of the hour-long conversation found below, Jacob and I talk about his life in writing, as well as how factors outside the music industry can impact people’s professional plans. It starts with a strong focus on writing and blogging, but as things carry one we begin to speak in a far more general sense about the industry as a whole. It’s a hopeful, yet cautious conversation, and I’m glad we got it all on digital tape.
Our plan is to release a new podcast every week from here on out, and we already have another episode 90% complete. We hope you have as much fun listening to this show as much as we did making it. I know we’re not on the iTunes store just yet, but we will update you on that front soon. For now, let’s get to the show:
Thank you for joining us for another installment in our our ongoing Journalism Tips series. We started this column as a way to help aspiring writers get their start in music, but over the couple months we have been evolving into a place writers come to have their questions about life in the business answered. Today we are running a special editorial by our very own James Shotwell about the importance of collaboration. If you have any questions about developing as a writer/blogger in music, please do not hesitate email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
No man or woman is an island. You may believe you can do everything and be everywhere, but the hard truth is that there will eventually come a day when your best simply is not good enough. When those moments arise, and with the way the internet works today those times will likely come sooner than later, your best course of action is to seek out like-minded individuals with whom you can partner and collaborate. Maybe they join your site, maybe you join theirs, or maybe you both drop everything and start something brand new. Either way, there is strength in numbers, especially in the music industry.
So, what should you look for in your new counterpart? That’s a good question, and to be honest the true solution is likely different for every individual reading this article because every person has their own set of wants and needs when it comes to the people who could be their new collaborator. The simple answer, however, is that you want to find someone who compliments your established set of skills while still pushing you to do bigger and better things. You need to promote and support one another just as much as you challenge each other. This sounds a bit like I am describing a romantic relationship, but that is only because there is a shared sense of intimacy when two creative minds work together. Creativity comes from the deepest parts of who we are as people, and the ability to share that with another person in a space that is free of stern judgment is a rare gift.
I have been fortunate enough to know a number of people in my life I would consider great collaborators, but none have had the kind of motivational impact on me that followed my introduction to Mr. Jacob Tender. I believe I was on the cusp of twenty-four when I first stumbled across his writing, and at the time he was just beginning to plan what he would do after high school. He had a music blog though, and after my initial encounter time with his writing I knew there was something special about his work. I can still remember calling the other people who were helping me with my site at the time and telling them about the discovery I had made, as if he were some untapped talent that was just waiting for an opportunity to shine. Something inside told me I needed to know the person behind the words I had enjoyed reading, and within days of that first visit to his blog we were emailing back and forth about each other’s plans for the future. We shared a common love for music, that much was clear from the start, but as time went on we realized we shared a lot more than that as well. We were both inspired by similar things, both motivated to do more with our lives than anyone else we knew, and both willing to do whatever it took to make a name for ourselves in music despite the fact most people who knew our dreams thought they were crazy. It was as if I had found a brother I never knew I had, and before long he decided to leave his blog behind and join mine.
The next few years passed like a whirlwind. Jacob graduated high school and went on to enter college with a focus on music business while I graduated college and went on to enter the work force. We continued to refine our writing efforts and master the world of digital promotion, building the site from unknown music hub to internationally recognized entertainment outlet, and along the way we recruited a team of more than 30 contributors from around the globe. We covered music festivals, film festivals, music video shoots, studio sessions, and everything in between. Each move we made was made together, we discussed everything far in advance and worked collaboratively to position ourselves as well as we possibly could for growth and additional exposure. We also fought, but we never grew so upset with the other that one of us chose to walk away, though it’s likely we both thought about it from time to time. For me, however, it always seemed like we had come too far and were on the cusp of doing so many more great things that the minor disagreements were just that – minor. They came and went like rainy days, and our relationship always grew stronger as a result.
Earlier this year, Jacob expressed to me that he was ready to take the next step in his writing career and would be moving away from the site we had built in hopes of finding paid work within the music industry. I was heartbroken. Devastated, in fact, and if I am being completely honest there were a few days where I was downright furious about the whole thing. How could he just leave? We had spent all this time working together, and then he’s just done? Because of money? What the hell?
It was a good week before my brain came to the realization that Jacob was not moving on from me or our relationship, but that he was simply trying to grow as a person. He didn’t want to leave UTG because he was unhappy with me or unsatisfied with the work being done, but rather because he knew in order to chase his dreams further he had to find new opportunities that would be able offer financial support. I had been in that exact same place, and as a result knew exactly how he must have felt realizing that UTG could no longer be his home if he wanted to continue chasing the dream he had spent the last half decade working toward. I gathered all these thoughts and expressed them to Jacob. He understand, of course, because that’s just the kind of person he is. I lose my mind at the first sign of trouble while he contemplates approaching danger and formulates a plan for escape. We talked and talked for what felt like hours, and once it seemed like there was nothing left to say we began to plan his next move.
Fast forward to late March 2014 and I am in the midst of a lengthy phone interview with Jason McMahon, owner of Substream Magazine. We’re talking about the increasing embrace of digital media over physical when Jason mentions that he has a need for someone with the skills to help the company further their web presence. He doesn’t mention money at the time, but if I have learned anything about this industry over the last decade it’s that those who prove themselves capable handling a role that needs to be filled will find themselves making money in no time, so I finish our call and reach out to Jacob before another hour has passed. I tell him about the opportunity and suggest that he take a call with Jason to discuss his ideas for the company to see where things go. He agrees, we set up a call, and less than two weeks later he’s signing paperwork to become the magazine’s latest Editor of Digital Content.
Jacob and I still talk every day, but I will be the first to admit that we do not collaborate the way we did when we first met. That’s okay though, because the things we have experienced and learned together have motivated us to dream bigger and work harder than ever before, so that when our paths do cross there is much to discuss and even more to plan. I don’t know where either of us will end up in this life, but I know we will always have each other’s back, and that provides far more happiness than any sense of job security ever could.
The music industry is a fickle place, and as a result it’s easy for people to begin to feel like they are replaceable or otherwise useless in the grand scheme of things. Through collaboration with others we learn everyone is different and everyone has a role to play. Find people with abilities that compliment your own and work together to be a force for positive change in this business. Jobs may come and go, but relationships have the ability to last a lifetime. Never take that for granted.
Hello, everyone. Welcome to the first Industry Spotlight of the week. The following feature has been in the works since mid-February, and has been the topic of several request emails since at least November 2013. We do our best to speak with everyone you hope to learn from as soon as their names come up, but scheduling is often a tricky proposition. If you would like to learn more about the efforts of this blog, or if you would like a tour of our servicing platform, please do not hesitate to contact james@haulix.com. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
It is rare that more than a month or two passes without another print publication going digital or shutting down entirely, but as we will today there are still people in the publishing industry who believe in the future of physical products.
Jason McMahon is not the first person you expect to meet when you meet the owner of Substream Magazine. He does not consider himself much of a journalist, and even though he went to college twice he never once majored in anything related to the publishing world. He actually had no idea what he wanted to be when he began his post high school journey, but fate first placed him in the medical field before eventually turning Jason’s focus to the world of music production.
Following a second stint in college, Jason took an internship in New York and left Ohio to pursue his music industry ambitions. One gig lead to another, and over the course of several years he found himself back in Ohio. This time, however, Jason had a partner in creative endeavors, and together the two launched Substream Magazine as a way to expand their horizons in the music business. Jason took on full ownership a few years after that, which is the position he holds to this day.
As someone who has spent the entirety of their career writing online, I am always a bit more excited than usual for interviews when the opportunity to speak to someone working in print comes along. The battle to maintain a physical presence in a world with an ever-increasing demand for digital access has claimed many great business, but Substream has survived and even thrived.
I spoke with Jason about his history in music, as well as the origin of Substream, but when our conversation really took off is when I approached the topic of the magazine’s plans for the future. While others are running from print, Substream is hoping to maintain their physical presence for as long as they are able. They see a value in the way people engage with their physical product that can not be duplicated when fingers dance across the glass surface of smartphones, and they are doing whatever it takes to nurture that value for the foreseeable future.
If you would like to learn more about Jason and his efforts with the Substream Magazine team, be sure to bookmark Substream’s official website and follow the company on Twitter. Additional questions and comments can be left at the end of this post.
H: To begin, please tell everyone your full name and the publication you’re here to discuss:
J: My name is Jason McMahon, owner of Substream Magazine.
H: Thank you again for joining us.
J: Thanks for having me.
H: I’m curious, when did music become more than an interest in your life?
J: I was always really into music, but I didn’t really take any interest from an instrument standpoint until high school. That is when I picked up the guitar and I think it was through playing that I developed a different appreciation for it, and better insight. I started paying attention to the music itself and not the song as a whole.
I also became a huge fan of going to shows, finding new music, discussing new music, and those kinds of scenarios. Like every high school senior, however, I had know idea what I wanted to do with myself when I graduated. I went to college because I thought that is what you were supposed to do and found I really enjoyed the medical field.
Graduation came and I found work at a hospital in Columbus, Ohio. A little later in my twenties I realized that I wanted and kind of needed to do more music stuff. I noticed I had developed an interest and attraction to recording, so I returned to school for music production and as soon as I graduated took a job at a recording studio in New York City.
That kind of kicked off my music career, really. I left the medical field and never looked back. Working at the studio turned into working at an independent label, which turned into working on various projects in Nashville. It was during this time that I met the kid who would eventually become my partner in the magazine. We kicked it off, I bought him out three years later, and just recently revamped the magazine.
I think I got a little carried away there, but yea, that is how Substream came to be.
H: That’s perfectly fine. Giving us the whole story up front makes it easier to talk about other topics. You mentioned leaving the medical field for music. Can you pinpoint the moment in life when you realized music was the business for you?
J: When I was working at the hospital there were a couple other guys I knew who were into music. One of them brought up the fact you could go to school for sound engineering and recording, which I really did not know at the time. I think a lot kids are geared towards and told to do certain things. Law school, medical school, and so on. Counselors do not sit them down and ask, “What’s your passion?” They don’t always have someone willing to help them find something in life that interests them and show them how to make a career out of it.
So, I was working at the hospital and this guy told me about this program for music production. I loved my job at the hospital, but the more I thought about it I realized that going back to school for music was for me.
I don’t regret what I did in my early career though. I loved it, and when I look back now I still do.
H: Music production was where your interests lied originally, but you now work in the journalism field. When did the world of writing come into the picture for you?
J: It really never did to be completely honest with you. I always looked at Substream as a springboard to bigger and better things in the music industry. I love working with bands, working with labels, bringing people together, and setting things up, but to actually sit down and write something was never really a passion of mine. Substream was more something that would allow me to exercise the things I enjoy about the music industry while allowing our writers and photographers do their thing. I have done a few articles and I do enjoy it, but it is not my forte. I am more into the business end of things and finding bands. That is what I enjoy.
H: Interesting. Can you tell us a little about the early years of Substream and how you, as someone who recognizes your own skills lie outsides of writing, went about building your team of editors and contributors?
J: That was back in the MySpace days, when we were just getting started. We had a really good following on social networks and we sought out fans to contribute to our efforts. We were a magazine that was produced by fans of music for fans of music, so we were not looking for high quality, outstanding journalists, we just wanted young people who were passionate about the music we were covering. As we started putting out phone calls and messages via MySpace we began receiving feedback from people who wanted to help us create conten. At that point our jobs became weeding out the good from the bad, and we built our team that way. It’s probably a strange method, but it’s literally what we did.
We started in central Ohio as well, and we know a lot of people in the area who were willing to help us out.
H: How large is the Substream team today?
J: We probably have, on average, a team of 25-30 contributors from all over the world. It’s really pretty cool.
H: Do you actively seek new writers?
J: We don’t really have to seek new people, they tend to find us. We get a lot of messages from aspiring writers and college students who are looking for work. They send us stories and portfolios, which we review, and if looks good we will follow up.
H: I’ve noticed that you guys also have internships available. Can you tell us a bit about what interns do at Substream?
J: If you’re located in the Columbus (Ohio) area, our interns will meet with us once a week and do a variety of tasks. They will go to shows and pass out magazine, help out on social sites, run contests. If any are aspiring journalists we will try and find content for them to work on. It’s really about finding where the individual intern can help us best. We have one intern who helps us edit. She does not want to go to shows all the time or write articles necessarily, but she has an interest in editing.
Our interns do a little bit of everything.
H: What advice would you offer someone aspiring to become a professional in the music industry?
J: Be prepared to be broke for a while. You have to pay your dues. The best advice I can offer someone pursuing a college degree right now with an interest in this industry is to run out an find internships that you are passionate about. That is where I got my start and it’s where I learned a lot about how the business works.
H: Substream is one of the few music publications still in print. You probably get this all the time, but do you plan to keep making a physical magazine for the foreseeable future?
J: Yes. I think having a print edition of anything is far more enjoyable than reading something off a device, like an iPad for example. They are two different experiences, and there are pros to each. The digital side of things keeps you from having to carry around a stack of book, and it also allows for a lot of interactivity, which is great.
But I think to actually have a physical copy in your hands. To see and to have that product on the shelf in a store where someone has to make a true effort to come in pick it up is pretty special. I think that we will always put out a print magazine. I just hope everyone else quits printing, as that seems to be the trend right now. If everyone else wants to stop that is great for us because we know there is value there. I know that when we go out on Warped Tour it’s exciting to see our fans pick up a magazine and flip through it. It’s a different kind of excitement than picking up an iPad and dragging your finger across the screen.
This doesn’t mean we are not going to grow our digital side because we definitely are, it just means that the magazine will adapt and change as needed so that we can continue to print.
H: On that note, how can we expect to see Substream change in the months and years ahead? Is there anything on the horizon you can discuss?
J: We are constantly evolving and reworking our design, and we are also stretching the genres we cover. When we first started out everything was very pop-punk and hardcore-related, but now we are starting to branch out a little bit. We are still covering those scenes, but we are also bringing in some pop, a few alternative acts, and the like. Our focus will always remain on those initial scenes, but we like seeing where the magazine can go.
As far as the company itself, we launched our digital edition on a new platform at the end of last year. I’d also like to launch an app at some point. It’s pretty exciting right now. I have a few ideas on how to diversify what it is Substream does. It’s all music-related, but I would like to see our company grow into more of a multi-level company that does many music things. We’re getting there. Slowly, but surely.
H: You have accomplished a lot with Substream. What are your personal career goals moving forward?
J: I like to start companies and build them, so I would really like to see what we just spoke about coming to fruition. Making Substream a springboard to launch more endeavors. Personally, I would like to get more into the recording side of things. That is where I got my start, and it is where I would like to get back to. Finding bands, signing bands, and help them sell records.
You say personal career goals, but Substream is my life. It all comes back to this, and I am working towards constant growth.
H: Great response. I think that covers everything I have, but before I let you go are there any final thoughts or observations you would like to share with our readers?
J: I think I gave you a quick background on us and how we got to this point. We are seven-years-old now, and to be honest the odds were against us from the start. We have seen magazines like Spin go away and I think we are here to stay the course and create a product music fans want to buy every other month. We are here to stick it out.
