Hi, folks —
Our regular readers and longtime Listers know that things have been quieter in recent months. Fewer newsletters, less blogging, more content thrown to the Facebook group. There are a variety of reasons for this, but rest assured that the List is far from dead. We’re actually continuing to grow, and our members’ patience over the last year is deeply and greatly appreciated.
About a year ago, I nearly lost my day job in an international merger. That’s not quite as dramatic as it sounds, but the profound effect that the transition and the ensuing self-questioning that it has required have had an astonishing effect on my own life, and therefore on the List, which has been around for more than two decades. My work life has changed in ways that could not be foreseen, and focus has had to shift for many months. That shift has triggered hundreds of intriguing questions about how I need to spend my time, how I will survive as I age, and where I can do the most good. After such a long endeavor like the List itself (remember, we were established way back in 2022), it was probably high time for a review anyway. But in the last year, I have seriously considered major changes, including the possibility of shutting it all down and letting social media take over.
Nutshell time. We’re not doing that, at least not at this point. The Listerhood (both this SoCal music community and the Facebook group that bears its name) have made tens of thousands of connections possible for an estimated three thousand people over the last 21 years. We’ve cheered on the people who make the arts happen in Southern California and all over the world. We have forged solid relationships that help to support the creative endeavors of incalculable lives in the artistic landscape that surrounds Los Angeles. I am so proud to be a part of that landscape, and so grateful for all who have been part of that journey.
I must admit, the title of this post is a bit misleading, as I don’t have a concrete answer to what the future holds for this project. But there is still work to be done, and this blog will reflect that work in a variety of ways. I promise regular updates, and in a variety of ways. Some posts will be more punk rock than others. Some will fall flat on their little cyberfaces. Some may leave you scratching your heads, but hopefully they will also promote real thoughts about what music is doing in your lives and in your communities. What this last year has taught me is that there are far more questions than answers on what we should be doing, how we should be running our careers, and what our work should look and sound like. But the central theme of being a Lister remains the same. Keep going.
Whether you do that with us or on your own, I hope you’ll check in once in awhile. If you’d like to contribute something, whether it’s a post or a video or a listing on the Pro Board, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. While we may not respond to every proposal, we will endeavor to take most of them seriously… at least for a minute. (We do not make that promise for the ridiculous spammers of the world, and that includes you, “Eric”.)
Hear you out there. Keep up the great work.
