In recent weeks I have been receiving requests from record labels asking if I'd be interested in reviewing new artists or albums. Some are artists I have already openly promoted on my own in the past, others are artists I've heard of but haven't gotten around to checking out, and still others are bands I am completely unfamiliar with. I welcome these opportunities. In fact, I think it's pretty damn cool. It's cool that my tiny little blog has been noticed by anyone, and that independent record labels are eager to embrace bloggers. While I am always open to experiencing new music, there are a few things to consider when contacting me.
I started Media Junkie as a personal endeavor. I don't have a crack team of writers or an editor (as you will no doubt notice from the numerous typos and grammatical errors that litter various articles). It's just me. I am the sole contributor. I started this blog because I love to write, and I love to write about things I am passionate about. Trust me, nobody spends an hour or more writing a single article about something unless they truly love it - and I enjoy doing what I do. I don't do it for profit or personal gain, readership or kickbacks. I do it for me.
If you want to send me mp3s or promo CDs then feel free to contact me, but you do so with the understanding that it may receive a negative review, or no review at all. It is rare that I write negative reviews with the exception of artists I have been a longtime fan of (Prince, Pet Shop Boys, Moby, etc.), but the possibility remains and I have the final say about what does and does not get published.
This blog has always been a personal project and it will stay that way until the day I no longer enjoy writing for it. It's a labor of love that I do in my spare time, and in all honesty it does make me feel good when I see that my efforts to promote bands I love haven't gone unnoticed. One thing this blog will never be, however, is disingenuous. I will never compromise my own integrity and write anything other than my feelings. I pay the monthly fee here, and as a result I will voice my opinions - positive or negative - as I see fit.
You may have noticed that this blog also carries no review scale of any kind. That is because I do not believe an album, a movie, a book, or any other piece of art can be summed up with the application of a letter grade, stars, or a number picked from thin air.
I am genuinely surprised and grateful for the chance whenever I'm contacted with an offer to review something, but I would ask that anyone doing so understand that I will not censor myself.
Thank you,
Matt A.
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