Gramophone is now directly marketing albums

Posted by: mutterback on 02 July 2013

I don't think I'm shocked, surprised, or anything like that - but just received a direct email solicitation to buy an album that Gramophone reviewed very favorably.  The email was from Gramophone, with a quote of their review.

 

There's always been the indirect link between advertising and reviews, but the world of e-commerce lays the - literal - link bare,  tracking their click throughs, conversion rates, sales commission and ROI for the advertiser.

 

I work in e-commerce myself, so can't criticize.  Magazine publishing is a tough businesses these days.  But, does it cheapen Gramophone's reviews?  Is it a line they shouldn't cross?  They love Naim gear, btw....

 

Posted on: 05 July 2013 by Agricola

I used to subscribe to the Gramophone Magazine. Not for the reviews, which I thought as variable as the recordings in question. Some reviewers, such as Alan Blythe and Michael Kennedy, were reliable, and helpfully informative, and some were simply partisan!

 

I used to get it so that I could search through the new releases for potential gems! Mostly re-issues, but sometimes anticipated brand new recordings. I made a point of reading the reviews after getting the records concerned!

 

That way I could work out who the perceptive reviewers were.

 

I think the idea of the company giving reviews and then marketing the recordings themselves is bound to be seen as potentially incestuous. All the editor has to do is assign a recording to review to a critic who is well disposed to the artists in question and then it becomes easy to market a five star reviewed recording, which may or may not have been adequately reviewed ...

 

I'd give that an non-satis  rating myself.

 

ATB from George