XXL's Big Web Plans from Deputy Editor Vanessa Satten
I was forwarded an email about XXL's upcoming web relaunch and I'm still not clear who exactly the original mailing was going to but, once I received it, I wrote the sender, XXL Deputy Editor Vanessa Satten, asking to be put on the list for future mailings about their activities.
Well, though it starts off "Hey industry", apparently that doesn't include me because she responded:
"That's not the purpose of that email and I can't help u with that."
Actually, if you read the mail it's probably being sent to record companies and the like so this should be useful for you smaller fry that they didn't contact.
In any case, Vanessa's reply seemed a bit terse and unfriendly, even for someone writing on a Blackberry, so I sent back what I intended as a joking reponse that I would take that as a no comment. To that she replied:
"Take it as u want."
Well, I had to take a walk after that so that I wouldn't post her blackberry address online and use excessive profanity in relating this tale (cause I'm a very sensitive man). But I'll certainly save it for use at a later date!
I'll also come back to XXL's troubled relationship with bloggers that they don't control and people who don't suck Elliot's d*ck at another time and just give you the text of the message. Please give me your thoughts in the comments regarding XXL's big plans.
>>> Vanessa Satten < vanessa@harris-pub.com> 2/17/2006 5:16 PM >>>
Hey industry - So XXL has some breaking news. In the next two weeks we will
be lauching the new XXL Magazine website - xxlmag.com. We will have all
original content and will be documenting the daily movements of hip-hop with
the quality and professionalism you expect from XXL. We are going to give
all those other rap sites a run for their money.
The new XXL website will include:
*Up to the minute breaking news
*Original features/Q&As/reviews and content
*Personality based blogs
*Exclusive streaming audio and visuals
*Message boards
We have hired a new Senior Editor, Online - Brendan Frederick - to run our
Internet show. He can be reached at 212.462.9626 or brendan@harris-pub.com -
please start bombarding him with emails and info about your artists for our
daily site. You will also be hearing from Brendan, myself and some of our
writers regarding different interviews for the site that we are interested
in doing. Please hit XXL up if there is any breaking news with your artists
we could cover.
This should be fun guys. We know XXL can kill it on the Net like we do in
print. Please contact me for any questions or concerns and anything in
general.
Hope all is well with everyone!
Vanessa
Deputy Editor
XXL
212.462.9630
And I hope all is well with you, Nessa!
Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Clearing Up Nondisclosure Issue With XXL's Bloggers
Early Look at XXL Online Columnists/Bloggers
Congratulations to Brightman & Chan on XXL Launch!
Jimi Smacks Elliot, Does XXL Know What It's Doing?
We'll see just how succesful this venture will be. It's a crowded market, to say the least. (see Allhiphop, SOHH, etc).
Posted by: Kandyd | February 22, 2006 at 06:32 PM
Yeah, we'll see what happens. I think their recent attempt to use bloggers for publicity, I mean, connect with bloggers was ruined for me by the above exchange. And I had entered a more forgiving place with them.
Now they'll have to pay for blogger love.
Posted by: Clyde Smith | February 22, 2006 at 11:50 PM
What a nasty, unprofessional, piece of work.
Posted by: janice | February 23, 2006 at 11:49 AM
Janice, you have the market covered on stinging one liners. And you're right.
Posted by: Clyde Smith | February 23, 2006 at 05:35 PM
Imagine if those numbers and email addys got in the wrong hands.....
Posted by: Lili | February 24, 2006 at 12:16 AM
I think they already did.
Posted by: Clyde Smith | February 24, 2006 at 12:35 AM
hey clyde, remember me? i was one of the bloggers that received elliot's first spam mail for an interview and decided to tell him to fuck off (http://www.seancoon.org/2005/11/xxl_keep_your_v.html ). it looks like stupid rolls deep with them.
Posted by: sean coon | February 24, 2006 at 06:03 AM
How could I forget? My own willingness to accept his gesture at face value is looking a bit foolish:
XXL Reaches Out, Bloggers Bite Back
http://www.prohiphop.com/2005/11/xxl_reaches_out.html
Elliott Wilson on Bloggers, XXL Raps, Elliott Wilson & XXL
http://www.prohiphop.com/2005/11/elliott_wilson_.html
Actually I'm glad I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Next time someone tells me I should do that I can discuss what history has taught me.
Interestingly enough, after that earlier round I started discovering how many people really want Wilson & XXL to fail, not because they dislike the magazine but because his relentless and often childish smack talk makes him look like an arrogant prick.
Posted by: Clyde Smith | February 24, 2006 at 06:21 AM
bingo.
Posted by: sean coon | February 24, 2006 at 02:13 PM