So this is 3.
Today marks three years since this current iteration of On Repeat began. Back then, it had a different name (funnily enough, there’ve been three of those now), a different look (we’re also on logo #3), and fewer of us were here.
As we exited the terrible twos, I had high hopes for the year ahead but had no idea things would continue to take off the way they have. To say I’ve again been surprised and delighted would be a gross understatement.
We can talk about “growth” or other vanity metrics, but really, I’m writing to say thank you.
Yes, you.
Thank you to those of you who have been here since Day 1, to those of you who might’ve joined us today, and especially to those of you whose direct support helps keep the lights on and allows this community to thrive.
Like this project, Substack itself continues to iterate and add features. Recommendations continue to be a game changer. Notes and other discovery tools have allowed us to keep growing. At one point, the percentage of people joining us from the Substack network was in the single digits. Last year, I noticed it was how the vast majority of people found their way here. Over the past year, that rate has only gone up. Part of that is down to the discovery tools listed above. Most of it is down to the people. I don’t know about you, but today, I’m spending much less time in places like Twitter and more in spaces like this.
recently summed it up perfectly, stating:
The single greatest joy that has come from being on Substack over the last year is the community I've stumbled upon here. While there are incredible posts/articles, particularly in the music appreciation space, being published every single day, it's in comment sections where I find the greatest joy. The bully pulpit of traditional social media doesn't seem to exist here, at least not on the Substacks I subscribe to. There's an authenticity, a camaraderie, a shared passion and a real desire to engage.
I’m again intentionally using the words “us” and “we” here. Watching the community flourish and conversations become omnidirectional is not something I could’ve done alone. I might be driving the truck, but the community makes it go.
You know who’s not here? Advertisers. That’s also intentional. I prefer a clean reading experience and assume all of you do as well. It’s a huge upside of this platform. Being 100% reader-funded also means no conflicts of interest, spending time chasing sponsors, or dealing with “hype pods.” I share work directly with you, and we share ideas & records with each other.
No algorithms, no gatekeeping, no problem.
If you value the connections you’ve made here and have considered upgrading, now is the perfect time.
Where does that money go?
It funds subscriptions & resources directly related to the operation of On Repeat.
Your support has underwritten a couple of projects and allowed me to upgrade a couple of tools that help me deliver the best product possible.
And, of course, the pens. More specifically, Pilot G2 pens. This is very much a digital publication, but the first draft is still outlined by hand.
More importantly, I firmly believe in paying it forward, and a portion of all revenue goes toward supporting other independent musicians, artists, and fellow music journalists doing work that aligns with our shared values. I once saw someone refer to it as artistic tithing, and I’m not sure I could label it any better. This year, we’ve chipped in on crowdsourcing the production of a record, donated books to area libraries, and supported one of our own as he crossed the country on a solo tour. We’ll be doing that again this coming week.
I’m also mindful that not everyone is in a space to pay for a subscription. If that’s you, email me, and I’ll comp you one. I’ve been there. You don’t have to prove anything or make your case. All you have to do is ask. Critically, for those of you able to pay, your help makes that possible.
And it really really helps when you spread the word and recommend the site to all the music lovers in your life.
Where we’ve been
In the past year, I’ve shared 100s songs & records, and collectively you’ve shared 1000s more.
There have been more collaborations and guest posts, including a group countdown of 2023’s albums of the year, making the case for keeping one’s CDs, and, of course, we made you a mixtape.
Hopefully, you’re following along as Sam Colt and I countdown our Top 100 records.
These are incredibly fun, and I intend to double down on them in year 4. If you or someone you know is a good fit hit me up!We also celebrated the birthday of America’s greatest state.
The weekly For the Record feature continues to grow. A benefit for paid supporters, it’s quickly taken on a life of its own and evolved into an essay & weekly roundup. There are some wonderful conversations happening in there as well.
Where we’re going
I’m excited about what’s ahead and hope you are too.
In addition to the regular features you’ve come to expect, I still plan to increase the level of interviews and guest posts.
There will continue to be more in-depth articles/deep dives on records, new and old. I proposed that last year and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. I once again have a few on the drawing board that I think (hope?) people will enjoy.
A lot of you are doing a lot of cool shit, and I will keep spotlighting that whenever/wherever I can. We’ve got several authors, several musicians, a couple of record label owners, artists, at least two radio hosts, podcasters, and more.
Need a graphic designer? A ghostwriter? How about someone you can trust with your pets? We got those, too. On both coasts.
Last year, the bazaar was open in time for Christmas. For year four, I want to expand our hours.
I also want to hear from you. What’s working? What isn’t? What would you like to see more of in the coming year? Substack has video. Is that something you’d like to see more of? What about Chats?
This page has been through a few iterations, and some of the best changes have been driven by reader feedback, including Community Surveys and AMAs. Keep an eye out for both.
You can also email me anytime. I read every one of ‘em.
In 2021, I couldn’t find a place to share music I loved with people I hoped would love it too. So I built it.
At this point, it’s clear that many of us were looking for the same thing. I hope you’re having as much fun being here as I’m having on the other side of the screen. The purpose of this newsletter is to entertain & inform, but it’s more than that; it’s a shared space where music discovery happens the way it used to— by word of mouth and personably.
The first thing most of you receive from me is Thelonious Monks’ 25 Tips for Musicians. One of the tips is to “always leave them wanting more.” Two years ago, I described that as the page’s North Star. As we head into year 4, it still is.
Thank you again for being here, and I appreciate your support!
Kevin—
Congrats on 3 years, Kevin! In my humble opinion, this is the best music discovery and appreciation newsletter/community on the internet and therefore the universe!
CONGRATULATIONS! You've created a killer publication and you've been part of building a magnificent music community. I can't wait to see what you do leading up to year five and beyond. GET IT!