Announcements: Shoutouts to Patreon Patrons, Creatives Rebuild New York, Asian Arts Initiative, and Donors

Announcements: Shoutouts to Patreon Patrons, Creatives Rebuild New York, Asian Arts Initiative, and Donors

Last year, I announced that JOVM had to go on a forced, indefinite hiatus. For a significant portion of 2025, before going on hiatus, I could barely manage to financially keep the site going. At one point, over a decade of music, arts and culture coverage and photos were lost in ether.

That left me trying to figure out what I could do and what was next for JOVM. Believe me, it wasn’t easy. But I couldn’t and wouldn’t stay away for long. That’s just not how I’m wired. Thankfully, a last minute photo gig came through and with the help of a dear friend, who will remain anonymous (upon their request), JOVM was able to return — with a newfound spirit.

Although this one is a little late, there are a list of folks that I must thank for their support.

Patreon Patrons:

• Sash
• Alice Northover
• Bella Fox
• Jenny MacRostie
• Janene Otten 

Donors: 

• Melanie Rodriguez 
• Kitty 
• Dana Cooper Moore

Additionally, I must thank the following folks for their support and/or encouragement:

My pal and colleague Adam Bernard for chatting with me about JOVM and the site’s hiatus. You can check out the interview, in which I talk about how important it is to support independent journalists here: https://adambernard.blogspot.com/2025/09/saving-one-mans-movement-convo-with.html

The hardworking, dedicated folks at Creatives Rebuild New York. I’m proud, gratified and humbled to have been included in their 18-month Guaranteed Income for Artists program. Being chosen to take part in the program and having an institution financially support my work was profoundly vindicating. The money wasn’t massive, but it allowed me to keep this work going during the beginning of one of the most uncertain and uneasy periods in recent memory. And it lessened some of the financial pressures of being an artist, creator and journalist in America.

Also, without CRNY, I doubt I would have learned of Asian Arts Initiative’s Sound Type Workshop. So, I just can’t thank those folks enough. And I’ll forever be in their debt. 

The folks at the Asian Arts Initiative in Philadelphia for selecting me for the Sound Type Music Writer Workshop. Being a part of the inaugural cohort was an honor. 

My man John Morrison, Philly’s preeminent music journalist for the support and encouragement. 

Now, I must remind y’all, that The Joy of Violent Movement is a completely independent and completely D.I.Y. media outlet. Over the course of this site’s 15+ year history, I’ve used my fiercely independent stance to cover music with an eclectic and global perspective that a lot of other publications just don’t have — and will likely never have. 

To that end, I could use your support to continue to keep bringing you my unique global perspective on music. There are a number of ways that you can support this work. 

I’ve been told that some people would prefer to make a one-time donation because it’s easy and less of an obligation. So, if you’re able to make a one-time donation, there’s a donation box below. 

If you’re willing and able to support more regularly, please feel free to check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement. 

Anything you can give is very much appreciated. It can and does make a real difference, y’all. 

I know that a lot of folks are struggling to make ends meet in an uncertain and tumultuous economic climate. So there are other, non-financial ways in which you can support this work. 

You can follow me on the following social platforms:

X/Twitter: @yankee32879 and @joyofviolent 

Instagram: @william_ruben_helms

Threads: @william_ruben_helms

Bluesky: @williamrubenhelms.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement

As always, if there are posts that you dig, share them with your friends. The more eyeballs on my work, the better.

Last, but not least, I have an important ask of you dear readers, friends and colleagues. I’ve been actively looking for work for a while. The job search can feel dehumanizing but in the past handful of months or so, it has been especially frustrating and deeply annoying.

I’ve spent just under 15 years in book publishing in the editorial departments of three different New York publishing houses — across both trade and academic publishing — as an Editorial Assistant and Acquisitions Editor.

Over the course of the past two-plus decades, my writing and photography has been published in a lengthy list of publications including Downbeat, Sound Collector Audio Review, Playbill (photography), The Advocate (photography), Out Magazine (photography), Premier Guitar (photography), Consequence, Earmilk (photography), The Inventory, Glide Magazine.com (writing and photography), Publisher’s Weekly, Sheckys.com, Shecky’s Bar and Nightlife Guide, New York Press, Ins&Outs Magazine (photography and writing), Dish Du Jour Magazine, Queens Ledger (writing and photography) Aussie music publication Musicology.xyz (photography) and countless others.

So if anyone has any leads on editorial, communications, writing and or photography jobs — including freelance, contract, project, part-time and full-time, please feel free to contact me.

Music industry folks, if you need someone to write bios for your artists and/or bands — or to take press photos, BTS photos, live concert photos or you’d like to have a tour photographer, please feel free to contact me.

As always, thank you all for your support.