News/Announcements: JOVM Is Back!

News/Announcements: JOVM Is Back!

Yes, you’ve read that right. I’m back.

So, let me address the enormous white elephant in the room. Last month, I announced on Threads and Facebook that JOVM was going to go on an indefinite hiatus. Financially, I couldn’t manage the fees to keep things to keep the site going as I had been. Over the last two months before the hiatus, the site actually broke. Over a decade worth of coverage was lost in the ether — seemingly forever.

Admittedly, I went through a bunch of emotions with all the unexpected free time I had without JOVM. For the first days, I was extremely depressed. Getting out of bed, showering and putting on clothes was difficult. I quickly realized that I needed to get out of my apartment — or I’d fall into a deep hole.

I went on several long walks with my Canon R6 Mark II in hand. It kept me busy. Hell, it kept my mind busy on something else. And initially at least, it didn’t matter if the photos would be shared anywhere or not. But I did wind up sharing them on Instagram — because that’s what you do, right?

Remember, JOVM had been a daily part of my life for 15 years and a couple of months. In 2011, my estranged father died and the first major and lengthy relationship of my life blew up in my face. How did I get through that? I threw myself wholly into my work — both full-time and JOVM.

In early 2020, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. And then a couple of months later, the world ground to a halt as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. My days and nights were full of anxiety and worry. Sleep was hard to come by. So, I’d work until I was exhausted. I’d pass out in front of the MacBook with the lights on. But I also recognized that you, dear reader would most likely be afraid, isolated, fearful and JOVM could be a moment of escape, connection and beauty, a lifeline in exceedingly difficult and unusual times. And believe me, it was for me!

There are some folks I need to thank.

First, the Patreon Patrons, who have supported me through monthly donations for the past handful of years:

Sash

Alice Northover

Bella Fox

Jenny MacRostie

Janene Otten 

I must thank my pal and colleague Adam Bernard for chatting with me about JOVM and the site’s hiatus last month. 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

I have to thank the helpful, hardworking and 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. Understandably, being included was also deeply vindicating. Someone out there thought my work — this very work! — was worth supporting financially. Obviously, the funds from it have managed to keep this labor of love going during one of the most uncertain periods in recent human history, while lessening some of the normal financial pressures of being an American artist, creator and journalist. 

I also found out about Asian Arts Initiative’s Sound Type Workshop through Creatives Rebuild New York. So, I just can’t thank those folks enough. And I’ll forever be in their debt. 

I must thank 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. 

I also have to thank my man John Morrison, Philly’s preeminent music journalist for the support and encouragement.

Last but not least, I have to thank a friend, who will remain anonymous upon their request for their generosity and support.

Long live, The Joy of Violent Movement! Long live, The Joy of Violent Movement!

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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.