News/Announcements, Shoutouts
by William Ruben Helms

News/Announcements: Shoutouts to Patreon Patrons and Creatives Rebuild New York

I have to make a confession, and if you follow me on Instagram, you probably have seen this already, but I wanted to mention this to readers of the site: Over the past handful of months, I’ve actually entertained thoughts about quitting JOVM. Why? Well, to be honest, there have been times, where it has felt like no one particularly cared anymore, like I was screaming into an indifferent void. And if you add recent events globally, for the first time in some time, this whole thing has felt not only like work, but somehow, incredibly stupid. I’ve felt burned out and chewed up, and in a way that I haven’t felt in a handful of years.

Sure, some of that is frustration over how difficult it is to run a completely independent site when income streams seem limited or just outright difficult — and when the algorithm seems stacked against you. There are other career and financial frustrations, much like anything else. Suffice to say, I haven’t felt great about much lately.

While I was at Elsewhere shooting a show I had promised to shoot, the Instagram story right above this paragraph popped up in my feed. When I saw it, I was deeply touched and flattered. At the time, I knew I was capturing something cool –but the best moment of someone’s life? No. That’s something I couldn’t have possibly imaged.

So, thank you Genesis Owusu fan, who had the best moment in the entire life last week. Maybe that’s a sign that I should keep this going after all, right?

Now, as y’all are well aware, I started this site over 13 years ago. 13 years of just about anything is a very long time. It’s roughly about a quarter of my life. And in the blogosphere that’s somewhere between 10-139 lifetimes. How have I managed to keep doing this — for so damn long? Well lately, I don’t know. But generally, I’ve long felt as though I had no choice but to go out on my own because I didn’t feel — or believe — that I’d get a fair shot to do what I do here with JOVM, elsewhere.

I’ve long felt a strong need to create something similar to the the wildly eclectic, dynamic, global sort of environment I grew up immersed in as a Black boy from Corona, Queens, and that I didn’t see whenever I read my favorite magazine and sites. When I started JOVM, I didn’t — and couldn’t have — imagined most, if not all of the things I’ve experienced and covered throughout this site’s lengthy history to ever have happened. 

With this site, I’ve managed to carve out a unique path for myself — and in the blogosphere. Because music media — and generally the media world — is an incredibly homogeneous space, the coverage that you see as a consumer and fan tends to come from a similar perspective. If you don’t believe me, look at the editorial staff at your favorite music magazine or website. It explains why certain artists, genres and styles are covered over others. But it also explains why you see the exact same coverage of the same artists, genres and styles, too. As long as JOVM exists, you’re going to get eclectic and diverse music coverage from my perspective. 

What will year 14 hold for JOVM? I don’t know. But I still have hope of what it’ll be like. And with your support, I can keep this thing going. I’ve said this many times both through this site and my social media feeds: All work — including creative work — is impossible without money. Time, after all can cost you money. Effort is money. And it costs money to actually do the work. Unsurprisingly, the work that makes this site possible and its infrastructure would be impossible without money.

So, if you’ve been frequenting this site over the past handful of years, there are a handful of folks I want to thank once again for their support:  

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

All of those folks have been generous Patreon patrons. Every and any amount really helps keeps this sort of journalism and criticism alive and ongoing. 

So if you’re able and willing, please feel free to check out the Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement. 

Additionally, I have to thank the hardworking folks at Creatives Rebuild New York. I’m proud, relieved and humbled to be included in their 18-month Guaranteed Income for Artists program. My participation in the Guaranteed Income for Artists program has been put to good use — keeping this dream of mine going while having some of the normal financial pressures lessened a bit. There aren’t enough words to thank them — or to show them how grateful I am; but I’ll keep trying! 


There are other ways you can support. You can also support by checking the JOVM shop. I sell prints in various sizes. I also have bumper stickers. Check it out: https://www.joyofviolentmovement.com/shop 

You can also support my following me on the following platforms:

You can hire me for headshots, portraits and events. Seriously, I’m available for that, too. You can click here: https://www.photobooker.com/photographer/ny/new-york/william-h?duration=1?duration=1# or you can contact me directly.

I’m an Eargasm Earplugs Earinflunecer. Buy a pair, protect your hearing and save 10% by clicking on this code: https://lnkd.in/ewX8ezKZ. I do get a percentage of each sale from that discount code.

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