Wikipedia managed to get users to donate $6 million to help keep the lights on through mid-2009 — so why shouldn’t alt-music publication Paste Magazine try to hit its readers up for a little less? Facing an ad-sales deficit, Paste is soliciting donations from readers, and artists like Arrested Development and Neko Case are offering up over 70 exclusive free songs to help inspire them to give.
EIC Josh Jackson told Reuters that the Atlanta-based mag, which launched in 2002, is hoping raise a “low-six-figure” sum to help it ride out the recession; he didn’t comment on how close it was to the goal. Paste has already tried to cut costs: its reducing annual circulation from 11 full issues to six (with six mini editions instead), and the entire team has taken a 20 percent pay cut. It’s still running some ads, though, much like the newly launched Seattle Post Globe.
{"source":"https:\/\/gigaom.com\/2009\/05\/18\/419-paste-magazine-hits-readers-for-donations-to-stay-afloat\/wijax\/49e8740702c6da9341d50357217fb629","varname":"wijax_e7a8081db88661fd5004451a5642b91e","title_element":"header","title_class":"widget-title","title_before":"%3Cheader%20class%3D%22widget-title%22%3E","title_after":"%3C%2Fheader%3E"}