In the week or so since we announced that FreshGrass has acquired No Depression, our growing team has been working hard to make sure this transition goes as smoothly as possible. First off, we would like to echo all of the praise and appreciation that you have expressed regarding the amazing job Kyla and Kim have done over the last five years (and, in Kyla’s case, many more). Their contributions to the roots music world will be felt for a long time to come. The good news is that we do not need to say goodbye to them. Our new Community Manager Shelley will be supported by administrative assistant Stacy (who’s been with us since last summer). Kim will become the Editor of No Depression, and Kyla will stay on as an advisor and strategic partner.
Second, we would like to thank you, the ND community, for welcoming us and for keeping an open mind to having some new blood behind the scenes. We know it will take some time to earn your trust, but rest assured there are no corporate bad guys or stuffy suits and we have no agenda other than to continue the great tradition that is ND. Hopefully FreshGrass will contribute an interesting chapter to what is already a great, ongoing story.
So, why did we do this? The reasons are actually pretty simple – No Depression and FreshGrass are both gathering places for enthusiasts of grassroots music. By combining our efforts, we think our community and influence can grow. No Depression has pioneered the notion that a community can create a vibrant and intelligent discourse around music and that, collectively, it can become a respected voice and authority in the industry. Similarly, FreshGrass has endeavored in a small way to celebrate innovative grassroots music through our annual festival at Mass MoCA, including an expanding repertoire of contests for emerging artists and a growing library of video productions. In the short term, we simply want to connect kindred spirits and keep FreshGrass and No Depression on parallel paths.
How will we begin our chapter at ND? We will be completely transparent and lay out our three short-term goals: (1) In the precise words of Easy Ed, we will first and foremost work hard not to fuck it up; (2) we will invest our time and resources to create an incredible ND experience on mobile devices; and (3) over time, we will give the existing platform an update and facelift. We will approach these goals with the utmost respect for the current experience. On every step of the way, we will elicit your input, advice and suggestions, so stay tuned for more on this in the near future.
Longer term, our lofty hope is to create the most vibrant and largest community of grassroots listeners, contributors and artists in the world, and for FreshGrass to become a collective of businesses designed by, made for and to the benefit of that community. We want to add more live events, build the definitive roots music archive and online store, and offer local music and band services of various kinds. If we succeed, then everything in this collective will represent the wisdom and desire of the community. We want the community to be the voice of the industry and the hand that shapes it.
As usual, please feel free to contact us any time with any questions, concerns, or suggestions.
Thanks,
The No Depression team
