I will say for my part, I find the most distasteful part of VMP's method of hype to be how they imply an intersection of records with lifestyle, that if you don't like/want/buy a certain release, that you may not be the right kind of person. In early days their curation was about discovery and sharing exciting sounds with peers. At some point that veered into a little bit of condescending snobbery, and maybe that's just an inevitable trajectory for a service like this. I think some of you will disagree that that attitude is an ingredient in their business, and I don't think it permeates the whole thing, but there's an undercurrent of it in there. It's a subtle shift from "We love this and we think everybody who's into [genre] should be well-versed in this artist's work" to "If you don't like this artist or want this record then what are you even doing here?" but it's a distinct one.
I think that's why the Anthology announcement was such a turning point. It was really out of touch.
They addressed members who were having increasing issues with simply acquiring their products at the most base membership, by saying they had something that would cheer them up and excite them, while they worked that out. Then they dropped something that was well beyond a large percentage of their subscriber base's financial means, while explaining that they would be creating a more exclusive community around it to exclude them, and giving free copies to some condescending clown from outside the community who came into the forum to talk down to and insult us. That splintered the forum into haves lecturing have-nots about how they shouldn't complain about the price. Even then, VMP lied about an exclusivity window for members and released the Anthology to non members with an advanced link on the Billboard website. Then, right in that moment of low morale, opted to display an even greater level of hubris with signature anoraks.
I think lack of knowledge or memory of this history is what throws a lot of people over on reddit. You still had people who wouldn't or couldn't get the anthology, raising their hands to ask what was going on and if/how they were going to get their Nat Turner or Weyes Blood Records. The response from VMP wasn'tvto respond, but rather telling us they had a "different vision" for their community now and shutting us down while coldly ignoring pleas to, at minimum, allow us some time to alert others like those who might rely on the depression support thread, before it vanished on them. At that moment, on the heels of already pushing for the idea of a more exclusive Blue Note Anthology community intended for those with more money and status, the message was pretty clear. They'd also just substantially raised the prices on everything in the shop, over night, and recently tested pricing the monthly subscrption at $34 or so, before changing it back and, ultimately pulling it altogether. Then, immediately after the forum is gone, they announce that they don't actually have them, so they might just flip a coin to see which 50% of those who ordered, paid, and waited for their Weyes Blood records would actually receive them or not.
You're right about the distinct shift in message. The ideal customer is one that blindly trusts what you give to them and has bottomless pockets. "We'll teach you about jazz in an exclusive environment away from the poors."
At that point, you just kind of weigh how and if this company serves your needs as an individual and make your decisions based on that -- as we should with everything. Not that it matters, but I've always supported whichever choice someone made, because we all have different needs and reasoning. The company is a company, but we are.the community. They made that clear, so that's how I view them and why the only thing that really bothers me is trying to reframe that or hold them up in some high esteem over the members whose accounts they continue to twist up and bungle.
That being said, it's definitely a very different tone and company than it once was and that little jumbled up mess of events that brought us here is something that highlights that shift for me.
Records is records, but music and art should be accessible for everyone. I don't like anyone feeling left out or pushed out from that.
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