Some of you will be aware of the dispute that's currently raging on the site. If you're not, let me explain.

24 hours ago, our chief techie Brandon leaked the details of a sponsorship deal we've signed with a famous sportswear company.

You probably know the company. You may even wear their trainers. I do.

In return for their logo taking pride of place on our home page, they will fund a series of live webcasts promoting bands on the site. The designs are currently being drawn up.

You might think I'm about to justify my decision to accept this deal. I'm not. I was wrong.

Your e-mails have convinced me of that. Seethru's strength is its independance. We're not in hoc to any media corporation. We take ads, but we don't listen to advertisers. Nobody tells us what we can and can't publish. This deal would jeapordise that.

The face of the site would be transformed into a corporate billboard, exploiting Seethru's name to bolster the dwindling credibility of a tired brand.

And - as Brandon rightly pointed out - would it stop there? What pressure might our big brand friends seek to apply?

Seethru's independence would be lost. No webcast is worth that.

So thanks to Brandon and everyone who e-mailed supporting him.

And to our sportwear friends who want to buy a piece of Seethru:Thanks, but no thanks.

by Mike

this rant in :
realvideo (hi-fi) »
realaudio »
mp3 »