SELLOUT!

I accepted cash to add a little link to my site.

Check out the Paul Di'Anno's Battlezone-Fighting Back review.
http://www.nolifetilmetal.com/killers.htm

I had to add in the line "even while you're logging on at wwwDOTpartycasinoDOTcom/ for a night of high-stakes games". For adding in that link they paid me enough money to keep the site up for another year. It doesn't really change the dynamic of the review (which was written a loooong time ago), but it's an obvious advertisement. For the last couple years I had a link to Metallica tickets at the top of my Metallica page which helped pay for the site. However, this is actually adding something to a review.

What do you all think, is it a sellout or not?

I don't think you can be a sell-out in a capitalist free-market world if it helps your own cause to run your site and the review is in tact. We'll understand.

I can't blame ya for takin' the $$ and running if it's gonna pay to keep your site up for a whole year. That said, it's kinda awkward to see a reference to online poker in the middle of a Paul Di'Anno review. A banner ad like the "Metallica tickets" probably would've been better. Why did they pick that particular review? Are they big Pau Di'Anno fans or did they tell you to just put it anywhere?

Don't be surprised if you start getting e-mails from readers saying "Dude, some online poker site spammed your Paul Dianno section!"

I dont care about this but if i would be a good christian maybe i would not allow this company to be on my website. A lot of families are destroyed because some start gambling, and their is a lot of mafia and bad people behind those casinos, online places etc.... but i am not a christian thats why i dont care.

Not at all Ult,you gotta pay the bills.

i voted yes in the poll just for lulz, but you're really not.

It's your site and you can do what you want...

Nope - great way to get the cost paid for!!!!!!

A more interesting question is: what WOULD make the site a sellout?

Whether or not it is selling out, which I think it might be--but I also think it's totally justifiable because your site is a great resource and you are a normal family guy, so it's nice to get help to run your site--I think the placement is pretty hilarious.

So have they actually paid you the money yet?

Fat Freddy wrote:

I can't blame ya for takin' the $$ and running if it's gonna pay to keep your site up for a whole year. That said, it's kinda awkward to see a reference to online poker in the middle of a Paul Di'Anno review. A banner ad like the "Metallica tickets" probably would've been better. Why did they pick that particular review? Are they big Pau Di'Anno fans or did they tell you to just put it anywhere?

Don't be surprised if you start getting e-mails from readers saying "Dude, some online poker site spammed your Paul Dianno section!"

I'm not 100% sure why they wanted it placed in that review on that particular page, but I think that page probably comes up on the first page of Google searches when you type in certain words. I thought it was a bit odd that they wanted it in the DiAnno review too and was even a bit skeptical at first, but they came through with the funds. Clearly there are more popular pages on my site, but I wasn't gonna argue. I basically have to leave it there for a year.

Tur-Thalion wrote:

Whether or not it is selling out, which I think it might be--but I also think it's totally justifiable because your site is a great resource and you are a normal family guy, so it's nice to get help to run your site--I think the placement is pretty hilarious.

So have they actually paid you the money yet?

Yes. They did. The Metallica people paid right away last year as well.

Temple of Blood wrote:

A more interesting question is: what WOULD make the site a sellout?

Good question. I think if I tailored my reviews to record companies who were paying me to review their product, that would be "selling out".

ultmetal wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

A more interesting question is: what WOULD make the site a sellout?

Good question. I think if I tailored my reviews to record companies who were paying me to review their product, that would be "selling out".

I'd agree with that definition. Taking money from a non-music related source just to keep your review site going is just "doing business" in my book. Selling out would be altering the content of your reviews for money.

What about taking something worth money, like free CDs?

I do think it's an odd spot for a weird gambling link though. I actually did struggle with whether I should take the money or not. I mean, it's not an outrageous amount of cash, but it's enough to pay for the bandwidth for another year.

Temple of Blood wrote:

What about taking something worth money, like free CDs?

If the CDs were given for free just to garner a positive review then, yes, that's selling out. If the CDs are given for free just to BE reviewed, then no.

No its not selling out, they paid to do their silly ad, and you agreed, and did not have to change your content.

Temple of Blood wrote:

What about taking something worth money, like free CDs?

Could be. I take free CDs if they are willing to give them to me. Most of my "free CDs" are given to me by indie bands, such as yours, or by individuals that just offer them as help to build the site. I review them as honestly as I would a CD I purchase on my own. However, I must confess, I do get the occasional CD from a band that just isn't my thing and it never gets reviewed. It's my CD collection and if I don't keep a CD I don't keep a review up.

However, even with CDs I don't like at first, I really try to give them a fair amount of listens. I can usually find something I enjoy about a CD/band, even if it's not totally my cup-of-joe. Sometimes I even manage to discover I really like a band I formerly didn't like, such as the case of Warrant.

Not to nitpick but he did change the content; he just didn't change the tone of the review. That's why I don't think it's selling out.

tohostudios wrote:

Not to nitpick but he did change the content; he just didn't change the tone of the review. That's why I don't think it's selling out.

OK the content was changed but not the tone, which is 100% agree

Did they give you free chips to try the casino?

stormspell wrote:

Did they give you free chips to try the casino?

That would have been cool, but no.

Stormspell has given me free CDs to review and I think I've given most of them positive reviews, but not because of the free CDs. They are actually quality releases.

And no, that's not a butt kissing, it's absolute truth.

For me personally the issue would be more moral than sellout. The thought the link is disguised as personal endorsement and some kid may follow it is a bit disturbing to me. Other than that it looks alright. I'm amazed people would pay for such adverts though. I'd expect very few to click on such link, if anyone

Thanks for the kind words, appreciated! I should be sending a batch of new promos as soon as the new releases are in the house (in couple of weeks, if not less).

Yeah, I more see this as a morality issue than a sellout issue.



Personally, I still wouldn't have a problem with it but I understand the opinion of those who would.

Not a sellout and I don't have an issue with it. Also, the way it's presented it almost seems humorous! Why in the heck would they want the link in that review I wonder?????