Gawker: andy pemberton

'Spin' Slowly Rises From Pemberton's Ashes

Jessica — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 14:40:26 EDT

At right is the first issue of Spin sans Andy Pemberton; notice, if you will, the complete absence of any sort of bootylicious celebrity, providing a small relief in our national media nightmare. FishbowlNY notes that the issue is published without an editor's note (honestly, what's left to say?) and that executive editor Doug Brod is at the top of the masthead. Aside from their non-exclusive Thom Yorke exclusive, the mag returns to some actual music coverage, with album reviews aplenty. Granted, this progress is all marred by a by the inclusion of a "College Guide." But that's OK: after Beyonce, it's baby steps.

Spin's First Issue After Pemberton Promotes Yorke 'Exclusive' [FishbowlNY]
Earlier: Gawker's Coverage of Spin

Media Bubble: Time Inc. Lives on the Edge

Jesse — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 15:40:46 EDT

• Time Inc. to launch SI Edge, fitness mag that won't offer abs tips. Retorts Zinczenko: "[W]e promise not to point out that he's naming his magazine after a shaving cream." [NYP]
• Hey, remember the big USA Today expose on how the phone companies were colluding with the government to create a big database of all sorts of domestic phone-call records? Yeah, well, the paper's still convinced about the database, but it's not so sure anymore the telcos played along. [USAT]
• Was Pemberton's Spin too much like Blender? Plus, a Detailser leaves to become — wha? — a morning-show DJ. In Oregon. [WWD]

If Pemberton's Going Down, He's Taking You All With Him

Jessica — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 12:50:07 EDT

After a craptastic first issue (Beyonce), Spin EIC Andy Pemberton finally resigned yesterday, opting instead for a summer of "going to the beach." As of this morning, Spin online's main domain name, Spin.com, seems to have resigned as well. Aren't we cheeky, Pemberton.

[NB: The magazine lives on elsewhere, at its less-publicized mirror site.]

Do You Think Andy Pemberton Is Behind All of This?
[The Modern Age]
Earlier: Gawker's Andy Pemberton Obsession

Andy Pemberton Finally Resigns

Jesse — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 16:10:09 EDT

And so it is done: Ad Age's Nat Ives is reporting that Andy Pemberton has resigned — not be fired, notably — as Spin's editor-in-chief. The theory all along had been that he was holding out to get fired, so he could collect some sort of severance — perhaps even the balance of his contract. So what does resignation mean? Does he get nothing? Did they give him some cash to walk away? Theories — whether informed or merely idle speculation — welcomed.

Earlier: Gawker's coverage of Andy Pemberton.

Pemberton and 'Spin': There But Not There

Jesse — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 17:50:17 EDT

So what gives — as we asked this morning — with Andy Pemberton? Excellent question. Here's what we've been able to pull together, from a variety of sources:

Pemberton remains technically EIC. Pemberton does not appear to be working at the magazine any more. The owners haven't fired him, because they're trying to get him to quit. Pemberton will not quit, because then he loses out on money. Executive editor Doug Brod is seemingly running the place these days. Post-Pemby, allegedly, the mag will go back to longer features and indier music.

None of this do we know for certain. But it's all informed speculation. Take from it what you will.

Earlier:
Has Andy Pemberton Been Fired Yet?
A Final Thought (for This Week) on Andy Pemberton

Has Andy Pemberton Been Fired Yet?

Jesse — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 11:20:54 EDT

Oh, there is no joy in Spinsville, which remains as confused as ever. This inquiring email arrived late yesterday:

so, what the hay is going on with andy pemberton? i have info that he is not, in fact, done with spin and he's still eic. i want the scoop.

Emailer then goes on to explain that her brother's roommate's cousin's doctor's business partner's girlfriend's mother's shrink's daughter-in-law's best friend's ex-wife writes for the mag sometimes, and she heard from Pemberton yesterday that he still wants her to write for the mag. So what's the deal? Is he still there? Was he — and God forbid this is true — actually just on a beach vacation? We have no idea — and it's too hot to make any phone calls to try to find out. So if you know what's going on, fill us in, won't you? Thanks.

Earlier: Gawker's coverage of Andy Pemberton.

The New 'Spin': Don't You Know, Things Can Change, Things Can Go Your Way (or not)

Jessica — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 17:15:17 EDT

One look at the cover of permanently beach-going Andy Pemberton's first (and last) issue of Spin, and you completely understand why he was so quickly sacked. Beyonce? Beyonce. Last we checked, this publication was for Fall Out Boy fans and a handful of optimistic readers hoping for a dollop of Drive-By Truckers coverage. Are those people just not reading anymore? Did Pitchfork win? Apparently so. Beyonce. Beyonce.

And really we'd be remiss if we didn't address the horrid "25 Hottest Stars Under 25" bit. Seriously? We already have one New York magazine. That's more than enough.

Spin Mach II: Beyonce Odyssey [Coolfer]
Related: Gawker's Coverage of the 'Spin' Funeral

A Final Thought (for This Week) on Andy Pemberton and 'Spin'

Jesse — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 18:30:00 EDT

A professional mediawatcher thinks he's figured out an explanation for this silly was-Pemberton-fired-or-not dance. The mediawatcher writes:

Andy gets his contract paid out if he's fired. But not if he quits. So the reason he's so insistent that he's still at Spin may be that he's waiting for them to formally fire him.

For God's sake, people, have a heart. Fire the poor man already.

Earlier:
Clarification: Andy Pemberton Is Spending Today at the Beach — and Likely the Subsequent Days, Too
Gawker's coverage of Andy Pemberton.

Clarification: Andy Pemberton Is Spending Today at the Beach — and Likely the Subsequent Days, Too

Jesse — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 11:05:26 EDT

So Women's Wear reported yesterday morning that Spin EIC Andy Pemberton was about to be fired. Yesterday afternoon several sources informed us that, yup, he had indeed been canned. Minutes later, Fishbowler Dylan Stableford reported that he had a source telling him likewise. Indeed, even the quasi-threatening emails Pemberton sent us last night — far too late last night, when he should have been out drinking (we certainly were) — didn't so much say, "Um, guys, I still work here," as quibble with one of our source's characterization that his sole Spin issue was "a giant shitball." (That's opinion, dude, and therefore not actionable.) But Pembie explains all the confusion in today's Women's Wear.

What happened?

[B]y Thursday evening two media news Web sites were claiming his exit was a fait accompli after Pemberton sent an e-mail to Spin staffers letting them know where he could be reached. But Pemberton, reached on his cell, said there had been no change in his status. "I certainly haven't left Spin," he said, claiming the e-mail was merely intended to let underlings know he'd be spending today at the beach. OK, then — did he expect he'd still be at the magazine next week? "All I can say is as of now I'm still at Spin."

Replies one of our sources, "It figures that a man who believes Coldplay is an indie-rock band would not know the difference between being employed and being fired."

Memo Pad [WWD]
Breaking: Pemberton Out at 'Spin' [FBNY]
Earlier: Breaking: As Predicted, Pemberton Is Out at 'Spin'

Breaking: As Predicted, Pemberton Is Out at 'Spin'

Jesse — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 19:03:18 EDT

Now it's done: As WWD predicted this morning, Andy Pemberton has been booted from his brand-new gig as Spin's EIC. This comes on the heels of a near-complete turnover of the mag's staff since new owners purchased it three months ago, sacked Sia Michel to bring in Pemberton, and showed most of the incumbent staff to the door. He'd produced only one issue, but, as a tipster points out, said issue "was indeed a giant shitball." No word on a replacement.

Earlier:
Andy Pemberton, Nearly Sacked Again?
Gawker's coverage of 'Spin.'

Andy Pemberton, Nearly Sacked Again?

Jesse — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 12:20:02 EDT

It's a big day today for Women's Wear's media column, which not only reports the likely name of the eventually forthcoming Conde Nast business mag but also suggests — which we almost missed in our excitement over Quote — that Andy Pemberton is on his way out at Spin. He was brought in as editor-in-chief, to succeed Sia Michel, when the mag's new owners finally bought it and started wiping out the old staff — just three months ago. Pemberton's no stranger to unceremonious dumpings, but we do hope this time he didn't bother to unpack his executive desk toys.

Memo Pad [WWD (second item)]
Earlier:
Sia Michel Out, Andy Pemberton In at 'Spin'
Weekend Pink Slipping: Andy Pemberton, Keith Blanchard

Sia Michel Out, Andy Pemberton In at 'Spin'

Jessica — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 14:10:54 EST

Karma certainly seems to be working in favor of Andy Pemberton. The former Blender editor, who launched the music title for Dennis only to be unceremoniously canned a few years later, has just been named the new editor-in-chief of Spin, which is finalizing its sale today (no, for real this time) to San Francisco's McEvoy Group and Hartle Media. The two groups are co-owning the publication through the newly formed Spin Media LLC and are said to have acquired the title from Miller Publishing for as little as $5 million — approximately the cost of maintaining former editor-in-chief Sia Michel's luscious locks, which (along with former publisher Jake Hill) are now unemployed.

So what can we expect from Pemberton's Spin?

Pemberton said the magazine will focus on a "younger demographic" obviously hoping for a repeat of the performance when he first launched Blender.

"I think the world could use a younger version of Rolling Stone," Pemberton told The Post yesterday, taking a poke at the magazine now headed by 60-year-old Jann Wenner.

Oh, snap. But if that "younger version" means even more Spin covers featuring boys in eyeliner, we'll take Rolling Stone. Please don't force us to make that choice.

Yet Another Spin [NYP]
Earlier: Weekend Pink Slipping: Andy Pemberton, Keith Blanchard