Pitchfork, a popular music website, is set to merge with men’s magazine GQ, resulting in layoffs for several senior staff members. Condé Nast, the publisher, announced the changes and layoffs in an email to staff from chief content officer Anna Wintour. The move comes at a time of widespread newsroom cuts globally. Two unions representing Pitchfork staff have condemned the decision.
Pitchfork, founded in 1996 as an independent music blog, grew to become one of the world’s most respected independent music publications known for its tough reviews. It was acquired by Condé Nast in 2015. The decision to merge with GQ has sparked widespread sadness and criticism.
Staff members who have lost their jobs have expressed their disappointment on social media platforms. The merger marks a significant shift in the music journalism landscape, with many expressing concerns about the future of the industry.
Amanda Petrusich, a staff music writer at The New Yorker, expressed her gratitude for Pitchfork, stating that she “wouldn’t have a career without Pitchfork” and that the merger “feels like a death knell for the record review as a form.”
The Pitchfork Union and The NewsGuild of New York released a statement condemning the merger, emphasizing that the people who make award-winning music journalism for Pitchfork “deserve better than to be treated like disposable parts.”
The merger with GQ is the latest upheaval in the music news industry, raising concerns about the future of music journalism in a time of widespread media cuts. It remains to be seen how this merger will impact the music journalism landscape moving forward.