Why are Reviewers Paid So Poorly????

[Phelonious Ponk]

Why aren't high-end reviewers paid well? Supply and demand. There are hundreds of guys standing in line who would love to do the job for the access to the gear and the industry and the bit of notoriety it would bring them in the hobby. We are enthusiasts. Many would do it enthusiastically, and for free. And judging by many of the reviews I've read, pro-level writing is not a requirement for many of the online pubs.

Tim

 

[MylesBAstor]

Why aren't high-end reviewers paid well? Supply and demand. There are hundreds of guys standing in line who would love to do the job for the access to the gear and the industry and the bit of notoriety it would bring them in the hobby. We are enthusiasts. Many would do it enthusiastically, and for free. And judging by many of the reviews I've read, pro-level writing is not a requirement for many of the online pubs.

Tim

Really? One doesn't need to write for a webzine at all. No taking a ticket. No standing in line waiting. Instant notoriety. Instant gratification. It's called a blog. Good luck. Go for it.

But if you want quality, you have to pay for it. And you've basically just proven my point. Bad writing, no pay.

It takes time for a writer to establish his or her credibility. If you don't pay them, you'll [the magazine] have a constantly revolving door of writers with no credibilty.

Problem is no one nowadays wants to pay their dues like back in the days when I started. Everyone wants to review 100K speakers; years ago, new writers cut their teeth on entry level components and proved their worth. Then they moved their way up the ladder.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

I don't know if I made your point, Myles, but you missed mine. Some of them can write, though on the net (and not just on blogs) it doesn't seem to be a prerequisite. But the point was that there are so many guys standing in line dying to do the job that the price is low. Pretty simple economics. The entire market is very small so consumer demand is pretty low. A very high percentage of those consumers (audiophiles) would love (or at least think they would) to be reviewers, so the supply is very high. It wasn't an insult, just an observation.

Tim

 

[MylesBAstor]

I don't know if I made your point, Myles, but you missed mine. Some of them can write, though on the net (and not just on blogs) it doesn't seem to be a prerequisite. But the point was that there are so many guys standing in line dying to do the job that the price is low. Pretty simple economics. The entire market is very small so consumer demand is pretty low. A very high percentage of those consumers (audiophiles) would love (or at least think they would) to be reviewers, so the supply is very high. It wasn't an insult, just an observation.

Tim

Let me put it this way. I was looking for writers when I had my print magazine and most reviewers can't write.

And you missed mine. You get what you pay for.

 

[amirm]

And you missed mine. You get what you pay for.

I write for free Myles so I hope present company is excluded .

 

[andy_c]

If burger flippers were paid $100/hour, would this result in better Big Macs?

 

[amirm]

If burger flippers were paid $100/hour, would this result in better Big Macs?

For sure. They would be French Chefs, putting Foie Gras on each .

 

[jtinn]

If y'all going to rail about accomodation pricing and keep kicking a dead horse.

Most are actually over paid

Present company excluded!

 

[jtinn]

Do you think they could agree on what music to play on the system. Would it take an amendment to the Constitution A Supreme Court decision?

That response was worth well over $100.

 

[MylesBAstor]

I write for free Myles so I hope present company is excluded .

Well if you had written for me Amir, I would have made it worth your while

 

[MylesBAstor]

If burger flippers were paid $100/hour, would this result in better Big Macs?

Specious argument.

 

[rblnr]

I agree that many reviewers aren't good writers and some for a couple of the major mags where there is some pay are almost painfully bad IMO. You guys are free to judge whether I know what good writing is, here are a couple of links to make that easy:

http://positive-feedback.com/Issue48/valvet.htm

http://www.sonicflare.com/archives/guru-qm10-speakers-review-by-robert-learner.php

Anyway, don't think the low pay issue is a glut of willing writers, rather it's a dearth of people who care about top flight audio.

 

[mep]

Specious argument.

I did laugh though.

 

[vinylphilemag]

For sure. They would be French Chefs, putting Foie Gras on each .

If that isn't an example of lipstick, err, foie gras, on a pig, I don't know what is!

 

[amirm]

If that isn't an example of lipstick, err, foie gras, on a pig, I don't know what is!

Oh, it is a common technique to make a fancy hamburger. Just google and you will come up with many links including ones like this: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/world/europe/16iht-burgers.4.14552700.html

"PARIS — Even if you couldn't be on the Champs-Élysées for Bastille Day on Monday to watch seven parachutists float down in front of President Nicolas Sarkozy, you can still celebrate the greatness of France with a new local tradition.

Eat a hamburger.

Beginning a few years ago but picking up momentum in the past nine months, hamburgers and cheeseburgers have invaded the city. Anywhere tourists are likely to go this summer - in cafés in Saint Germain des Prés, in fashion-world hangouts, even in restaurants run by three-star chefs - they are likely to find a juicy beef patty, almost invariably on a sesame seed bun.

[...]

L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon offers Le Burger, actually two small burgers topped with slabs of foie gras of almost equal size....."

If Joël Robuchon's restaurant offers it, who are we to complain.

 

[audioguy]

I'm sure you are in great physical condition because you sure do "jump" to erroneous conclusions.

OK let's see, I paid out of my pocket for RMAF and CES. Awfully expensive good seats wouldn't you say?????? And actually some shows have "press" days so don't need to worry about finding the "primo" seats.

Down the road, I have plans to cover some analog LP mastering events and I'm flying to CA on my own dime to interview some people. Oh and I don't take that off my taxes either.

I said nothing about the cost of attending any show.

And guess what, I can hear good gear anywhere. The Westchester audio club I used to belong too and met ever month, had every top manufacturer ever to grace the face of this planet come to visit. Same goes for the LAOC Club where dealers host their meetings every day. I live in NY and am on good terms with most dealers so I could hear anything I want too.

And I had plenty of good friends with amazing systems who I could play with!

I said hearing great systems "in your home" not at friends homes or at dealers.

Oh and why don't you talk about the breaks that other audiophiles get when they buy gear from reviewers too?

What has that got to do with accommodation pricing? I get great deals (on some equipment) because I purchase some equipment used on Audiogon.

And for your information, I, like the audiophiles I write for, lose money when selling gear too. Take a preamp I recently sold. I spent an additional $8000 (non acommodation) on top of what I originally paid the unit and sold it for a couple of grand less than I originally paid for it. I call that a loss in any accounting situation.

I was a member of the audio industry for 10 years (representing manufacturers) and as a result, received accommodation pricing. Certainly if I kept a piece of equipment long enough, I might lose a small amount of money on a sale , but seldom.

And you are ignoring the point. Other poster have noted that there is some nice upside to being a reviewer and many would enjoy the opportunity to do so, accommodation pricing being one of the major benefits.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Is there a reason every thread gets derailed? We go from the OP to Michele Obama to hamburgers?

Regardless of what a reviewer gets paid (or has access to and is able to buy at a good price), the reviewer has agreed to submit the review at the price agreed. What is the issue? If a reviewer feels they aren't paid enough for their time and efort.....say so and don't submit another one.

I enjoy reading most of your posts Myles, but this seems like a "bitchfest".

 

[DaveyF]

+1

 

[MylesBAstor]

Is there a reason every thread gets derailed? We go from the OP to Michele Obama to hamburgers?

Regardless of what a reviewer gets paid (or has access to and is able to buy at a good price), the reviewer has agreed to submit the review at the price agreed. What is the issue? If a reviewer feels they aren't paid enough for their time and efort.....say so and don't submit another one.

I enjoy reading most of your posts Myles, but this seems like a "bitchfest".

Sorry John, it's not about the money for me. For other reviewers, some of whom have little money, it is. I think that more need to appreciate that for most reviewers, it's a labor of love when they review audio gear or write music reviews.

But for me it was about presenting another side of the coin to the thread on accomodation. Tell me that's not a bitchfest either

 

[MylesBAstor]

I'm sure you are in great physical condition because you sure do "jump" to erroneous conclusions.



I said nothing about the cost of attending any show.

You were the one who brought up the subject of attending shows and being treated like royalty. Well it isn't like they are holding shows in NYC; so it costs a reviewer to go to these shows.

I said hearing great systems "in your home" not at friends homes or at dealers.

Sure you did. And so what. Hear them at home or somewhere else. All works for me.

What has that got to do with accommodation pricing? I get great deals (on some equipment) because I purchase some equipment used on Audiogon.

See Jonathan Tinn's post for more on this.

I was a member of the audio industry for 10 years (representing manufacturers) and as a result, received accommodation pricing. Certainly if I kept a piece of equipment long enough, I might lose a small amount of money on a sale , but seldom.

And you are ignoring the point. Other poster have noted that there is some nice upside to being a reviewer and many would enjoy the opportunity to do so, accommodation pricing being one of the major benefits.

And it is a nice perk and not unbeknownst to any reviewing industry (cameras, watches, HT, cooking, cycling, sports, etc.).

I think though, that some people are confusing accomodation with abuse of the priviledge though.

Thing is this: do readers want reviewers evaluating expensive, heck even middle priced gear, with average --or five year old gear? Readers with top gear want to know how it would sound with gear similar to what they own. Would u review a 10K or even a 5K cartridge with a $500 or even a $1000 phono section? I think it's crazy.

I think it's incumbent for a reviewer to have the best system they can to review and evaluate gear. Does Road and Track take a BMW out on a dirt road with potholes and put it through it's paces? Hell no. Then why shouldn't an audio reviewer to have anything but the best gear to correctly and best assess the DUT? Or put another way. Which would you rather the reviewer have: an abacus or an Audio Precision analyzer?

Oh and as far as jumping to conclusions. Perhaps you should reread your comments more closely.