Don't Rock The Inbox is back!
Here's how you can be part of it.
Hi and welcome to Don’t Rock the Inbox!
As we hope you know by now, Marissa and I both love country music and love to write about it (Marissa even wrote a book about it, and it's now out in paperback!). These days, finding places to publish — especially in the not-always-clicky way we aim to — has become increasingly challenging.
We’ve been talking about how Don’t Rock the Inbox could add something to the lives of people who care about country music, and want to see it covered in a thoughtful, inclusive, nuanced way. Our mission is the same as it was when we started: to try to fill in the country (and beyond)-sized gaps where music journalism is, for the most part, falling short.
So that’s where we’re going with DRTI. We’re doubling down on delivering a regular newsletter with essays, interviews and reviews that reflect what’s happening now in country music, using that term’s broadest possible definition, and we’re launching a subscription option to help support the work.
Getting here has been a learning process, to be honest! We’re MUCH more focused on the stories we want to tell than being music journalism entrepreneurs. After testing out A LOT of ideas, we think we’ve landed on an approach that delivers stories about people and topics that matter for you — the hungry music fan. And... we’d love to see this help us keep the lights on as music journalists.
Here’s what’s next:
First, we’re kicking things off with a super special dispatch you won’t want to miss (hint: the subject starts and ends with T.)
Second, we’re asking you to consider becoming part of our subscriber group. The details are included below.
It's not a request we take lightly, especially given how strapped most of us are at this particular late-capitalist juncture. But we’re doing this because we’ve had so many folks tell us they want more of the kind of reporting and commentary we both do, and they want to stay connected to their love of music. We understand if it doesn’t work for you, but we hope you’ll consider it and we’re thrilled to have you with us no matter what.
Put a record on and enjoy! — Natalie & Marissa
Don’t Rock The Inbox Subscriber Plan
Here’s what you’ll get when you subscribe for $8 per month:
A weekly essay/interview/profile/feature on country or something like it
A second weekly email with music recommendations and reviews
Exclusive playlists crafted by us
Access to periodic subscriber-only open threads/chats
Access to periodic live events with special guests
We also have a founding member tier. This tier will help us to build a tiny cushion to ramp up the newsletter. We’ll be introducing special events for our founding members and you’ll have a major impact on bringing DRTI to life for others.
Subscribers in the free tier will just get our main weekly essay/interview/feature (and share it with all their friends).
Everything — both weekly emails and all additional content — will be available to all subscribers (free and paid) until June, so that you can get a taste of what we’re cooking up.
We’re so excited to be back, and to foster a forward-looking, thoughtful space around music we love. Questions, suggestions, let us know what you think!
🎶 Let’s go girls 🎶