Farewell, Fan Landers

If you follow either her or Pitchfork on Twitter, you may have already guessed what’s coming next: Fan Landers is no more. Its author, Jessica Hopper, has been hired out to greener pastures to tend more copy as Pitchfork’s senior editor and editor in chief of its slick, new-ish print product, The Pitchfork Review. And though it pains us to say goodbye to her column, which has run every week in this space at the Voice for well over two years, we couldn’t be happier for her.

Every week here she’d help bands sail the rough, unpredictable waters of the music industry with the kind of sage advice we desperately wished we’d had back when we were in a band, which was frequently our only note when she’d turn the column in every Monday — “I wish there was a resource like this back in the day!” She’s helped many an act in her time as Fan, whether she was advising them how to use Twitter, or how to better budget; she always shot straight and pulled no punches. Let’s take a look back at some of our favorite Fan Landers columns, shall we?

Should I Join a Trust-Fund Kid’s Band for the Money?

How Should My Band Navigate Our Rising Popularity?

Should Bands Play Corporate-Sponsored Shows?

Is It Possible to Stay Sober on Tour?

Things Bands Do That Keep Promoters From Booking Them

You know what? We were trying to scroll back and pick out the best advice, but are coming to realize it’s all the best. Read every single bit of it in the archives. My God, what have we lost? [Sobs uncontrollably.]

Best of luck, Jessica. (You won’t need it, but still…)