Paste (magazine)
The website known as Paste launched in 1998. It began as a digital-only platform before evolving into something more tangible. Josh Jackson, Nick Purdy, and Tim Regan-Porter founded the magazine as a quarterly publication in July 2002. This transition marked a shift from purely online content to physical print issues that readers could hold in their hands. The founders aimed to create a space for adult album alternative, Americana, and indie rock music alongside independent film and books. Each issue originally included a CD music sampler to give listeners direct access to new sounds. Artists like Paul McCartney, Ryan Adams, Blackalicious, Regina Spektor, and Fiona Apple appeared on these early covers and features. The team operated out of Atlanta, Georgia, with additional studios established later in Manhattan.
October 2007 brought an unusual strategy when the magazine offered subscribers the ability to pay what they wanted for a one-year subscription. This initiative became known as the Radiohead experiment after the band had previously used a similar model for their own album release. The subscriber base increased by 28,000 people who joined under this flexible payment structure. Paste president Tim Regan-Porter noted the model was not sustainable despite the initial surge in numbers. He hoped the new subscribers would renew the following year at current rates while web traffic growth might attract advertisers. The financial reality proved harsher than anticipated, leaving the publisher struggling to maintain operations under the new system.
Economic downturns hit magazine publishers hard during 2008 and 2009, causing lagging ad revenue across the industry. On the 14th of May 2009, Paste editors announced a plan to save the magazine by pleading directly to readers, musicians, and celebrities for contributions. Cost-cutting measures failed to stem the losses as advertiser spending remained critically low. The crux of the financial troubles lay in the lack of money coming from commercial partners rather than reader support alone. the 31st of August 2010 marked the day when Paste suspended its print magazine entirely. The publication continued as an online-only entity through PasteMagazine.com, abandoning physical copies after eight years of quarterly releases.
November 2023 signaled a major shift when Paste Media Group acquired US-based news and culture site Jezebel from G/O Media. This purchase included another left-leaning news and opinion site called Splinter, which closed down before being relaunched in December 2023. March 2024 brought the acquisition of The A.V. Club, also a former property of G/O Media. These moves expanded the group's reach significantly beyond music coverage into broader cultural commentary. October 2024 saw G/O Media file a lawsuit against Paste Media alleging a breach in contract regarding the sale of Jezebel and Splinter. The acquisitions represented a bold attempt to diversify content offerings while navigating a changing media landscape.
July 2025 introduced a new chapter when Paste spun off its games section into a fifth publication named Endless Mode. Garrett Martin, who had served as Paste games editor since 2011, became the new publication's Editor-in-Chief. This expansion allowed the company to include anime, tabletop games, pinball, and theme parks within its portfolio. November 2025 announced that Paste would refocus exclusively on music coverage following layoffs across other departments. The magazine closed its movie and TV divisions, with future reporting on those topics shifting to The A.V. Club. Josh Jackson explained that ongoing industry pressures led to combining Splinter under the Jezebel brand due to its longer dormancy compared to other revived outlets.
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Common questions
When did Paste magazine launch and who founded it?
Paste launched in 1998 as a digital-only platform before being founded by Josh Jackson, Nick Purdy, and Tim Regan-Porter in July 2002. The founders established the publication as a quarterly print issue to cover adult album alternative, Americana, and indie rock music.
What was the Radiohead experiment on Paste magazine in October 2007?
In October 2007, Paste offered subscribers the ability to pay what they wanted for a one-year subscription during an initiative known as the Radiohead experiment. This strategy increased the subscriber base by 28,000 people but proved financially unsustainable despite the initial surge in numbers.
Why did Paste suspend its print magazine on the 31st of August 2010?
Economic downturns caused lagging ad revenue across the industry which led Paste editors to announce cost-cutting measures that failed to stem losses. On the 31st of August 2010, Paste suspended its print magazine entirely and continued as an online-only entity through PasteMagazine.com after eight years of quarterly releases.
Which media properties did Paste Media Group acquire from G/O Media in November 2023 and March 2024?
Paste Media Group acquired US-based news and culture site Jezebel from G/O Media in November 2023 and The A.V. Club in March 2024. These acquisitions expanded the group's reach beyond music coverage into broader cultural commentary before G/O Media filed a lawsuit against Paste Media in October 2024 regarding contract breaches.
What changes occurred to Paste magazine in July 2025 and November 2025?
In July 2025, Paste spun off its games section into a fifth publication named Endless Mode with Garrett Martin serving as Editor-in-Chief. By November 2025, Paste refocused exclusively on music coverage following layoffs and closed its movie and TV divisions while shifting future reporting on those topics to The A.V. Club.