Topspin Cuts Staff 44% – CONFIRMED
UPDATED: Topspin has now confirmed that cut 14 employees yesterday, or about 44% of staff. While the company declined further comment, the move is being described by some as redirecting the company back to it's original mission. "They're focusing on their platform, their technology and their data," former Topspin executive Gary Brotman told Billboard. "That was the idea from the beginning, and going back to that makes sense because it's Topspin's strong suit."
MORE:
THE ORIGINAL STORY: There were major staff layoffs on Wednesday at direct to fan platform Topspin Media. We have been able to confirm that Jessica Savage in the artist relations team and Head of Operations Brad Barrish, with Topspin since 2009, were among those let go today. But a variety of reports point to much deeper cuts
Several ex-Topspin employees have confirmed the layoffs on Twitter:
I am eternally grateful for the 5 insanely awesome years I spent at @topspinmedia. I'm proud of the work we did. Such a talented crew.
— Brad Barrish (@bradbarrish) January 30, 2014
Currently at a bar w/my co-workers who also got laid off today. @topspinmedia sad to be leaving such a great family & team #topspinmedia
— Alohalia (@Alohalia) January 29, 2014
Several tweets pointed to "half" and "a majority" of the Topspin team beng let go. Topspin has confirmed the layoffs, but declined to comment. It's been just over a year since then president Ian Rogers left the company for the just launched Beats Music and about 4 months since SVP Bob Moczydlowsky exited for Twitter.
Ironically, Topspin began advertising to fill a Director of Product Management opening today. The job opening has been removed tom the Topspin site. [Thanks to @MusicGeekSvcs for the heads up. ]
Check back for more details as we get them.
Topspin owes a lot of labels money, is not scalable and Rogers is trying to make people believe that Topspin actually adds value to the Beats site. What a joke.
Never been a fan of their complicated web interface.
Brad Barrish is also out as of today. Big loss for them – he’s a great guy.
I spent $1200 to take the first Top_Spin/Berklee Music Digital Music Marketing Class – I earned an A+ in the class, but at the end was not able to maneuver the complicated tech involved with using the platform. The concept seemed great, but ignored the demographic that could afford the program (boomers – artists who already have a fan base) and not user friendly for an artist that doesn’t have a team to manage the platform. Ian Rogers gave me a chunk of time during Music Tech Summit reception in Nashville a year prior to his departure and to hear my feedback about the course. He was very gracious listening to my suggestions to make TopSpin have a broader reach and thus more profitable. I guess i was right. Does any one need a consultant? I’m available.
I spent $1200 for the first class offered via Berklee College of Music’s On-line Music Marketing via Top Spin. I received an A+ in the course, however, I was never able to harness the technology of the platform and utilize it in real time. I had been screened to determine my qualifications for the course, yet I was ultimately told I should hire a developer to help me with the code needed to be embedded here and there on my web-site and social media platforms. I was the only boomer in the course. During the Music Tech Summit in Nashville, I had the opportunity to speak at length with Ian Rogers to give him feedback on TopSpin. I told him Top Spin was leaving lots of money on the table by overlooking boomer artists with established fan bases, and with money to spend on the program, but needed tech assistance. He informed me that boomers were not their demographic. Apparently their demo is new artists like the ones in my class i.e. kids with laptops, iPhones – pro-tools, no mortgages, living with their parents, communally with the band or in their vans down by the river (ref. Chris Farley) – Artists and managers who think great promotion is having a flash meet-up at a tattoo parlor. Since Ian left TS, and now these cut-backs are happening – I think I was right on target. Anyone need a consultant? I’m available. pammarkhall@mac.com
This happened in 2009 and they weathered the storm.
The “Meet The Team” video on Topspin’s website is still featuring people who were laid off….
I agree Topspin, they took my money and MTV Beat did not and published on national TV 2008.
Thank you,
Shawntae Green