Warning: The Media Scam Targeting Music Artists, Podcasters, Chefs and Other Creatives
Red flags to know
Several months ago, I heard a story from a friend about an aspiring rapper who paid $500 to someone who promised that he’d get a feature story in Rolling Stone in exchange. Once the transaction was made, the scammer, who — surprise, surprise! — didn’t actually represent Rolling Stone, disappeared with the cash.
Not long after, an electronic music producer I know told me that he was strongly considering paying someone who emailed him saying that they were from The Source. For $60, he would get a story on the website, and that sounded good to him, even though he knew that the hip-hop media brand doesn’t have the significance as it did in the Nineties.
“That’s not how it’s done, that’s a scam!” I screamed back (via text).
I wondered if this was just something that is affecting music artists and media right now, but then. . . I started seeing similar scams circulating in the food and beverage world.
“wow for just $600 i can secure 1/15th of a listicle of "compelling podcasters" in a formerly awesome alt-weekly that's been tragically gutted by a notorious media failson? and it'll run 2.5 months from now? where do i sign?!” wrote VinePair journalist Dave Infante on the site formerly known as Twitter last week.
Infante’s post includes a screenshot of an email from “Rosalie Barkley of Mogul Press” asking for $600 in exchange for being featured in an article called “15 Compelling Podcasters You Need To Hear” that would supposedly run in LA Weekly. A similar email targeted at Los Angeles chefs was also sent around by Mogul Press.
I’m not an investigative reporter; I like to reduce the actual breadth of my work by joking that I just write about cupcakes and rappers. But this deserves further examination, and I hope the aforementioned publications are at least aware of what’s happening.
The moral of the story: while it may be tempting for some to pay to play, reputable media outlets are not going to hit you up for money to be in a damn listicle.
More dispatches by Creative Jobs:
• 50 Places for Writers to Pitch Right Now
• How to Get Into Vetted, The New Glassdoor for Freelance Writers and Creatives
Thank you for this post! It's such a shame that this type of scam is targeting creatives who thrive from personal and word of mouth recommendations. Of course the promise of a feature or a shoutout in a "10 XYZs you should check out!" would feel appealing! Again, thanks for all you share here and for this reminder to keep our wits about us!