PE Update for August 12, 2009

Greetings friends and supporters,

Here is a long-overdue update from Profane Existence! This year marks my 20th year working on PE and thus I have the honor of getting everyone up to speed on what's been happening.

As many people already know, PE's projects suffered catastrophic financial damage last year, causing a halt to production on the record label, magazine and eliminating all paid staff (who hadn't been paid since April 2008). As 2009 began, myself and several other volunteers decided we would keep PE going, saving what projects we could and letting go those that were no longer affordable. For many months a lot of decisions had been left unmade while we informally discussed what the future of PE would look like. In the meantime new people stepped forward and have offered their time to help keep PE alive. Right now I am happy to say that plans for the new PE are starting to congeal and we're ready to move forward with the next phase. This update is to let everyone know our plans, provide some answers, and put an end to confusion about what's happening with PE.

PROFANE EXISTENCE MAGAZINE

The printed magazine is now officially dead. Massive increases in printing and postage rates—coupled with serious lack of reliable distribution outlets and shrinking ad revenues—means that a regular printed version of PE is no longer possible. Instead, the printed magazine will be replaced with an entirely new web-based "zine" that is published continually and is available free world wide. The web based zine is now up and running at http://www.profaneexistence.org and will be updated with increasing regularity as the staff becomes familiar with the new system (and we become more organized).

NEW ANNUAL PE JOURNAL:

To replace PE magazine, we will be publishing an annual journal containing all of the most important news, articles, reviews, photos, etc. from that year. It will also include a CD sampler with some of the new music for the same time period. November 30, 2009 is the 20th anniversary of PE and my hope is the first annual PE journal will be published to coincide. Since it is the 20th anniversary, I hope to include a serious retrospective in articles and photographs documenting PE over the years. The journal itself will be a rather massive book (comparable to PE 50/51) and will be sent everyone with outstanding subscriptions and memberships. It will also be available by mailorder, DIY distros, and independent music and record shops. More information will be available as this project comes closer to completion.

If you have a SUBSCRIPTION TO PE MAGAZINE, the outstanding portion will automatically be credited towards the annual PE journal. Even if you only have one issue remaining, we will still send you a copy. If you do not wish to receive the annual journal, we can convert your subscription to immediate credit for PE distro or send a refund by Paypal or a check through the mail (refunds will be sent in order they are requested, as funds permit). You can request a refund by responding to this message or contacting me directly.

There will be a limited amount of ad space available in the annual PE Journal. All ad space purchased for PE #59 will be honored as paid in full. A follow up announcement will be made with the actual deadline and ad specifications.

NEW PE DISTRO:

With PE being reduced to all volunteer label, the future of PE Distro was in serious doubt for many months. However, an influx of new volunteers has assured PE Distro will continue for the immediate future. The plan is to keep it small enough to be run by volunteers, with a focus on mailorder and selling at gigs and festivals. We're also making a point to be realistic about costs and not bowing to pressure to sell at nostalgically low (and ultimately suicidal) prices. It's 2009 and if you really want to support your friends and favorite bands then you have to be willing AT LEAST $10 for an album! I have just put together an brand new web store for PE Distro here: http://www.profaneexistence.org/distro (you should be able to log in an set up an account using your message board or PE web site login and password).

PE RECORDS

Until further notice PE records is on hiatus and will not be putting out any more releases. PE still has some record-related debts to pay off and these are first priority before any new music or represses happen. PE Records will return, but for the moment we do not have an ETA.

There was briefly talk about assembling a central library of PE's music on the web, but that plan has been shelved because we don't know how to fairly compensate the bands for their music. I firmly believe that pirating music has significantly weakened our infrastructure and I do not want to further contribute to the decline of the DIY punk economy.

If you have an outstanding CDs OF PE SUBSCRIPTION, you are entitled to a refund for your remaining balance. We can convert your subscription to immediate credit for PE distro or send a refund by Paypal or a check through the mail (refunds will be sent in order they are requested, as funds permit). You can request distro credit or a refund by responding to this message or contacting me directly.

TRADES

Want your stuff in PE distro? PE does still have a large amount of our more recent record and magazine releases. If you are interested in trading some of your projects for some of ours, please get in touch. Right now trading is just about the ONLY way to get your releases into PE distro because we don't have the staff to handle consignments or cash to pay up front (because we still have debts from 2008).

PE WEB ZINE

This is happening now! We're paying for this service by donations and selling ad space (rates are here: http://www.profaneexistence.org/ad-information). Information on how you can contribute content of otherwise help out will soon be posted. The goal is to make an interactive news and information site that is current and relevant to the DIY / active punk movement. Together we can make this a really cool and vital new resource.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

I want to just express my gratitude for your patience and support while PE has gone through such tumultuous times. Please keep in mind that while PE is still alive and kicking, we are still an all-volunteer and decentralized organization. First priority is to keep distro orders going out on time and I apologize in advance if any other business takes a little longer to sort out.

Dan for P//E
August 12, 2009

Greetings friends and supporters,

Here is a long-overdue update from Profane Existence! This year marks my 20th year working on PE and thus I have the honor of getting everyone up to speed on what's been happening.

As many people already know, PE's projects suffered catastrophic financial damage last year, causing a halt to production on the record label, magazine and eliminating all paid staff (who hadn't been paid since April 2008). As 2009 began, myself and several other volunteers decided we would keep PE going, saving what projects we could and letting go those that were no longer affordable. For many months a lot of decisions had been left unmade while we informally discussed what the future of PE would look like. In the meantime new people stepped forward and have offered their time to help keep PE alive. Right now I am happy to say that plans for the new PE are starting to congeal and we're ready to move forward with the next phase. This update is to let everyone know our plans, provide some answers, and put an end to confusion about what's happening with PE.

PROFANE EXISTENCE MAGAZINE

The printed magazine is now officially dead. Massive increases in printing and postage rates—coupled with serious lack of reliable distribution outlets and shrinking ad revenues—means that a regular printed version of PE is no longer possible. Instead, the printed magazine will be replaced with an entirely new web-based "zine" that is published continually and is available free world wide. The web based zine is now up and running at http://www.profaneexistence.org and will be updated with increasing regularity as the staff becomes familiar with the new system (and we become more organized).

NEW ANNUAL PE JOURNAL:

To replace PE magazine, we will be publishing an annual journal containing all of the most important news, articles, reviews, photos, etc. from that year. It will also include a CD sampler with some of the new music for the same time period. November 30, 2009 is the 20th anniversary of PE and my hope is the first annual PE journal will be published to coincide. Since it is the 20th anniversary, I hope to include a serious retrospective in articles and photographs documenting PE over the years. The journal itself will be a rather massive book (comparable to PE 50/51) and will be sent everyone with outstanding subscriptions and memberships. It will also be available by mailorder, DIY distros, and independent music and record shops. More information will be available as this project comes closer to completion.

If you have a SUBSCRIPTION TO PE MAGAZINE, the outstanding portion will automatically be credited towards the annual PE journal. Even if you only have one issue remaining, we will still send you a copy. If you do not wish to receive the annual journal, we can convert your subscription to immediate credit for PE distro or send a refund by Paypal or a check through the mail (refunds will be sent in order they are requested, as funds permit). You can request a refund by responding to this message or contacting me directly.

There will be a limited amount of ad space available in the annual PE Journal. All ad space purchased for PE #59 will be honored as paid in full. A follow up announcement will be made with the actual deadline and ad specifications.

NEW PE DISTRO:

With PE being reduced to all volunteer label, the future of PE Distro was in serious doubt for many months. However, an influx of new volunteers has assured PE Distro will continue for the immediate future. The plan is to keep it small enough to be run by volunteers, with a focus on mailorder and selling at gigs and festivals. We're also making a point to be realistic about costs and not bowing to pressure to sell at nostalgically low (and ultimately suicidal) prices. It's 2009 and if you really want to support your friends and favorite bands then you have to be willing AT LEAST $10 for an album! I have just put together an brand new web store for PE Distro here: http://www.profaneexistence.org/distro (you should be able to log in an set up an account using your message board or PE web site login and password).

PE RECORDS

Until further notice PE records is on hiatus and will not be putting out any more releases. PE still has some record-related debts to pay off and these are first priority before any new music or represses happen. PE Records will return, but for the moment we do not have an ETA.

There was briefly talk about assembling a central library of PE's music on the web, but that plan has been shelved because we don't know how to fairly compensate the bands for their music. I firmly believe that pirating music has significantly weakened our infrastructure and I do not want to further contribute to the decline of the DIY punk economy.

If you have an outstanding CDs OF PE SUBSCRIPTION, you are entitled to a refund for your remaining balance. We can convert your subscription to immediate credit for PE distro or send a refund by Paypal or a check through the mail (refunds will be sent in order they are requested, as funds permit). You can request distro credit or a refund by responding to this message or contacting me directly.

TRADES

Want your stuff in PE distro? PE does still have a large amount of our more recent record and magazine releases. If you are interested in trading some of your projects for some of ours, please get in touch. Right now trading is just about the ONLY way to get your releases into PE distro because we don't have the staff to handle consignments or cash to pay up front (because we still have debts from 2008).

PE WEB ZINE

This is happening now! We're paying for this service by donations and selling ad space (rates are here: http://www.profaneexistence.org/ad-information). Information on how you can contribute content of otherwise help out will soon be posted. The goal is to make an interactive news and information site that is current and relevant to the DIY / active punk movement. Together we can make this a really cool and vital new resource.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

I want to just express my gratitude for your patience and support while PE has gone through such tumultuous times. Please keep in mind that while PE is still alive and kicking, we are still an all-volunteer and decentralized organization. First priority is to keep distro orders going out on time and I apologize in advance if any other business takes a little longer to sort out.

Dan for P//E
August 12, 2009