The Tonearm doesn't answer to advertisers, investors, or algorithms.
Everything on this site is free. That's the point. Readers who can afford to support independent media do so on behalf of everyone else, and on behalf of writing not dictated by algorithms, not driven by advertisers, and not generated by content machines. It's an old model. It still works.
The Groove — Free
In a record, the groove is where the music lives, encoded into the vinyl before a needle ever touches it. It's the foundation. Every reader starts here.
- Full access to everything on the site
- The Talk Of The Tonearm weekly newsletter
- Article commenting
Subscribe for free.
The Stylus — $10/month
The stylus reads the groove. Without it, the record is just an object. This tier is for readers who engage actively with The Tonearm's work and want a direct relationship with the people making it.
- Everything in The Groove
- Quarterly Zoom happy hours with The Tonearm's editorial team — conversations about what we're covering, what we're listening to, and what we think deserves more attention
- Surprises in the mail.
The happy hours aren't a panel or a pitch. They're a room full of people who care about the same things. Come with things to say.
Become a Stylus — $10/month
The Cartridge — $100/month
The cartridge converts the stylus's movement into an electrical signal. It's what makes the record audible. This tier is for readers who want to be materially, specifically, responsible for what The Tonearm is.
- Everything in The Stylus
- Your name on The Tonearm's permanent Supporters page
- More substantial mail surprises, curated for this tier
- Occasional small-group conversations with the editors — more intimate than the happy hours, with more space to talk about where the publication is going
There's nothing here that isn't already free on the site. What you're sustaining is the thing itself.
Become a Cartridge — $100/month
Other Ways to Help
Tell someone. A genuine recommendation to a reader who would get it is worth more than most marketing. Forward an article. Share a podcast episode. Point a friend toward something that changes how they hear.
Write for us. We're always looking for pitches from writers who have something to say about music, art, film, or creative thought — particularly angles that don't get covered elsewhere. Get in touch.
Underwrite. If what The Tonearm is doing matters to your organization, we have underwriting opportunities available. Contact us.