In Remembrance: Suzanne Glass, Founder of Indie-Music.com
To Our Friends and Musical Family at Indie-Music.com,
It is with great sadness and an incredibly heavy heart that we announce the loss of our founder, Suzanne Glass, who passed away this week after a short, but intensely courageous battle with cancer. This is a profound loss - both personally and for the independent music community as a whole. Suzanne was a pioneer in the emerging age of online music when she brought her idea for Indie-Music.com to life in the 1990s.
Just as the internet was taking off, Suzanne and Paul Bultman, her partner and best friend, founded Indie-Music in 1996 with the sole purpose to assist independent musicians in all stages of their careers. They worked exhaustive hours manually researching and piecing together resources into one massive music hub, allowing artists to educate and arm themselves with knowledge spanning booking, marketing, performance, songwriting and invaluable critical feedback with one of the most respected review services in the industry. Through all this, Suzanne remained a self-taught techie and adapted beautifully to an ever-changing technology and musical landscape. She was an acknowledged authority in both the online and independent music communities who shared her expertise through appearances in a documentary and conferences in Europe and throughout the U.S. Beyond this, however, she was a champion of the independent artists and believed in providing any assistance she could to help them achieve their personal and professional career goals.
When I met Suzanne, I was unsure what to think, probably because our personalities mimicked each other in so many ways. We met through an acquaintance and I began writing music reviews and features for her in 1998. Over the years we developed a friendship that turned into much more. I had ideas. And although Suzanne had very clear and personal ideas about how she wanted Indie-Music to move forward, she always listened. She remained open and collaborative, and allowed me to take on more and more responsibility. She became my mentor. Suzanne was always giving of herself in ways I can only hope to replicate. She was generous, genuinely warm and funny, and always embraced a great idea. Not only embraced it, but would put it into action. She did not sit on the sidelines, but took an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and learning to new levels. Suzanne did not believe that knowledge was proprietary; instead of holding onto it, she shared it.
Her colleagues in the independent music community will undoubtedly tell you that Suzanne believed that information was empowering, and she was always the first to volunteer if advice or help was needed. Suzanne wished for everyone’s life that she touched to be successful and steeped in creativity and personal reward. She LOVED music, musicians and other creative souls. As a songwriter herself, she was sensitive to the process of making music along with the frustrations and hurdles independent artists face throughout their careers. She lived and breathed DIY mentality, and Indie-Music.com is the result of her efforts.
Paul and I have a big task ahead of us: to preserve Suzanne’s work and to push on. She asked that we continue on, that we put all of our passion and knowledge into practice and move Indie-Music.com forward into its next phase. We had been working together with a renewed spirit and energy over the past year prior to her diagnosis and treatment. She maintained the same grace in this adversity as she did throughout her life. Suzanne was incredibly excited and positive about aiding the careers and discovery of as many musicians as possible in the future. I remain committed. Paul remains committed. We have lost our fearless leader, but she remains with us as we carry out her vision.
The best way I can think of to honor Suzanne is to continue to urge everyone reading this to actively support and participate in your local independent music scene. Go see a show. Visit your favorite artists online. Download their music from them directly. Spread the word to your friends and family about your favorite artists. Help other musicians out and remember it’s not a competition, it’s a community. When we support each others’ creativity and self-expression, our lives are richer and filled with artistry. You don’t have to make music to appreciate it, but being conscious and supportive of those artists who move you with their music moves society forward inch by inch. Support those businesses and services who provide valuable resources for the independent arts communities. Suzanne understood this, and found value and encouragement in the vulnerability of putting yourself out there as an artist.
Suzanne was one-of-a-kind. That turn of phrase is often thrown about, but I can say in all honesty that it has never been more applicable. I have learned so much from her about how to be a better person, to live life with purpose and to pursue my passions. Her generosity, sensitivity, creativity, big ideas and perseverance were never lost on me, as I’m sure they were not lost on you if you had the good fortune to interact with her.
Suzanne, we already miss you like crazy, and the loss that we feel so deeply is only bearable because of the infinite number of wonderful memories, interactions, and incredible support we received from you. You built us up, every last colleague, musician and dreamer. You are loved, admired, respected and could never be replaced.
Rest now.
Heidi Drockelman, Editor, Indie-Music.com
It is with great sadness and an incredibly heavy heart that we announce the loss of our founder, Suzanne Glass, who passed away this week after a short, but intensely courageous battle with cancer. This is a profound loss - both personally and for the independent music community as a whole. Suzanne was a pioneer in the emerging age of online music when she brought her idea for Indie-Music.com to life in the 1990s.
When I met Suzanne, I was unsure what to think, probably because our personalities mimicked each other in so many ways. We met through an acquaintance and I began writing music reviews and features for her in 1998. Over the years we developed a friendship that turned into much more. I had ideas. And although Suzanne had very clear and personal ideas about how she wanted Indie-Music to move forward, she always listened. She remained open and collaborative, and allowed me to take on more and more responsibility. She became my mentor. Suzanne was always giving of herself in ways I can only hope to replicate. She was generous, genuinely warm and funny, and always embraced a great idea. Not only embraced it, but would put it into action. She did not sit on the sidelines, but took an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and learning to new levels. Suzanne did not believe that knowledge was proprietary; instead of holding onto it, she shared it.
Her colleagues in the independent music community will undoubtedly tell you that Suzanne believed that information was empowering, and she was always the first to volunteer if advice or help was needed. Suzanne wished for everyone’s life that she touched to be successful and steeped in creativity and personal reward. She LOVED music, musicians and other creative souls. As a songwriter herself, she was sensitive to the process of making music along with the frustrations and hurdles independent artists face throughout their careers. She lived and breathed DIY mentality, and Indie-Music.com is the result of her efforts.
Paul and I have a big task ahead of us: to preserve Suzanne’s work and to push on. She asked that we continue on, that we put all of our passion and knowledge into practice and move Indie-Music.com forward into its next phase. We had been working together with a renewed spirit and energy over the past year prior to her diagnosis and treatment. She maintained the same grace in this adversity as she did throughout her life. Suzanne was incredibly excited and positive about aiding the careers and discovery of as many musicians as possible in the future. I remain committed. Paul remains committed. We have lost our fearless leader, but she remains with us as we carry out her vision.
The best way I can think of to honor Suzanne is to continue to urge everyone reading this to actively support and participate in your local independent music scene. Go see a show. Visit your favorite artists online. Download their music from them directly. Spread the word to your friends and family about your favorite artists. Help other musicians out and remember it’s not a competition, it’s a community. When we support each others’ creativity and self-expression, our lives are richer and filled with artistry. You don’t have to make music to appreciate it, but being conscious and supportive of those artists who move you with their music moves society forward inch by inch. Support those businesses and services who provide valuable resources for the independent arts communities. Suzanne understood this, and found value and encouragement in the vulnerability of putting yourself out there as an artist.
Suzanne was one-of-a-kind. That turn of phrase is often thrown about, but I can say in all honesty that it has never been more applicable. I have learned so much from her about how to be a better person, to live life with purpose and to pursue my passions. Her generosity, sensitivity, creativity, big ideas and perseverance were never lost on me, as I’m sure they were not lost on you if you had the good fortune to interact with her.
Suzanne, we already miss you like crazy, and the loss that we feel so deeply is only bearable because of the infinite number of wonderful memories, interactions, and incredible support we received from you. You built us up, every last colleague, musician and dreamer. You are loved, admired, respected and could never be replaced.
Rest now.
Heidi Drockelman, Editor, Indie-Music.com
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