So many rumors, so little time. Where do we start?
That's been the situation all week as we've been hit with whispers, rumors and innuendo about the fate of Pollstar.com. No, our ratings haven't gone down. That is, for the most part, for there were significant drops in certain key demographics, like female GWAR fans between the ages of 55 and 60. However, our overall 12 plus numbers as well as our cumes are still the highest on the Net, and those rumors about us switching to Spanish cooking recipes are just that - Rumors.
Then there's that rumor that one of our high-profile columnists was paid by the Department of Concert Education to promote President Bush's No Promoter Left Behind Act by highlighting tours by Hatebreed, Brian Wilson and Jolie Holland. Not true. Never was true. Won't be true. However, we fired him just the same. Appearances, you know?
Of course, it's not like our credibility hasn't taken a few hits in recent months, most notably last fall when we reported that President Bush skipped out on the final years of his National Guard service so that he could go on the road with The Allman Brothers Band. But you can't blame us. After all, those documents seemed so authentic, those backstage laminates so real.
What we're getting at is that you can't believe everything you hear. Ben and Jennifer, Brad and Jenn, Jenn and Satan - some were rumors while other rumors turned out to be true. The truth about rumors is that the truth sometimes starts as a rumor, while rumors often start off as truth. It sounds simple enough, but there's a thin line between rumor and verbal flatulence, and trying to separate truth from rumor is like trying to separate a Motley Crue fan from his or her Spandex. Sure, it can be done, but do you really want to see what lies beneath?
So we'll keep on keeping on, despite all the rumors, half truths and lies that might spread due to our diligence in posting dates for all acts great and small. We'll ignore Drudge's latest postings, the hearsay on Fox News and whatever 60 Minutes is babbling about this week. And we'll continue to post dates for Mull Historical Society, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives and Further Seems Forever despite what we hear on the grapevine. Because sometimes you just can't believe the rumors.
Unless, of course, the rumors are about someone we don't like. Then it's gospel.