#RIPOZ

This past Sunday, Zack Zarrillo announced he was closing down PropertyOfZack. The news came after he shared he was also leaving podcasts Off The Record and Simpler Sound, as well as his job at Jade Tree Records. I’m sure some of you could care less, but if you’re like me, the move has got you thinking, and I thought I would share my thoughts. As I don’t have a personal blog, I feel Legendary Kids Press is as good a place as ever to do so, so feel free to read on if you’re interested.
If you happened to read my interview with Haulix, you’d know that POZ is one of the inspirations behind LKP. I can honestly say that, without POZ, there’s a chance LKP wouldn’t exist, especially in the way it does now. I’ve always been a fan of Zack’s work, whether it be his podcasts, his management or, of course, POZ - especially since this past January’s relaunch - because of a) his work ethic and b) his determination to get out of the music industry what he’s wanted. Most don’t know how to navigate the waters, but Zack’s been able to do so.
Specifically with POZ’s relaunch, I liked the idea of him focusing on content he truly believed in and on developing the site into a more editorial-based experience, something I feel sites like Alternative Press are lacking. It’s a more personal and in-depth take on the music industry and is something I have since chosen to bring to LKP. Regaining the site from SpinMedia and turning it around weren’t easy tasks, and for him to take them on and turn something crappy into what was the new PropertyOfZack takes both guts and a lot of hard work - qualities I respect.
It kind of feels weird to say, considering he’s only a year older than me, but I look up to Zack and the things he’s done. More specifically, I look up to the fact he’s kept his integrity throughout the lifespan of POZ and has taken everything he’s learnt over the years to build it into what he did. Sure, he’s gained some enemies along the way and done things he regrets, but it’s hard to not have respect for the guy.
I’m not too sure if any of this makes any sense - I’m writing after an 8-hour shift - but I just thought I’d share my thoughts with you all. The closing down of POZ is the end of an era, and I’m stoked to see what Zack gets up to next.
