Just days after being 'endorsed' by mainstream star Solange Knowles [link], HIPSTER RUNOFF has taken a big hit from lofi legend Ariel Pink. In an audio interview with Viva Radio, the official radio station of American Apparel retail stores, Ariel Pink is asked about his leaked album, Before Today, which was branded as one of the most important leaks/album releases of 2k10 by the internet/blogosphere. He claims that HIPSTER RUNOFF / the comments section is 'the source' of the leak, possibly.

Is HRO bad for indie artists?

Stream interview

21:30 mark: Ariel Pink says that for more information about his leak, u can visit the HIPSTER RUNOFF comment section for his album leak.
40:56 mark: Ariel Pink and a member of the band make a reference to the Tito Jackson Sex Dungeon post, made by the Alt Report [link]

He goes on to say that leaks are 'chill' just as long as you buy the album. Does he sound like he h8s HRO, or is he chill with it, since both brands are 'mad authentic'/lo-wave?

Feel sad that Ariel h8s Hipster Runoff. I don't think that his album was leaked on/by my website. Not sure if my 'coverage' drove up demand for the leak [link]. Thought I was just being the chill bro of blogs, letting people 'know whats up'/filtering out what is relevant. Worried that the HRO brand is 'going mainstream' and authentic lo-fi artists are turning on the site. Worried that I am the 'next niche blog' to lose my voice/credibility/brand/readership as indie markets are engulfed by the mainstream.

As an HRO commenter, r u 'pissed' that he accused u of being a leak bro, or are you just happy that Ariel Pink chills in the comments section of HRO?
Do album leaks hurt album sales, or expose artists to consumers who were never gonna buy the album anyways?
Is there any way we could track the number of leaks to build a new metric of 'truly buzzworthy albums with early adopter/die hard music fans'?
Is "Before Today" the frontrunner for album of the year?
Will "Before Today" be better than Panda Bear's "TOMBOY"?
Is the HIPSTER RUNOFF weblog bad for indie bands, or is it 'a valuable consumer force' 2 have on ur side? [via high pitchfork ratings in 2k6]

Ariel Pink

Alternative Celebrity, Buzzband

Ariel Pink is a 'lofi genius/wizard/mastermind' who has transitioned his brand to 'relevant indie buzzband status' in 2k10.

Lists: Producers, drug users, lofi, indie hunks, Californians

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