12/30/2020
The PvP Board of Directors is in the process of dissolving this little nonprofit. This isn't a "2020 stinks" kind of thing; rather, this is a reflection of our adherence to the timeless advice of Kenny Rogers and a commitment to knowing when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Please think of this post not as a funeral, but as a celebration-of-life service.
The reality is that people just don't consume music the way they did as recently as a few years ago. Our business model was based on selling recordings so that we could give away what we made from those sales. If we're not selling any music (or if we're getting just a penny or two from a stream instead of several dollars from a CD sale or digital download), we're not raising any money to give away. The good news is that we never had a paid staff or anyone else counting on us for income, so we don't have to prop things up unnecessarily when it's too much of an administrative hassle to limp along anymore. Digital versions of the music will still be around on the internet for a while, and to the extent there are future sales those proceeds are slated to go to Crisis Control Ministry, Inc.
PvP had an exhilarating run for nearly a decade. We wanted to encourage people to use their talents (Matthew 25:14-30) for the benefit of those in need (Matthew 25:31-46), and they did. Over the course of five albums, dozens of performers were able to experience the thrill of visiting a studio and hearing high-quality recordings of themselves for the first time; thousands of listeners were able to enjoy material that otherwise would not have been available for them to enjoy; and tens of thousands of dollars went to charitable organizations working to alleviate the effects of poverty in the U.S. and around the world.
None of this would have been possible without our generous supporters, many of whom are connected to us through social media (and some of whom might still be reading this long message). While the corporate entity has no more CDs to sell, I will definitely be keeping every email and handwritten note you all have shared over the years. Your words of affirmation have been priceless, and I can never thank you enough for encouraging me to expand my comfort zone and try something like this. With or without a nonprofit record label in place, I hope we can all find ways to continue to pursue its mission in one way or another in the years to come.
With sincere appreciation and gratitude,
Carter Cook
Founder and President, Piano vs. Poverty (2011-20)
