AOL employees revealed Friday on Twitter that news website AOL Music and properties associated with it will close and employees in the division will be immediately laid off.
Spinner, a rock news website under the AOL Music umbrella, tweeted (and then deleted) this message to its 48,000 followers: "Hey guys. Just found out from AOL that we're shutting down. Today is our last day. Seriously."
AOL has yet to issue a statement on the events, but Spinner's editor Dan Reilly, however, continues to keep readers updated on the events. AOL Music's other genre-themed news sites include The BoomBox, The Boot
Well, we all just got laid off. AOL Music is finished.— Dan Reilly (@danreilly11) April 26, 2013
Sitting in an HR meeting right now, trying to negotiate keeping our computers for a few more days.— Dan Reilly (@danreilly11) April 26, 2013
Well, at least I found a good reason to finish off the whiskey at my desk.— Dan Reilly (@danreilly11) April 26, 2013
Haha. AOL Music is trending on Twitter. Finally figured our social media strategy out!— Dan Reilly (@danreilly11) April 26, 2013
AOL Radio program director Thomas Chau also weighed in, adding that AOL Radio will not be part of the properties that will be shuttered.
Sad day at AOL. I've worked with some of the most talented team members of the years and as of today, AOL Music & our websites are closing.— Thomas (@TomChau) April 26, 2013
My friends and colleagues need new employment opportunities and they kick ass at what they do. Please do your sites a favor and hire them!— Thomas (@TomChau) April 26, 2013
AOL Radio will still be around and so I will still be doing that for the time being.— Thomas (@TomChau) April 26, 2013
To be clear since some seem to be confused, AOL Radio is not shutting down.— Thomas (@TomChau) April 26, 2013
@justjon Because it is :( AOL Radio will continue but everyone I work with will be unemployed as of today— Thomas (@TomChau) April 26, 2013
There's an interesting irony about AOL Music trending on our very last day.— Thomas (@TomChau) April 26, 2013