To put it bluntly: starting around the beginning of March, we have observed a distinct drop in both new subscriptions and renewals. That timing roughly corresponds with the US administration's increasing attacks on the global system of trade and the economic downturn that has been its result. As it stands, this subscription drop does not pose an existential threat to LWN — or to the salaries of its writers — but it is a matter of concern.
We are responding by tightening our belt where we can, but otherwise working to provide the best coverage of the Linux and free-software communities, as we always have. Readers can help, of course, by subscribing if they have not already done so. Encouraging your employer to set up a group subscription is especially helpful. Subscriptions are the only thing that has kept LWN operating for all these years.
Beyond the immediate situation, there are a number of potential problems to be concerned about. For example, inflation did not stop after our price increase in 2022, with the result that subscription dollars buy significantly less then they once did. We are not considering a price increase at this time but, if the situation worsens, we may have to go there.
For better or worse, LWN is a US-based company, but a large portion of our subscription sales come from outside the country. If the backlash against US companies grows, we are unlikely to escape its effects entirely. Further attacks on global trade could make it more difficult for us to accept payments from outside the country, even when the buyer is willing. In a truly terrible world, there may be attempts to reduce US participation in (and support for) free software; the probability of that seems low, but not zero.
Those are all future worries, though. For now, we will focus on getting through the current economic storms. The good news is that LWN has been here since 1998, which is long enough to have been through more than one difficult cycle. We are still here, thanks entirely to the steady support from you, our readers. Our subscribers, especially, have our gratitude; if you have not yet subscribed to LWN, please consider doing so now.
Meanwhile our primary focus will remain being worthy of the support you all
have given us since the beginning. It is the least we can do for all of
you who have made our existence possible for the last 27 years.