As the appointed Head of Product and Engineering at XLR8R.com, a revered music and culture magazine with over two decades of print and digital history, my task was to revive and redefine its digital landscape. My focus was dual-pronged: I empowered our writers with enhanced editorial capabilities, fostering richer, more engaging content, while also overhauling our platform to provide a sleek, responsive interface for our 650k monthly readers, complete with our popular daily free music downloads.
Drawing inspiration from XLR8R's retired glossy print format, I engineered a minimal, responsive design that echoed the content we championed. I skillfully navigated the complex migration from Drupal to WordPress, and meticulously preserved our legacy of articles, photos, and digital media.
Beyond a product revival, I ventured into new business horizons by establishing a robust ticketing platform. This allowed promoters to list and sell tickets for underground parties, connecting our global readership with the vibrant nightlife they craved. This innovation, coupled with strategic advertising partnerships and audience growth initiatives, saw our monthly user base swell by an additional 100k. Amidst the rhythm of this exciting journey, I never missed a beat, constantly tuned in to the incredible music that pulsed at the heart of our brand. 🪩
