Talk:Karl Koch (Weezer assistant)

Rationale for re-instating this previously deleted BLP

Since an article for this individual was previously deleted, and since this draft is caked in sources of varying levels of reliability, I feel it is worth providing a brief rationale in favor of an article on the subject. Quickly, a few points I think are worth noting about the creation of the draft:

• This is the first proper Wikipedia article I have created, and only the second real contribution on my account (the first being a reverted edit from 2018). However, I have spent the last 4 years editing the fan-run wiki project Weezerpedia, where I have gained a solid understanding of how to write and edit encyclopedic articles using Mediawiki software. I have made an effort to study all relevant help pages and essays to ensure the transition between wikis is as seamless as possible. (If I am still failing certain expectations, please let me know!)
• Although there is only one revision of this draft, this is a project I have been working at off-and-on since September of last year. I only feel that this is worth mentioning because I suspect this is a less common way to develop a draft and I don't wish to draw suspicion about the legitimacy of its creation.

This individual is somewhat difficult to research; a lack of reliable sources was the reason his original article was deleted. Nonetheless, reliable articles entirely about the subject do exist. A few which I would like to highlight (as I believe they successfully satisfy living person notability requirements) are:

• "NOTHING BUT NET", published by the Chicago Tribune in 2001; a profile of Koch focusing on his management of the official Weezer website and on his column Karls Corner
• "Weezer webmaster serves as band's fifth member", published by The Vidette in 2001; a partial profile of Koch preceding an interview — note the direct use of "fifth member" (it feels important to prove that this descriptor is common)
• "America's Most Maladroit Home Videos", published in Spin in 2004; column on the release of the Video Capture Device DVD explicitly framed around Koch's creative process
• "Press Any Key To Begin", published in In Music We Trust in 2004; webzine review of Koch's debut solo album

Other sources which do not focus entirely on Koch but do point strongly towards notability and provide reliable sources for major claims:

• "T-Minus Rock interview with Weezer", aired on MTV2 in 2005 (YT link included here but not in article reference as it's a fan upload); direct quotes from band members describing the manners in which Koch's support was vital to the band's success
• "Weezer’s Blue Album: 10 Things You Didn’t Know", published by Rolling Stone in 2019; plethora of mentions of Koch in the context of the production of Weezer's debut album
• Rivers' Edge: The Weezer Story, published in 2004; Weezer biography which acts as a primary source on numerous articles related to the band and which lays out Koch's band involvement

I, of course, also believe that every other reference used in the draft is reliable or relevant in some fashion and I hope that any reviewer will take the time to look at each one individually. However the ones listed above are the strongest in terms of clear reliability and indication of notability, in that they are all from published/aired independent sources and that they heavily involve discussion of Koch and his major roles as an assistant to the band.

I believe (and hope) that the dedication to locating quality sources, strictly following Wikipedia guidelines, and placing strong attention on the prose and structure of the article differentiates this draft from the Karl Koch article which came before and justifies the creation of this new BLP. Burnst Jamp (talk) 05:57, 11 February 2024 (UTC)