The move prompted rumors in the Seattle arts community that the P-I was cutting back arts coverage sharply. Connie Cooper, the executive director of the Seattle Chamber Music Society, sent an email to the organization's board and staff suggesting that the paper would only be covering the main series of the Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony, and Pacific Northwest Ballet.
But P-I managing editor David McCumber told the Weekly that the paper was not reducing its arts coverage. Rather, he said, the paper plans to provide "more sophisticated, nuanced coverage—profiles, issues stories, arts business stories—as well as reviews and previews."