Hi - you were probably trying to post a New message (not a reply) in either the 'News & Updates' and/or 'Tour Dates & Appearances' categories, right?
It's not just you, but everyone! This setting has been in place for sometime for those two categories. It's to help avoid unconfirmed news or tour dates/appearances being posted and for no other reason But you can reply to any message in those two categories.
You and everyone else can post New messages in every other category!