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Down Beat Magazine
Now in its seventh decade, Down Beat is without a doubt the Bible of jazz music. In its early years, Down Beat covered the big-band era, but as the jazz scene and the birth of bebop came along, Down Beat was there to cover it all. Down Beat has written about every legendary jazz artist you can think of, from Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, to Pat Metheney and Rahsaan Roland Kirk, from Miles Davis to Kenny G. Besides its first-rate articles on the world’s greatest musicians, one of the great re -
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History of Music Magazines
History of Music Magazines -
Hit Parader
Started by Charlton Publication Inc., this is one of the oldest continually published music magazines in world (after Song Hits, Billboard, and Down Beat).From its inception until about 1975 (when it became too expensive to license the rights), it published the lyrics to many popular songs of the time. Over the years, the biggest stars appeared on the cover of Hit Parader, from Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra, to Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Motley Crue and Nirvana. Printed on newspaper stock (wit -
Country Song Roundup
Founded way back in 1947, by Charlton Publications, this stalwart is still published today by it’s new owners (since 1991) in Poughkeepsie NY. Interestingly, Country Song Roundup was started as the “hillbilly” version of the more mainstream-pop successes:Hit Parader and Song Hits. Every issue was packed with articles on the popular singers of the day. In the early issues, the subjects were Hank Williams and Patsy Cline. In later years, Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks and their contemporaries garnere -
16 Magazine
The late George Winters created this beauty, which for more than 35 years has been the pinnacle of teeny bopper print. Many imitators have popped up over the years, forcing 16 Magazine to withstand some pretty stiff competition. However, 16Magazine has remained true to its beginnings. If you are looking for real serious interviews and top-notch writing, keep going. If you want to know what the Monkees’ Davy Jones’ favorite food is, or Gene Simmons’ shoe size, or Debbie Gibson or Alyssa Milano -
Flip
Started to compete with the other teen-pop-fan magazines of its era (16, Tiger Beat,Teen, etc.), Flip filled the pages between its covers with facts, photos, pin-ups, and every detail you might or might not want to know about your teen favorites. Most interesting, any given issue of Flip could cover 20 different artists without achieving much depth on any of them. But, boy, were the photo spreads and true-fanzine attitude cool! In its early years, the magazine covered top bands such as the Dave -
Tiger Beat
Founded by Laufer Publishing, Tiger Beat was the West Coast competition of 16Magazine. Using very much the same style and focus as 16, Tiger Beat captured a generation of youth with articles and great photos of the Rolling Stones, Herman’s Hermits, Sonny & Cher, the Beatles, the Monkees, and David Cassidy. Since Tiger Beat‘s editorial offices were on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, it also covered many TV heartthrobs such as Bobby Sherman, Michael Cole, Leif Garrett, and Rick Springfield. Tiger B -
Circus Magazine
Circus is a classic pop magazine which has gone through numerous changes in focus over the past four decades. It got its start at the height of the British Invasion, in 1966, as Hullabaloo magazine. Founded by Gerald Rothberg, who remains the publisher/editor-in-chief more than 30 years later, Hullabaloo became Circus in March of 1969. Jimi Hendrix graced that first cover. In its initial 15 years the mag was famous for full color, pull-out centerfold posters, many of which are desirable collecti -
Guitar Player
In Guitar Player‘s 31-year history, virtually every great guitarist in the world has been featured on its cover or in its pages. Just a few of the legends who have graced the covers of Guitar Player are Jimi Hendrix, Les Paul, Andres Segovia, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Ace Frehley, Eric Clapton, and countless others. Guitar Player writes articles from a musician’s point of view. Included are inside tips from the masters on how to play better, as well as guitar “tablature” transcriptions. One of -
Rolling Stone Magazine
This, of course, is the grandaddy of rock publications. Rolling Stone published its first issue (John Lennon appeared on the cover in World War I “doughboy” helmet from the film, How I Won the War) on November 9, 1967. Jann Wenner, who foundedRolling Stone with Ralph J. Gleason, described the magazine best in A Letter From The Editor in the first issue. Here is what he said: “You’re probably wondering what we are trying to do. It’s hard to say: sort of a magazine and sort of a newspaper. The nam -
Trouser Press
Founded by Ira A. Robbins, the magazine’s original title was Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press. Published in New York City, Trouser Press called itself “America’s Only British Rock Magazine.” Trouser was originally published every other month. Its early issues, like Crawdaddy, were produced on a mimeograph machine. Trouser could not even afford to pay its writers for the first 25 issues, but somehow good writers came and wrote. Trouser Press became the most important magazine covering the British musi -
Goldmine Magazine
This undisputed Bible of the record/CD collecting world, this mag was founded by Brian Bukantis (who publishes Movie Collectors World). The publisher is Krause (pronounced craow-zee) Publications, which started out with a small coin-collecting one-sheet in the early ’50s. In the U.S., Goldmine is required reading for anyone who is serious about music collecting. Each issue features articles and discographies on many recording artists of the past 40 years .A real bonus for the reader is that many -
Musician
Published by Billboard Publications, Musician leans toward well-written and intelligent features, and fascinating, in-depth interviews with such elusive stars as Bruce Springsteen, Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Steely Dan, and John Fogerty. In its early years, the magazine tended to cover the world of jazz and included interviews with Herbie Hancock and George Benson. However, it quickly embraced other forms, such as pop, rock, reggae, soul, and rap. “Forgotten” artists have also been profiled, incl -
Crawdaddy
A true legend among rock mags, the New York City-based Crawdaddy!‘s first 14 issues were printed on an old mimeograph machine. Needless to say, those issues are very scarce, and very valuable (though they sold for 50 cents an issue when first published, they can go for anywhere from $50 to $100, depending the cover-art subject, condition, and circumstance). Crawdaddy differed from other magazines of its era in that it took rock ‘n’ roll very seriously. In its first few years, it tended to focus -
Backstreets
This excellent fanzine about the “Boss” from Asbury Park, New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen, is published by Backstreet Publishing, in Seattle, Washington. The publisher is Charles Cross, noted Bruce authority, who has written several well-regarded books on the rocker. Cross is also the publisher/founder of the Seattle’s outstanding music monthly, The Rocket. Like most fanzines, Backstreets approaches its subject with (sometimes fanatical) love. This magazine is for those who think the heart of rock -
Rock Scene
This underground fave described itself as the alternative to the alternatives. Rock Scene, as the name implied, covered music “scenes”: in New York, London, and elsewhere around the world. Staff writers included well-knowns such as Lenny Kaye (rock critic/producer and guitarist for the Patti Smith Band), Lisa Robinson (renowned rock author and critic), and Lillian Roxon (founder and writer of what may be the finest rock encyclopedia ever assembled). However, even with Rock Scene‘s fine writers, -
Spin
This color feature and review magazine is, of course, published out of New York by Bob Guccione Jr. (son of Bob Guccione, founder and publisher of Penthouse, Omni,and Longevity). Spin seeks to cover the cutting-edge and alternative music scene. It has an impressive writing staff; just a few of the contributing editors have included (late novelist-screenwriter) Terry Southern, (beat novelist cult figure) William S. Burroughs, Jim Fouratt, Jim Bessman, and Lisa Robinson. The subjects are generally -
Creem
This legendary rock publication was founded and published by Barry Kramer in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. Creem set out to cover the music and cultural scene with style and distinction. It succeeded. Creem certainly had the cream of the country’s rock writers: Robert Christgau (who pioneered rating records with A to F ratings, like school report cards), Greil Marcus and Dave Marsh (respected authors, both ofRolling Stone fame), and of course probably the funniest and most prolific rock ‘n’ rol -
Billboard
Many people know Billboard magazine is the Bible of the Music Industry, the place to go for such essential “charts” as the Hot 100 Singles, the Billboard 200 Album Chart, and the Power Playlist from more than 30 top radio stations. But few consumers are probably aware that Billboard is more than 100 years old. This is the place to go if you want to know what the movers and shakers, the people behind the sounds, are up to, and what they’re planning. Billboard is also the place to read many of the
