Musician (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Musician was a monthly magazine
that covered news and information about American
popular music
. Initially called "Music America", it was founded in 1976 by Sam Holdsworth and Gordon Baird. The two friends borrowed $20,000 from relatives and started the publication in a barn in Colorado. http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2008/07/20/artist_is_bitten_by_desire_to_put_greenheads_on_canvas/
Subtitled "The Art, Business and Technology of Making Music," it became known for its extended and thorough articles about the stars of rock music. "Musician" was not intended to be a fan magazine—the founders envisioned it as a publication about the musician's craft, and as a result, it earned it the respect of people in the music business.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3065/is_n6_v18/ai_7627075 As Holdsworth told an interviewer in 2003, the magazine "...created a level of trust that made the musicians feel they were talking with peers." http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3065/is_11_32/ai_109384473 In that same article, he noted that "Musician" was also known for finding out the little things that the average magazine did not—such as why a musician chose a particular brand of instrument, or what was the inspiration for a certain song.
But "Musician" never gained a wide following, although it had a devoted base of fans. The magazine was respected by the critics for the quality of the writers—among the best known writers for "Musician" were rock critic Lester Bangs
and soon-to-be film director Cameron Crowe
. (Gordon, 2003) Due to the expense of running it, Holdsworth and Baird sold it in 1982, to the company that owned Billboard
magazine; but Holdsworth and another company executive bought it back in 1985 and they ran it until selling it again in 1987. (Frenette, 1989)
Holdsworth did more than just sell his magazine to Billboard : he went to work there, eventually rising to the position of Executive Vice President and Publishing Director of parent company Billboard Publications Inc. (BPI), then located in New York City
. He ran their publishing group till 1991. His sale of the company made him millions (Edgars, 2008). In 2000, he became CEO of Rykodisc
, a Massachusetts
-based independent record company. He retired from that position in 2008, and has remained in Massachusetts, where he had moved in 1981. He currently lives in Gloucester
with his wife and three children. He has become a well-known local artist, and some of his paintings have been displayed in museums. http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2008/07/20/critters_large_and_small___and_no_need_for_bug_spray/
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
that covered news and information about American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
. Initially called "Music America", it was founded in 1976 by Sam Holdsworth and Gordon Baird. The two friends borrowed $20,000 from relatives and started the publication in a barn in Colorado. http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2008/07/20/artist_is_bitten_by_desire_to_put_greenheads_on_canvas/
Subtitled "The Art, Business and Technology of Making Music," it became known for its extended and thorough articles about the stars of rock music. "Musician" was not intended to be a fan magazine—the founders envisioned it as a publication about the musician's craft, and as a result, it earned it the respect of people in the music business.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3065/is_n6_v18/ai_7627075 As Holdsworth told an interviewer in 2003, the magazine "...created a level of trust that made the musicians feel they were talking with peers." http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3065/is_11_32/ai_109384473 In that same article, he noted that "Musician" was also known for finding out the little things that the average magazine did not—such as why a musician chose a particular brand of instrument, or what was the inspiration for a certain song.
But "Musician" never gained a wide following, although it had a devoted base of fans. The magazine was respected by the critics for the quality of the writers—among the best known writers for "Musician" were rock critic Lester Bangs
Lester Bangs
Leslie Conway "Lester" Bangs was an American music journalist, author and musician. He wrote for Creem and Rolling Stone magazines, and was known for his leading influence in rock 'n' roll criticism....
and soon-to-be film director Cameron Crowe
Cameron Crowe
Cameron Bruce Crowe is an American screenwriter and film director. Before moving into the film industry, Crowe was a contributing editor at Rolling Stone magazine, for which he still frequently writes....
. (Gordon, 2003) Due to the expense of running it, Holdsworth and Baird sold it in 1982, to the company that owned Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine; but Holdsworth and another company executive bought it back in 1985 and they ran it until selling it again in 1987. (Frenette, 1989)
Holdsworth did more than just sell his magazine to Billboard : he went to work there, eventually rising to the position of Executive Vice President and Publishing Director of parent company Billboard Publications Inc. (BPI), then located in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He ran their publishing group till 1991. His sale of the company made him millions (Edgars, 2008). In 2000, he became CEO of Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
, a Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
-based independent record company. He retired from that position in 2008, and has remained in Massachusetts, where he had moved in 1981. He currently lives in Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
with his wife and three children. He has become a well-known local artist, and some of his paintings have been displayed in museums. http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2008/07/20/critters_large_and_small___and_no_need_for_bug_spray/
Sources
- Geoff Edgars. "Artist is Bitten By Desire to Put Greenheads on Canvas." The Boston Globe, 20 July 2008.
- Liza Frenette. "BPI's Entertainment Architect." Folio, June 1989.
- Ken Gordon. "A Great One Remembered: Musician." Folio, November 2003.
- Cate McQuaid. "Critters Large and Small...And No Need for Bug Spray." The Boston Globe, 20 July 2008.
- Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
: Musician. Gloucester, MA: Amordian Press, 1982–1999. ISSN 0733-5253.