Premier Guitar
Encyclopedia
Premier Guitar is an American
monthly music magazine
devoted to guitarists. Founded in 2007, it is based in Marion, Iowa
, and has an editorial staff composed of experienced musicians. Content includes instructional material, guitar gear reviews, and guitar news. Interviews have included guitarists such as Pete Townshend
of The Who
, Ron Wood
of the Rolling Stones, Joe Perry
of Aerosmith
, Guthrie Govan
, Brent Hinds
and Bill Kelliher
of Mastodon
, and Dave Mustaine
and Chris Broderick
of Megadeth
. The magazine is published online for free, and includes multimedia such as instructional videos and podcasts
. The magazine also has a free weekly newsletter and an online "Gear Search" service, where guitarists can search for, buy, and sell guitar equipment. As of June 2010, the magazine's print and multimedia platforms combined served 650,000 unique readers per month.
. Premier Guitar also has offices in New York City
, Minneapolis, Los Angeles
, Fort Dodge, Iowa
, and Peterborough, New Hampshire
. Revenue growth for the company was 38% in 2009, and approximately 41% in 2010. The company's consistent growth has led to Peter Sprague being included in 2009's Folio Forty
.
of The Who
, Ron Wood
of the Rolling Stones, Joe Perry
of Aerosmith
, Guthrie Govan
, Seymour Duncan
, Dan Auerbach
of The Black Keys
, Kevin Eubanks
, Dave Mustaine
and Chris Broderick
of Megadeth
, Mike Sullivan
, Valient Thorr
, Eric Johnson
, Carl Verheyen
of Supertramp
, Brent Hinds
and Bill Kelliher
of Mastodon
, Bruce Cockburn
, Alex Skolnick
of Testament
, and Todd Snider
.
. The approximated monthly print readership in 2010, according to Harvey Research, was 30,198. When pass-along readers were added to that number, print readership was approximated at 51,336.
All editions of Premier Magazine are available online for free. According to Peter Sprague, this has actually increased the number of print subscriptions instead of decreasing it. The digital version includes all the content of the print version, as well as added multimedia content. The magazine also has applications that make it fully accessible on iPhone
and iPad
.
cameras for instructional videos and interviews.
The magazine's weekly e-newsletter
, Backstage Pass, included over 60,000 subscribers as of April 2011, and contains stories, videos, and podcasts not available otherwise. The website also includes the "Gear Search" service, where guitarists can buy and sell guitar gear. As of April 2011, 60,000 pieces of gear were listed on the service, and Gear Search received more than 200,000 monthly visitors.
As of June 2010, the magazine print and multimedia platforms combined served 650,000 unique readers per month.
Management
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
monthly music magazine
Music magazine
A music magazine is a magazine dedicated to music and music culture. Such magazines typically include music news, interviews, photo shoots, essays, record reviews, concert reviews and occasionally have a covermount with recorded music.-Notable music magazines:...
devoted to guitarists. Founded in 2007, it is based in Marion, Iowa
Marion, Iowa
Marion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 32,172 in 2007. The city is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, and has an editorial staff composed of experienced musicians. Content includes instructional material, guitar gear reviews, and guitar news. Interviews have included guitarists such as Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, Ron Wood
Ron Wood
Ronald David "Ronnie" Wood is an English rock guitarist and bassist best known as a former member of The Jeff Beck Group, Faces, and current member of The Rolling Stones. He also plays lap and pedal steel guitar....
of the Rolling Stones, Joe Perry
Joe Perry (musician)
Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry is the lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith. He is influenced by many rock artists especially The Rolling Stones and The Beatles...
of Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, Guthrie Govan
Guthrie Govan
Guthrie Govan is a guitarist known for his work with the bands Asia , GPS, The Young Punx and The Fellowship as well as Erotic Cakes...
, Brent Hinds
Brent Hinds
Brent Hinds is an American guitarist/singer best known as a member of the Atlanta, Georgia metal band Mastodon, in which he shares guitar duties with Bill Kelliher and vocal duties with Troy Sanders and Brann Dailor....
and Bill Kelliher
Bill Kelliher
Bill Kelliher is a guitarist in the Atlanta heavy metal band Mastodon. He is a native of Victor, New York. He shares guitar duties with Brent Hinds, playing mainly complex rhythm parts. Kelliher is married, with two young sons—the eldest one named Harrison, after Harrison Ford of Star Wars fame...
of Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
, and Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
and Chris Broderick
Chris Broderick
Christopher Broderick is the virtuoso guitarist of the American thrash metal band Megadeth. He currently resides in Sherman Oaks, California...
of Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
. The magazine is published online for free, and includes multimedia such as instructional videos and podcasts
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
. The magazine also has a free weekly newsletter and an online "Gear Search" service, where guitarists can search for, buy, and sell guitar equipment. As of June 2010, the magazine's print and multimedia platforms combined served 650,000 unique readers per month.
History
The magazine was founded by Peter Sprague and partners in February 2007. Premier Guitar is published by Gearhead Communications, LLC, a privately-owned company that is headquartered in Marion, IowaMarion, Iowa
Marion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 32,172 in 2007. The city is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. Premier Guitar also has offices 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...
, Minneapolis, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge is a city and county seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 25,206 in the 2010 census, an increase from 25,136 in the 2000 census. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. It is located on U.S...
, and Peterborough, New Hampshire
Peterborough, New Hampshire
Peterborough is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census. Home to the MacDowell Art Colony, the town is a popular tourist destination....
. Revenue growth for the company was 38% in 2009, and approximately 41% in 2010. The company's consistent growth has led to Peter Sprague being included in 2009's Folio Forty
Folio (magazine)
Folio is a literary magazine founded in 1984 and based at American University in Washington, D.C. It publishes fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction twice each year. Folio is also known for interviews with prominent writers, most recently Ann Beattie, Alice Fulton, Leslie Pietrzyk, Gregory Orr,...
.
Content
The magazine's editorial staff is composed of experienced musicians, and the content consists largely of guitar news, guitar gear, and instructional material. According to Peter Sprague, one of their editorial mottos is "no dead guys on the cover." The magazine has interviewed dozens of established guitarists, including Pete TownshendPete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, Ron Wood
Ron Wood
Ronald David "Ronnie" Wood is an English rock guitarist and bassist best known as a former member of The Jeff Beck Group, Faces, and current member of The Rolling Stones. He also plays lap and pedal steel guitar....
of the Rolling Stones, Joe Perry
Joe Perry (musician)
Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry is the lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith. He is influenced by many rock artists especially The Rolling Stones and The Beatles...
of Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, Guthrie Govan
Guthrie Govan
Guthrie Govan is a guitarist known for his work with the bands Asia , GPS, The Young Punx and The Fellowship as well as Erotic Cakes...
, Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
, Dan Auerbach
Dan Auerbach
Daniel Quine Auerbach is an American musician. A multi-instrumentalist, he is best known as the guitarist and vocalist for The Black Keys, a blues rock band from Akron, Ohio. He is married to Stephanie Gonis, with whom he has a daughter, Sadie Little Auerbach, born in 2008.- Childhood and early...
of The Black Keys
The Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S....
, Kevin Eubanks
Kevin Eubanks
Kevin Tyrone Eubanks is an American jazz guitarist and composer who was the leader of the Tonight Show Band with host Jay Leno from 1995 to 2010. He also led The Primetime Band on the short-lived The Jay Leno Show.- Personal background :Eubanks was born into a musical family...
, Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
and Chris Broderick
Chris Broderick
Christopher Broderick is the virtuoso guitarist of the American thrash metal band Megadeth. He currently resides in Sherman Oaks, California...
of Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, Mike Sullivan
Redcar
Redcar is a seaside resort in the north east of England, and a major town in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire. It lies east-northeast of Middlesbrough by the North Sea coast...
, Valient Thorr
Valient Thorr
-History:Valient Thorr began playing together in 2000. Their first show was on Easter of 2001. They released two demos, "Raw" and "We Come From The Morning Star"...
, Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
, Carl Verheyen
Carl Verheyen
-History:Verheyen has authored many instructional books, including Improvising Without Scales, as well as Studio City, a collection of articles written for the magazine Guitar for the Practicing Musician from 1996-1999...
of Supertramp
Supertramp
Supertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music...
, Brent Hinds
Brent Hinds
Brent Hinds is an American guitarist/singer best known as a member of the Atlanta, Georgia metal band Mastodon, in which he shares guitar duties with Bill Kelliher and vocal duties with Troy Sanders and Brann Dailor....
and Bill Kelliher
Bill Kelliher
Bill Kelliher is a guitarist in the Atlanta heavy metal band Mastodon. He is a native of Victor, New York. He shares guitar duties with Brent Hinds, playing mainly complex rhythm parts. Kelliher is married, with two young sons—the eldest one named Harrison, after Harrison Ford of Star Wars fame...
of Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
, Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
, Alex Skolnick
Alex Skolnick
Alexander Nathan Skolnick is an American jazz and metal guitarist. He was a member of the San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal band Testament from 1983 until his departure in 1993...
of Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, and Todd Snider
Todd Snider
Todd Daniel Snider is an American singer-songwriter with a musical style that combines Americana, alt-country, and folk.-Biography:...
.
Format
The magazine is published in print on a monthly basis, and is widely available at magazine vendors in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The approximated monthly print readership in 2010, according to Harvey Research, was 30,198. When pass-along readers were added to that number, print readership was approximated at 51,336.
All editions of Premier Magazine are available online for free. According to Peter Sprague, this has actually increased the number of print subscriptions instead of decreasing it. The digital version includes all the content of the print version, as well as added multimedia content. The magazine also has applications that make it fully accessible on iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
.
Multimedia
The magazine's website provides daily news, exclusive stories, complete video lessons in all genres, and written and video gear reviews. As of June 2010, 60% of the magazine's annual expenses are invested in content and technology. Much of that is invested in video production, and they have HDHigh-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
cameras for instructional videos and interviews.
The magazine's weekly e-newsletter
Newsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
, Backstage Pass, included over 60,000 subscribers as of April 2011, and contains stories, videos, and podcasts not available otherwise. The website also includes the "Gear Search" service, where guitarists can buy and sell guitar gear. As of April 2011, 60,000 pieces of gear were listed on the service, and Gear Search received more than 200,000 monthly visitors.
As of June 2010, the magazine print and multimedia platforms combined served 650,000 unique readers per month.
Staff
Editorial Staff- Shawn Hammond - Editor in Chief
- Andy Ellis - Senior Editor
- Charles Saufley - Gear Editor
- Rebecca Dirks - Web Content Editor
- Rich Osweiler - Associate Editor
- Chris Kies - Associate Editor
- Jason Shadrick - Associate Editor
Management
- Peter Sprague - CEO
- Patti Sprague - Chief Operating Officer
- Gary Ciocci - Managing Director
- Jon Levy - Managing Director
- Joe Coffey - Editorial Director
External links
- Premier Guitar on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
- Premier Guitar on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Premier Guitar on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Premier Guitar on Amazon.comAmazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...