PREAMBLE :: MUSIC MAGAZINES

Current mood: HOOPLA
Category: HOOPLA Music

Sheesh...

I was on the frustration bus yesterday and there, in one of the free papers that litter London busses at that time of day, was a guy called Alex Miller.

This man is the New Music Editor of The NME.

Taking the time honoured muso-journo route of writing for fanzines, then graduating on up to NME towers, Mr Miller talked of the perils of picking talent and said that he attends gigs every night...

He seemed like a nice enough promo guy to me, but didn’t really strike me as being a writer at all.

Thing is, I find all the current writers in The NME so completely indistinguishably ordinary, that I don’t know any of their names or styles - and therein lies the problem with that mag, or at least one of the problems...

Yes boss, contrary to what contemporary magazine editors and publishers seem to think, I reckon high quality writing is the only thing that’ll really make a mag last and grow in stature over time.

The NME hasn’t outlived all of it’s contemporaries on account of the quality of it’s Accounts Manager or the folk who organise big WHOOHAHS like The NME Brat awards. It’s name comes from it’s high class writers of the 1970’s and 80’s - that’s why it’s still going..


Talking of music mags, I was browsing 2 of the more austere ones The Wire & Plan B this last week and I almost fell asleep standing up.

Yes boss, the content and style was so weary in these rags, I almost passed out with indifference.

It’s a shame, because I like a lot of the kind of acts those mags cover, but I find the artwork to be dull and a heavy prevalence of faux and humourless intelligence and musical snobbery.

I mean shit, it makes me wonder if having fun in The Wire office is banned. I wonder if they even allow folk to go outside for a smile break???


For my free money, the only decent mag around at the moment is Stool Pigeon. It interviews in depth, it has hunour, it has stock prices and an obituaries section. You never know what you’re getting. It’s a labour of love and it’s free....


My very least favourite Music Magazines of the moment is called The Fly.

It’s an A5 colour sized indie rag that fills each cliche of music writing so succinctly it might as well be a parody:

Yes boss, the writing contained therein is lazy and overly edited. The interviews never break out into great revelations or even any decent information you either know or could guess at. Opinions seem to be nice and the substance and punch is never there in any part of the magazine.

Basically, The Fly is like the Daily Express of musical journalism: Ignorable, dull and lacking any kind of point or vitality...


Anyway, I’ve got a story about The Fly which I’m gonna recount in the next blog...

Currently listening : Transmissions from the Satellite Heart By The Flaming Lips Release date: By 22 June, 1993

15:24 - 10 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove -

	Mog Hartley	I use to religously read several music mags in the eighties but went off them. Personally I put it down to me not really giving a fuck about most of the bands they feature. maybe you have the same problem deep down but haven't realised it! ha ha Posted by Mog Hartley on Friday, March 14, 2008 at 19:56 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :	It's partly that. But I've always enjoyed music magazines and papers for their writing and style as much as who or what they're covering... With Stool Pigeon, I very rarely follow the bands up. I just like to read it and keep an eye on things, trends etc.. Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Friday, March 14, 2008 at 19:58 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Christopher Nosnibor	I miss Melody Maker as it was back in the late 80s and early 90s. The journalism was actually far superior to the NME. But then it became the Smash Hits of Indie. NME's gash and I've not read it in years. The Fly's free. Even then it's overpriced, but it's great for making cut-ups with. Posted by Christopher Nosnibor on Friday, March 14, 2008 at 21:32 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :	I think the writing in Melody Maker was certainly comparable to The NME, though in the era I was reading both, I generally preferred the NME. At that time, Melody Maker was on that slide that you mention... The problem for Melody Maker was that it was owned by the same corporation as The NME and one of them had to go... I think there's been a shift in how music magazines work. I don't think people are any longer hired on the basis of their writing abilities or because they have something to say. As long as they can get by and write OK, their progression is in the mould and their face fits their talent isn't important.... It's the same as with the music and with society in general. Since New Labour, everything has become very very conservative... Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 11:37 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Cheshire Cat	once upon a time ie. the 1980s (and before that the 1970s when i was too young to appreciate 'art') , some of the big weekly magazines eg. NME , Melody Maker & Sounds were VERY eclectic.: good writers on many varying types of music. a lot of variety in the editorial styles between the three publications too. now things seem more a lot specialised (terrorizer , the wire, world routes [or whatever it's called] etc etc)in the media . i have very little interest in the 'pop' press , but from what i have seen of NMEit nowadays seems more focussed upon pop (and is reflected in the tone of the writing & whatbands have to say). that's not entirely a bad thing , but it does seem a mixed 'blessing'. Posted by Cheshire Cat on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 16:12 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :	Yes, I think The NME is very pop in 2008. I browse it in the library most weeks and keep an eye on their website, but though both can be a good source of news, the writing contained within ain't shit... Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 18:49 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Cheshire Cat	ok , i should say focussed on pop/rock (see above). well , one of the mags on the shelves i KNOW write articles on bands depending on how much advertising space the band has bought in an issue. don't know how general a modus operandi THAT is ! ie. aesthetic value is a consideration in press coverage but not the sole one . Posted by Cheshire Cat on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 16:16 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :	Alot of that kind of thing goes on. These days these mags are run by business's, that only really understand short term money and short term success. I think in general, people and companies have lost all idea of the future even existing let alone being thought of as something to invest in... Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 18:54 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Cupid Kinkyboots Fan Club	My favorite music mag is by the guy called PG PoundSign. Ever heard of him? Posted by The Cupid Kinkyboots Fan Club on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 19:46 [Remove] [Reply to this]

: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :

I've heard he's very good, but I've never actually seen his work... Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 20:18 [Remove] [Reply to this]