Shameless Self-Promotion & My Reflection On The Importance Of Print Media

I've finally made the big transition from online media to the tangible timeless form of print media. Two articles I wrote for Relix Magazine during my on-going internship have now been published in Relix's August/September 2009 issue which features the Woodstock 40th Anniversary as well as The Avett Brothers, Wilco and much more. You can read my news blurb titled "Ropeadope Turns 10" on page 23 and my Woodstock book review blurb titled "Woodstock Vision: The Spirit of a Generation" on page 62. I strongly encourage everyone to read/subscribe to Relix Magazine for a number of reasons. Firstly, Relix is live music institution that has been around since 1974 and in these tumultuous times, if people don't read/subscribe it could fall by the way side. Secondly, if you read this blog, chances are, actually I guarantee that you will enjoy the content in Relix. The writing is honest yet sophisticated and the artists covered are fantastic. Finally, keeping print media alive is undeniably important. In this throw-a-way culture we often do not take the time to sit down and read. Remember when people used to read during their lunch breaks, or on the bus, or even in the library? Well it seems print has been replaced by iPods, e-books and Kindles, but let's recognize the importance of collecting the tangible, of passing on a great book or magazine to a friend. I can't encourage everyone out there enough to take a few minutes, relax and pick up something to read that does not require an electrical outlet. After working the Relix booth at festivals and hearing how many people were not interested in purchasing a subscription or a single issue because they "do not read" or "do not have the time to read" I really fear for not just the older generation and my generation (which seems to have an attention span that can only be measured in fucking nano-seconds) but I fear for the younger generation who is being raised on Facebook and the seemingly-retarded Twitter. So I will re-iterate this one last time. Take ten minutes to yourself and read, I promise it will not be time wasted! Hey, you might find yourself surprisingly entertained, not too mention you'll probably learn a little bit too.

Relix Media Group Acquires Relix Magazine, Relix.com and Jambands.com

From Jambands.com:

Media Group, LLC announced that it has acquired Relix magazine, Relix.com, and Jambands.com from previous owner Zenbu Media. Relix Media Group is a newly formed team of private investors led by music and film entrepreneur Peter Shapiro and former Zenbu Media employees. Shapiro will become Publisher of the iconic music title and longtime Editor-in-Chief Josh Baron will remain in place and be appointed to the management team.

In addition to Shapiro and Baron, Relix Media Group’s executive management team will include Associate Publisher, Senior Vice President, Rachel Seiden; Executive Editor, Senior Vice President of Digital, Dean Budnick; Executive Editor, Vice President of Relix Media Group, Mike Greenhaus; Chief Financial Officer, Dale Hirschman; and Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Cole Boyle. All members of Relix Media Group’s new team are veterans of the magazine.

“We look at the change of ownership as chapter three in the Relix story,” says Baron.“ “Ironically, at a difficult time in the magazine industry, Relix is stronger than it has ever been on both the editorial and business sides. We're confident that the new team in place, along with Peter's diverse background as a club owner of The Wetlands and now Brooklyn Bowl, plus his involvement in films like U23D, will help strategically grow the company.”

“Live music isn’t going anywhere,” adds Shapiro. “Relix’s core is live music and we will document and embrace that every step of the way. We will use the respected Relix brand as an anchor, and expand from there. With this new, yet familiar, team in-place we feel strongly that we have a strong and vibrant magazine on all levels and we're all very excited about the opportunity to build on Relix’s venerable 35-year history.

"Personally, I am thrilled to continue the forward-thinking leadership that Steve Bernstein brought to the magazine since he became publisher in 2000. We will also, of course, respect the iconic legacy and tradition created by Relix’s founders Les Kippel and Toni Brown over three decades ago. They have all dedicated themselves to Relix and made it what it is today, and I plan on bringing that same passion as publisher."

Founded in 1974 as a hand-stapled newsletter for Grateful Dead fans and tape traders, Relix magazine has evolved over the last 35-years into the leading source for fans of live music. These days the brand, which also includes, Relix.com and Jambands.com, offers readers rare insight and exclusive coverage on some of the world’s leading artists. Recent features include profiles on The Allman Brothers Band, The Clash, Neil Young, Black Crowes, Mars Volta, Beastie Boys, Miles Davis, Conor Oberst and Ryan Adams and many others. As noted industry critic Bob Lefsetz noted earlier this year, Relix is “more Rolling Stone than Rolling Stone.”

Relix will relaunch under the direction of new ownership with the June issue, while the newly branded web properties will go online within the coming months. The magazine, which will hit newsstands on May 19, will profile Phish in their first cover story since announcing reunion plans last year.

Back In 15 Minutes Heads To New York City

This summer (June, July) I will be interning for Relix Magazine, the premier jamband magazine! Expect some sweet concert reviews, interviews and more all coming to you from the Big Apple (and maybe the road). First on the agenda for NYC will be Phish @ Jones Beach on June 2. That being said, here is Phish playing "NICU" on the New Years run @ Madison Square Garden