Monday, July 13, 2009

Great news about JazzTimes

There was something to cheer about for readers and contributors alike, as Ben Ratliff reported in today's New York Times that JazzTimes will resume publication in August under new ownership.

The magazine announced in early June that it had suspended publication due to financial difficulties. Boston-based Madavor Media LLC, which publishes specialty magazines primarily on collectibles and sports, bought the brand and assets from former publisher Glenn Sabin. As many of you will recall, Glenn's dad, Ira Sabin, started the magazine as a newsletter-turned-tabloid Radio Free Jazz in 1970. By 1990, it matured into a glossy.

Editor-in-chief Lee Mergner said he and managing editor Evan Haga will be retained as the magazine retools a bit and moves forward from what certainly has been a trying year for facets of the jazz industry on many economy-related fronts. He also said arrangements are being made to pay contributors money owed for recent work.

I'm pleased about JazzTimes' future both as a reader - and a contributor since the mid-1980s. I have nothing but best wishes and positive thoughts for everyone involved in keeping this vital spotlight for jazz (100,000+ circulation and a recently revamped Web site) on track.

No comments:

Post a Comment