Mag Watch: The Music Network

I get palpitations every week when the Music Network magazine comes out! It marries my two loves: new music and radio. It's very much an industry's guide to new music, new artists, trends and industry news.



NAME: The Music Network
STRAP: Self explanatory... essentially the music industry's Daily Bread.
COVER CHARGE: $6.60 ($335 for annual subscription, $195 for APRA members)
GENRE: Trade - Music industry, radio.
CYCLE: Weekly
MADE IN: Sydney
PAGE COUNT: 68
PROS: A brilliant centerfold with charts and stats for those watching their figures. Observant features on industry trends for those in the know.
CONS: Not the most reader-friendly articles. Great ideas, very interesting content but could do with better writing/editing.

Trade magazines fascinate me! Sometimes you'd almost think they have it easier than your average consumer magazines. The bulk of its readers would be subscribers within the industry - there really isn't a need to find an audience because it's already there waiting to be seized. Serve them well and you'll become indispensable, which is what The Music Network magazine has become for those working in music and commercial radio industry.

You can literally witness as an artist or new track breaks and follow its media domination over: radio (see centerfold dedicated to airplay charts), music TV (music video listings from Channel [V] to Rage) and online, with the 'music sentiment graphs' (which measures online commentary associated with an artist or release).

There's also songwriter and industry news, and some observant feature articles on marketing and the digital age (Issue #742 circles No Doubt's 'free back catalogue' strategy). The music industry's bible? Amen to that.