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Feedback/Ideas for New Magazine?

Hi Guys,

In perusing the forums here at A-gon it is very apparent to me that many of you do not trust commercial magazines and reviewers. Obviously, with any magazine the derives its income mainly from commercial advertising, questions always arise regarding reviewer bias and the mag's political slant. I constantly see the question, "Why are there no negative reviews?"

Having been a reviewer for 4 magazines, I know the insider's perspective of why there are very few negative reviews published. In life, it is true that you get what you pay for, and since many of the e-zines are free and the print mags are very inexpensive because they pack in lots of advertising dollars to cover their costs, this maxim holds true.

More and more lately, I've been leaning toward starting my own audio magazine, which would allow me the freedom to be unusually candid and truthful about the topics and review gear the magazine covers.

My question, is: "Would you be willing support a magazine that is mainly funded by subscriptions if you had to pay a minimal yearly fee for it?" Please be honest, because as much as I'd love to start a venture like this, there's no point in doing it if there won't be a market for it. I'm speaking of an online publication to begin with; print would come much later, if at all.

Let me know what you think, and feel free to e-mail me privately if you prefer.

Thank You!
plato
plato OP
1,543 posts
 
Guys,

As I stated earlier, my intention is to start as an online-only publication and move to print in the future only if the online edition is profitable and will support it.

Thanks for all your suggestions so far; I'm still listening and taking notes!

Frank :)
chriskeating
189 posts
 
I really miss "LISTENER". I enjoy a hardcopy magazine and I especially liked the digest size. I understand the financial issues involved with a printed publication and the fact that information on the net can be provided in a more timely fashion. I just like to read while listening and get tired of sitting at the computer.
elmuncy
64 posts
 
I'd be VERY interested. What I'd also like to see is comparisons of some of the best vintage gear compared to the new stuff. For instance, when the other mags review a new turntable, I've never heard any of them compare to a Linn, or Thorens, or whatever. Also, review the expensive stuff, but also the stuff we can afford.
sean
6,231 posts
 
Plato: Since others have brought it up, any "magazine" that is available in downloadable form should be able to print out in like fashion. Many people don't want to spend as much time on the puter as we do. Besides that, we all need "good" reading material for the "library" : ) Sean
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nrchy's avatar
nrchy
2,124 posts
 
Plato, this is not meant to be a mark against you, but everyone has biases. Everyone has their own room in which to listen. Without knowing a reviewers bias and having an intimate knowledge of the listening room many reviews would be meaningless. I would be less interested in a reviewer who claims to be unbiased than I would be about a reviewer who is up-front about his bias.

I don't doubt your honesty or integrity, but we may have differences of opinion about a piece of gear. That doesn't make either of us wrong, but it does mean we would write a different review and possibly dislike something the other enjoyed.

The complaints about Stereophile/TAS/Bound for Sound/and the others are often foolish and without basis in fact. You are setting yourself up for the same criticism, even if you don't realize it.
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