BluesfestBlues magazine Rhythms is going quarterly with future releases, Editor Brian Wise has revealed.
The news was shared in an open letter to subscribers seen by The Music. Opening with an “important update” following the cancellation of Bluesfest and its placement under liquidation, Wise admitted that Rhythms Magazine has been affected by the festival’s no longer going ahead.
“It is a little upsetting to write about it, given our long history with the festival,” Wise said, adding that it’s “unlikely” the magazine will receive payment for Bluesfest advertising in its latest issue. Thankfully, though, the magazine did receive payment for the issue prior.
“In addition, we sent thousands of promotional copies up to the Bluesfest site in Tyagarah to be distributed to festival-goers. Traditionally, the festival has been the source of many subscribers. All in all, this has cost us at least $7000,” Wise continued.
“In a stroke of luck, one of our very kind supporters who lives up on the north coast was able to get access to the Bluesfest site with his van and has been able to distribute about 75% of the magazines to music stores, pubs and other outlets. Hopefully, this will reach some people who might also subscribe and support us.”
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However, the magazine has still been dealt a significant blow. While the publication has increased its subscriber base “by at least 30%” in the past year, a decision has been made to release future issues quarterly rather than bi-monthly.
“Given what has happened, there is no way we would have been able to produce a May/June edition anyway. The next edition of Rhythms will be the Winter edition (June-August),” Wise shared.
Subscribers will still receive the six editions they subscribed to, but moving forward, subscriptions will be changed to four annual issues.
Wise noted that it’s become more difficult to sustain “the workload and the financial burden of bi-monthly issues.”
Supporters of the magazine who want to help are advised to renew their subscriptions if they’ve lapsed or are due for renewal; if you’re not already a subscriber, Wise asks you to consider doing so in the near future. You can subscribe to Rhythms Magazine here.
“The move to a quarterly publication has been made for a number of important reasons,” Wise continued. “With the ever-increasing costs of printing and postage and the decline in print advertising, it has become increasingly difficult to cover the costs of producing bi-monthly issues.
“The fact that we have been able to increase the subscriber base means that if we go quarterly, we will have the budget to upgrade the quality of the magazine without compromising the content.”
More material will be posted online and updated more regularly with the move to quarterly issues.
“This has been a major move that I have not made lightly - and only after a lot of consultation with our writers - but it is one that we think will ensure the immediate future of the magazine in print,” Wise revealed.
Wise concluded, “It has been a momentous couple of weeks, and I am still trying to process the whole fiasco. It has been a sad end for Bluesfest and one that should not obscure the many happy memories.
“I welcome any feedback from you about this. In the meantime, we will forge ahead with the next issue due to your great support.”
Rhythms is also running its fundraiser through the Australian Cultural Foundation from now until Tuesday, 30 June, allowing supporters to make a tax-deductible donation to the magazine.
