Re: Jewish music Magazine idea?

[eliot kahn <elkahn...>]

Judy's idea for a WEB magazine seems like a good one to me--but as a start
to see if it's successful, and ultimately move to print. People still do go
to bookstores and browse.

Please excuse my ignorance re: a lot of the new technology, but it seems to
me that so many of the available resources re: Jewish music AND
Jewish-related performing arts (i.e. Jewish-themed plays or dances) are
scattered. Many of us don't listen to on-line radio programs; folks also
don't have time to check out so many different web sites (and music
distributors).

Judy Pinnolis' Brandeis web-site seems like a great start towards bringing
together many different resources, but there's something exciting about the
happening quality of a magazine or "web-zine" that would cover performances
and new releases.

We've already heard from two vendors who were interested in advertising,
perhaps one of the more knowledgeable internet people would step forward
and come up with a way to bringing so many of these resources together into
a WEB-Zine---for the average consumer.

I wish I could help. I'm both clueless (re: much technology) and way
overextended re: my time. However, I would be willing to contribute an
article or two next year, if my time frees up a little.

Anyone interested in any of this or does it die here?

Eliott Kahn

At 05:04 PM 7/14/99 -0400, you wrote:
>Gideon:
>
>Getting to the idea of a Jewish music magazine.....in general I'm wanting
>to grow Jewish resources on the web...this may be an unpopular position,
>but I personally think in terms of a non-academic orientation, a web
>magazine would do just fine... instead of print. less cost to produce.
>(possibly?) and not dealing with mailing problems and all that....and can
>reach a very wide audience.  I also like the idea of interactivity that
>could eventually be worked in....
>
>Personally, I've cut way back on print subscriptions in recent years. I'm
>much more selective nowadays. Although there is obviously a place for print
>magazines in the home, one tends to get inundated. And not have the time to
>properly devote to any.....for right now, some people may feel a web
>magazine is too selective an audience, but that audience will only continue
>to grow in the coming years. If there was a Jewish music print magazine,
>I'd likely subscribe (or even contribute occasionally), but I'd still
>prefer the web.
>
>I like the idea of starting with reviews, both of recordings AND live
>performances would be nice... and then feature articles about people doing
>the music. news, information and a calendar are all features I'd like to
>see, which is why the web would work really well. discussion of performance
>techniques, trials and tribulations might be a fun column to read also.
>There are a lot of people who would know how to keep it "hip" or "cool" or
>whatever the word today is for young people.
>Judy
>
>
>At 03:22 PM 7/14/99 -0400, you wrote:
>>Robert raises an interesting question regarding a print Jewish music 
>>magazine.  Should it seek to be mass market or should it focus on the much 
>>more limitted market of musicians who play, and organizations/companies
that 
>>promote, Jewish music?
>>
>>To some extent this is a marketing question.  If we want to create a
broader 
>>audience for Jewish music, we need to grab people with something they 
>>recognize or something that will catch their attention.  This argues for 
>>including celebrity profiles even if they may be secondary to core Jewish 
>>music.  Barbara Streisand, the Beastie Boys, Dylan, etc would help sell 
>>magazines in a store like Borders.  These features need not be total fluff, 
>>but could involve serious discussions with popular artists on their Jewish 
>>backgrounds and the impact of their Jewishness on their music. 
>>
>>However, every piece on Kenny G's Jewish heritage takes away space from the 
>>coverage of new liturgical music, traditional Klezmer, etc.  Also, these 
>>pieces open up the danger of diluting people's definition of Jewish music
to 
>>a point where the music becomes an ethnic name game.  So, a nice small
niche 
>>publication might, as Robert says, be a better starting point rather than 
>>seeking to expand.
>>
>>My question for the list is has anyone tried to estimate how small a niche
>we 
>>really are discussing?  Is it large enough to support this type of print 
>>publication?  I have some doubts if the examples of Davka or Pakn Treger 
>>(both Jewish niche publications) are any indication.  Davka has become the 
>>webzine Tattoo Jew and I am not sure what is happening with Pakn Treger
>since 
>>it hasn't made it to Washington DC recently.
>>
>>Gideon
>>
>>
>>
>
> 

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