Making Music, a unique lifestyle magazine for music making hobbyists and amateur musicians, is entering its second year. “Our advertising, distribution, and production goals have all been met,” says Editor-in-Chief Antoinette Follett, “but most importantly, we have discovered a diverse and enthusiastic audience of adult hobbyist musicians excited to find that there is now a music magazine for them and just as thrilled to share their inspirational stories.”
Throughout its first year, Making Music has kept its promise to be a complete resource for the recreational musician. It combines features that explore the world of music making with articles explaining the health aspects of playing, instruction for the beginner and intermediate musician, and spotlights on products, resources, and travel destinations designed with the hobbyist musician in mind.
“A review of our features alone illustrates the breadth of the music making community,” says Follett. In year one, Making Music ran stories on New Horizons bands in Georgia and Arizona; Weekend Warriors from Louisiana and Wisconsin; corporate rock bands from Rhode Island and New York; drum circles in Washington… the list goes on! In year two, Making Music will continue with its broad mission—look for features on jazz improvisation retreats, parent/student bands, community drum celebrations, and rock fantasy camps.
Making Music magazine focuses new energy on the sometimes forgotten market of amateur music makers. Until now, much of the music retail industry’s outreach has been toward school children, supplying the music curriculum, or celebrating the recording/endorsing artists. “Our readers are interested in playing at home, with friends and family, and possibly some performances in public,” says Follett, “but they’re not pursuing a recording or professional career in music.
“From the magazine’s conception, we knew there was a large population of music making hobbyists who weren’t reading or being served by traditional music magazines,” explains Follett. That’s because these magazines are often geared toward young and/or professional musicians. The majority Making Music’s readers, on the other hand, are between 50 and 70 years old. Sixty-three percent describe themselves as either beginner or intermediate musicians. They have the time and resources to enjoy this fulfilling hobby.
Whether horn players or harp players, whether beginners or veterans, whether happy jamming alone or playing in an amateur orchestra, Making Music’s readers appreciate a magazine that speaks their language, describing in clear terms the myriad benefits of their hobby and how to tap into them. “Congratulations on your magazine,” writes reader Bob Diefendorf, of Princeton, New Jersey, “I like its tone and premise, which are not found in other music magazines.” “I cannot express my excitement in discovering what you are doing,” explains Dave Maiville, of Menifee, California, while Joanna Evans, of Avalon, New Jersey, writes, “Your magazine testifies to every good thing I’ve ever said about music.”
If you would be interested in taking advantage of a free year’s subscription (6 issues) to Making Music, please visit http://www.makingmusicmag.com/concir or call (800) 724-9700 x116, and mention that you heard about the magazine in Out & About Nashville.
For more information on Making Music, visit http://www.makingmusicmag.com.
