Announcement: Future Music Magazine Launching US Edition!

[VitaminD]

I don't understand why Computer Music or Future Music does not just send the articles over the net and print the mag in the US. Why put out a totally different mag with different articles and different writers and slap the Future Music name on it? People like me pay big money for the European mags like FM, CM and SoS for a reason. It is nice to get a different perspective. I don't want another Electronic Musician magazine.

maybe they make more money the way it is?

I always laugh when I'm reading the occasional computer music mag that I get.. they use words like 'bloke' and 'bollocks'..

I think the articles for their language are more entertaining than the actual topics many times..

[plasticmoonrain]

I guess there is some confusion, so please allow me to clear this up...

this will be a totally American magazine, not an import. It will be written, edited and published in the the US of A with a WHOLE NEW STAFF. The editor's bio is in the press release posted first.

So while I don't know the subscription/newsstand price now, it will cost FAR less than the UK edition because this is an American magazine.

The basic DNA will be the same between the magazines, but it will distinctly American. There will be some thematic differences because the UK and US markets are different.

The reason an American edition is being launched here is to be an "antedote" to what is already published here. While EM, Mix, Eq and Keyboard do their thing, the people at Future are going to do it their way, the Future Music way.

So if you know the UK edition of FM, then you'll know that the content is totally different than the American mags. THAT is what you can expect from the US edition of Future Music when it launches in the spring.

[soulkraka]

Besides, I don't know if you know the magazine -- it is very PRODUCT-oriented. Tons of current reviews and very thorough. The magazine has UK roots, so you know it will be product and tutorial heavy.


Drew

Yes I am very familiar with the magazine. I've been buying it for years and yet I still gasp when I hand the cashier a 20 spot and get a couple bucks change so I'm looking forward to the US edition.

Regarding product reviews: Do you plan on reviewing soft/hardware in a timely manner like the UK edition or will you follow the lead of Keyboard and EM and review stuff one year after it comes out?

[atomic_(no)afro]

I hope when they go for the more rock or hip-hop elements, they keep with artist who push boundaries and are somewhat unconventional in their style.

Example, for rock:

The Rapture
LCD Soundsystem
The Faint
Dandy Warhols
Blake Hazard
Idiot Pilot (Local guys from my home town that got signed to Reprise)
The Fitness (another great band from Washington state that's gonna blow up soon)

or for hip-hop
Prefuse 73
RJD2
Hangar 18 (My new fav hip-hop crew)
Hieroglyphics
EL-P
Aesop Rock
DJ Zeph
This Kid Named Miles
DJ Premier

I dread what will happen if we are stuck with nothing but Crunk, Trance, and Timbaland articles, not to mention boring as f**k mainstream studio rock groups whose most advanced piece of gear is an Autotune rack. Future my ass

ATA

[plasticmoonrain]

Atomic_afro:

Why would you say "Future my ass" when you won't be seeing the magazine until April 2005 and the full edit team has not been assembled?

Patience, my fellow KVR-VST-ers.

Let's face it -- there are not two people in this forum who have the same taste in music. It would be pretty boring if we all did.

I'm sure there will be some coverage of the artists you like, and artisst you may not like and artists you may not know about.

Future Music is less about hero worship than about LEARNING. Lots and lots of product reviews. Lots of tutorials. There are people who may not be making music that are your cup of tea, but they may be doing interesting things with computers, VSTi's, programming, hosts, etc. And if you can walk away learning from these people -- even if you would not listen to their music -- and adapt it to what you do, then that's a helluva lot more than what's out there now.

Have an open mind brother. We are all here to learn and become better musicians. It's not a contest as to whose musical taste is better than the other guy's.

THANKS.

[plasticmoonrain]

soulkraka:

I know exactly what you mean about reviews that come one year after release.

The answer is: NO. Future Music will be turning around products much faster, as is the heritage of Future Network USA magazines. They pride themselves on getting reviews and looks at products first.

Trust me, it's a whole new ballgame. It's a whole different way of thinking.

[soulkraka]

soulkraka:

I know exactly what you mean about reviews that come one year after release.

The answer is: NO. Future Music will be turning around products much faster, as is the heritage of Future Network USA magazines. They pride themselves on getting reviews and looks at products first.

Trust me, it's a whole new ballgame. It's a whole different way of thinking.

right on, any word on subscription prices?

[Scotty]

This is great news. There is a differnt take with Future Music and CM. If that spirit combined with localized advertising combines it should be a great magazine. I really enjoy reading the advertisments almost as much as the articles. It will be nice to see some American dollar figures instad of Euros. I hope that the product retailers don't just spin out the same old ad styles. A new magazine with a new look , timely reviews with some innovative advertisements would be very welcome. Scott

[phylum sinter]

Alright Finally! my tight income has certainly suffered from my current FM obsession - I pay $16 for an issue here.

As far as the change in staff goes - i'm fine with that. None of the current staffers are so outlandish as to stick out as stars anyhow. As a whole, FM had always seemed closer to it's namesake than any other magazine, and i hope the American version can stick to it without falling victim to the allure of "mainstream" opportunity.

When and where do i sign up?