Classic Rock Presents Prog magazine

I believe their main buying public is not so much British as European. I started buying Classic Rock when I lived in Finland, and after I moved back to Italy I had no problems whatsoever in finding it in Rome. Classic Rock is also available just about everywhere here in the States, and the Prog magazine gets here every time, even if at least a month later than in Europe.

Anyway, I believe their attitude is a mixture of chauvinism (though it might be too strong a word) and familiarity, since for them it's easier to check out a British band than an American one (especially when talking of up-and-coming acts).  That said, I have nothing against British bands - they just don't appeal to my tastes, and find them a bit one-sided in most cases. Not to sound chauvinistic myself, but Italy nowadays has a number of bands that experiment with just about every subgenre of prog, and are definitely more interesting than the slew of female-fronted, melodic prog bands generally supported by Classic Rock's Prog magazine.

Hehe - and their main buying public is a British one as well. Makes sense to cater more for the home market than the subsidiary markets. If and when they start selling more copies abroad than at home, that might just change a bit I'd wager :-)

I know some people in the US have already been able to find the mag, though it hasn't showed up in this area yet. Anyway, I have all previous issues, and believe the magazine has steadily improved with time - even if I also believe there is a bit too much emphasis on contemporary British acts, which in my opinion are not particularly interesting. 

I have the first and the most recent.
The first is my favourite because of the Marillion article, which was fantastic, but the Genesis article in the latest was great as well. I'm really sad I missed the other two, just seemed to slip my mind though. I hope I can find the other two issues somewhere, although I'm doubtful.

Great special issue, loads of interviews. It kept me pretty busy for quite some time as it was an insightful read. Loved the interview with Neil Peart. Plus, the free disc led me on to some real gems; Blood Ceremony and Diagonal.

The new issue out on 25. November is a Prog-Folk issue.

Jethro Tull is dominating the frontpage. Renaissance, Fairport Convention and Comus is featured too on the frontpage. I feel an urge to do some 'Tull and 'Convention reviews now.....  

Classic Rock Present Prog is now on Facebook. 

Wow, it's good to hear it's getting into newsagents down under!  (and with the CD too, sometimes the extra bits and pieces don't get included with the exported mags.

  

The next issue in the UK is due Nov 25th.  

Wx

toroddfuglesteg wrote: Jim Garten wrote: Jim Garten wrote: As far as the CD is concerned, it's the usual policy for Classic Rock to give away (however you define the word 'free') CDs with a couple of known artists & a slew of unknowns to give the new bands exposure. Correction - I now have it on good authority that bands have to pay to get their tracks on free CDs given away with music mags... Personally I think this is outrageous, but hey - just call me naive. Thieving s This has been the norm for the last 20 years, Jim. Several record labels made a good profit of doing this years ago. That was before it was normal to include a free CD with music magazines. It is called business and it is still a business as long as anyone agrees to pay. I remember I paid 1500 DMs (that's Euros today) for one track on a CD our German distributor gave away and even sold to their customers. That was back in 1995.

I wasn't aware that this was standard industry practice, although nothing really surprises me these days. Having said that, it is a good way of bringing your music to the masses. CR, in a very early issue, included a Judie Tzuke track called Bully from the Secret Agent album. I had not heard her for years, and was blown away by this incredible piece of music. I went on her website immediately and ordered the album, and have brought most of her work subsequently. So she definitely had one extra customer that would never had purchased otherwise.

Jim Garten wrote: As far as the CD is concerned, it's the usual policy for Classic Rock to give away (however you define the word 'free') CDs with a couple of known artists & a slew of unknowns to give the new bands exposure.

Correction - I now have it on good authority that bands have to pay to get their tracks on free CDs given away with music mags... Personally I think this is outrageous, but hey - just call me naive.

Thieving s

Jim Garten wrote: Got the third issue yesterday too - only had a brief glance though thus far, but in addition to all the above, there's a small article on our very own Tinyfish (incidentally, even the sister magazine Classic Rock is pipping Tinyfish for big things )