Drum Media
Drum Media was a free weekly tabloid-sized music and lifestyle magazine (street press) established in 1990[1] and based in Sydney, Australia. It was distributed throughout Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle and Canberra, and surrounding districts. The magazine was released every Tuesday (every Thursday in Perth). In 2013, the magazine changed its name to The Music. It is no longer audited.
History
The first issue of Drum Media appeared on 16 September 1990 with a distribution of 40,000 and featured Midnight Oil on the cover. The magazine had been established after the entire staff of the long-running Sydney street press magazine On The Street staged a mass walk out on 6 September after a dispute with the owner over work conditions and pay. Following a meeting at the Excelsior Hotel in Surry Hills it was decided to start a new magazine with editor Margaret Cott and her sister, advertising manager Jennifer Cott, providing the initial capital. The magazine rented its first office in Orwell Street, Potts Point and the first issue was released ten days later.[2]
A separate weekly issue began circulating in Perth in September 2006. Publishers Craig and Leigh Treweek bought Drum Media in February 2006[1][3] and consolidated it with Melbourne street magazine Inpress under the Street Press Australia banner. Craig Treweek said at the time that "This is a great opportunity to build a strong music media outlet that is supportive of the local music scene at a grass roots level."
The last issue of Drum Media was number 1172 dated 7 August 2013. On 14 August 2013 Street Press Australia launched issue 1 of The Music (incorporating Drum Media issue 1173), a free music magazine with additional columns on topics such as cooking, politics and dining out. Of the original "rebel staff" who established The Drum Media, only associate editor Michael Smith remained on staff throughout.
Distribution and Circulation
As of September 2007, the readership of Drum Media throughout its distribution area in New South Wales was audited at 125,000. The magazine is published every Tuesday and distributed primarily throughout music stores, hotels and entertainment venues, cafes and university campuses in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and Canberra, as well as satellite areas including Wyong and Gosford and the Blue Mountains. In Western Australia, the readership is estimated at 100,000 with distribution covering Perth, Bunbury, Margaret River, Geraldton and Albany.
Competitors
- On the Street
Established in 1982 by editor Elinor Boyd, On the Street was Sydney's original free music and lifestyle street-press publication. All of Drum Media's original advertising and editorial staff had previously been employed at On the Street. Despite their mass walkout from the publication, On the Street continued to exist in Sydney for many years and both magazines competed fiercely in the market. However, another mass walkout of staff occurred at On the Street in late 1996 and by mid-1997 the publisher had gone out of business.
- 3D World
Established in 1989, 3D World was the alternative music lifestyle magazine to Drum Media with an emphasis on electronica, hip hop and R&B. In June 2009, Drum Media parent company Street Press Australia acquired 3D World.[4][5]
- Beat
Beat was a Melbourne street publication that opened a Sydney office in 1996. While it continues to compete with Inpress in Melbourne, the competition with three other papers in Sydney caused it to close down there after only a short time.
- Music Feeds
Music Feeds was established in Sydney in 2008. This publication ran for seventeen bi-weekly print issues before deciding to shift focus and concentrate entirely on digital distribution.
References
- 1 2 "Sydney's Drum Media Bought By Melbourne's Inpress Magazine". Faster Louder. 8 February 2006. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ↑ History of Drum Media
- ↑ Indie Initiative
- ↑ "News in brief: Wednesday 3 June". B&T. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ↑ Pam Walker (16 July 2009). "3D World changes hands". Alternative Media Group of Australia. Retrieved 9 August 2009.