COVID-19 forces beloved music mag into hiatus as media feel the pinch

One of Australia’s oldest and most-loved music magazines has been put on ice, with Country Music Capital News announcing it will suspend publication due to COVID-19.

Australia’s only monthly country music magazine hasn’t skipped a beat in 45 years, but won’t print a May or June issue as measures designed to slow the spread of coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the music industry.

Barry Harley, Tamworth Regional Council’s country music manager and publisher, says the suspension is only temporary, with the mag a vital cog in the Australian country music ecosystem.

The magazine provides a platform for exclusive interviews with national and international artists, and is also there to support record labels, venues, festivals, retailers and other sectors of the business, and to promote and market their products.

“With the world in isolation, so too are touring musicians and entertainers, with closed venues and no festivals to attend,” he said.

Like much of the local music biz, Australia’s music and entertainment media are also hurting through the pandemic.

With Australia closing its borders and implementing strict domestic travel restrictions, media owners have told TMN that revenue is down 30-60% as a result of tour cancellations and postponements with advertiser confidence at an all-time low.

In the US, Valence Media has cut 35% of its newsroom at Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter and Vibe. Sources told Deadline that Billboard and THR were already bleeding upwards of US $10 million annually, with co-CEOs Asif Satchu and Modi Wiczyk saying the decision to reduce its staffing levels was both “difficult” and “necessary”.

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The recently revived Rolling Stone Australia is proceeding with its first print issue under new publisher The Brag Media. The first cover of the magazine in two years belongs to 2019’s Aussie breakout star Tones And I.

This week, magazine subscription retailer isubscribe has reported a 29% uplift in sales for March and is on track to achieve an increase of over 50% in April, according to Media Week.

Harley hopes advertisers will be understanding of the country music magazine’s decision.

“Our advertisers, readers and contributors are all being informed of the immediate changes but we know they will all understand that the situation is out of our control,” he said.

The good news is that readers won’t lose money in the long run, with all current subscriptions to be extended by the number of months that end up being missed, according to a statement released by the publisher on Thursday.

“We look forward to returning to production as soon as the industry gets back on its feet and the future is much brighter for the industry we all love and cherish,” he continued.

“Your continued support will be important in helping the industry recover and thrive again.”

Last week the government announced a $27 million funding package for the arts sector, but Live Performance Australia’s Evelyn Richardson warned that it won’t be enough to keep the live performance industry on its feet.

The government has since announced a $54 million bailout of the media industry, with a $50 million regional journalism program also created.

Subscriptions to Country Music Capital News are still available at still $60 per annum, as are back issues at $6 per issue.