Rhythms magazine under old management as founder Brian Wise takes back the reins

Brian Wise, who founded long-surviving national blues and roots magazine Rhythms in 1992, has taken ownership again.

The move seems to have taken place some weeks ago, but Wise confirmed it in an email to subscribers yesterday about the change.

Melbourne-based Wise wrote, “Our plans for Rhythms are modest and include an increase in profile and distribution [it is already in Qantas lounges around the world]. 

“In addition, we have recruited new writers and plan to increase content that needs the currency of being online (for example, gig and tour guides).”

Marty and Verity Jones bought the magazine in 2005 and ran it until 2016 when they announced they wanted a sea-change and put it up on the block.

Country singer Catherine Britt and her husband James Beverley bought it in early 2016.

They revamped its look, introduced covers painted by local artists, created an APP for Rhythms and updated the website to expand its digital presence.

When they put it back on the market in late 2017, Britt told TMN that the plan was always to run it for a year and move on after celebrating its 25th anniversary.

At the time of the sale, Britt and Beverley were expecting their first child, had started a new music festival, and she wanted to re-focus on her recording and touring career.

When asked if a magazine like Rhythms could exist in the digital sphere, Britt responded, “That is the future and while Rhythms will always have it’s dedicated physical readers, it has so much potential to grow into the digital world especially worldwide.

“I hope that this is what the next owners will do. If anything it will benefit due to the amount of quality content from some of Australia’s top writers!”