Enter Music Media, publishers of DRUM!, America's hip pop/drum percussion magazine that is distributed worldwide, will soon groove drummers with a new publication, Traps(tm) Magazine. The editorial and branding strategy for Traps: The Art of Drumming. Traps premiere issue will hit newsstands worldwide on September 1 of this year and will be online at www.trapsmagazine.com. Enter Music Media will publish Traps quarterly in 2007.
Traps is a magazine devoted to jazz and classic rock drumming. The debut issue includes a 20-page remembrance of Max Roach; a family history of all the drummers and players in Black Sabbath; an overview of acrylic drum sets; an analysis of Steve Gadd's historic solo on Steely Dan's “Aja": a master class with session and touring star Keith Carlock; and an historical narrative called “When Afro-Cuban Music Invaded Jazz" by Latin star Bobby Sanabria. Future issues will include: bar-by-bar transcriptions of famous and challenging jazz and pop tunes; interviews with the world's top drummers; historical profiles with musical examples; information on vintage drums and collectibles; photo essays; and reviews of high-end drum sets, hand drums and professional equipment.
“Traps is more than a magazine for boomers and older drummers. It's a serious magazine for people who love the art and soul of drumming." said Phil Hood, publisher of DRUM! and Traps. “It will dig deep into the most important music and musicians in drumming history, and not just cover today's hot bands. Jazz, rock, world music and the avant- garde will be covered in the most creative ways possible."
Additionally, Traps will review expensive professional instruments, custom drums and vintage gear in every issue. This editorial strategy makes sense since the Cleveland, OH- based Percussion Marketing Council's research indicates that drum sales in the U.S. have tripled over the past decade - growing from $150 million to nearly $500 million annually. The drum industry, in fact, since the mid 1990s, has remained one of the fastest-growing segments of the entire musical instrument industry.
“As baby boomers have aged and the drumming market has grown, there has been an explosion in high-end gear, both from the big manufacturers like Pearl and Tama, and dozens of new artisan drum makers," said editor Andy Doerschuk. “We plan to analyze emerging trends in drum making in every issue with an emphasis on the high end. There is a large and growing market of people who can afford expensive drums."
Commenting on the magazine's physical look and feel, Hood, said: “We plan to present Traps on heavier paper and cover stock than most other music magazines, in keeping with the collectible nature of the product, and, as a result, we'll be able to charge a higher price at newsstand."
Traps plans include online audio files and podcasts. Traps will be distributed by Rider Circulation Service in North America, and will be available in all English-speaking countries."
For more information contact All About Jazz.
