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- Graduate launches music magazine
- 14th Aug 2007
2006 graduate Gareth Main landed a job writing for a golf magazine before even finishing the course. Now less than a year on he's launching his own magazine on the subject he loves: independent music.
It isn't easy to find your perfect job after you graduate from university, let alone in the media industry.
With 12 jobs in 12 months since graduating, 2006 Media and Communications graduate Gareth Main is not a serial flop-out, but rather "life has become busier" since he received his degree.
"I was hand-picked to write for a golf trade magazine before finishing the course," says Gareth, who graduated from the journalism degree. "Before I knew it I was editing it.
"Then I started doing PR for a rock band and got various copywriting commissions, and now I'm a government consultant on media and communications strategy!"
Coming up with the idea
But it is in music where Gareth's heart lies, and obtuse music at that. On a golf course in Wales back in February he came up with the idea for Bearded – a new, free magazine dedicated to independent labels and artists:
"I was a little down in the dumps one day listening to the 900th golf person talk to me. It was raining and I had a decent length drive home ahead of me. I decided to think what job I'd really love.
"The decision took about a milisecond. I've always said in interviews I'd love to edit Rolling Stone one day just so I could take an ailing but popular brand and make it brilliant. I thought, 'Why don't I start my own?'
"It was the course that helped me shape the plan. 'Look for a niche' I had been told back when we were planning our final year projects. So I did – two years later - and found something amazing.
"Independent labels, independent artists – no one seems to care about them in the national music press. Why not put together a magazine dedicated solely to them?"
The internet angle
And so from there it started. But Gareth had another not-so-distant piece of advice from the course to reach back for.
"The printed magazine industry is dying off as people reach for the internet. As a result, I decided to distribute the mag for free in print and online and beg advertisers to get onboard with us. Looking back at all my journalism theory and practical modules, they all have shaped my understanding of the terrain I was trying to traverse and given me ideas for avenues I can explore with the magazine such as podcasts, RSS feeds, online magazine viewing and so much more.
"My instincts, powered by the course and my own experiences, were right. This was a niche that existed, the independent labels love the idea, people were willing to contribute for free, we have been given lots of free records, I have met and interviewed some of my personal heroes and it has been a lot of hard work – funded purely by my freelance work since I left the golf magazine in June.
"I have had loads of people coming forward, we now have an incredibly art-directed product that is completely different to anything on the market, it is printed on high quality, 100% recycled paper and it is just beautiful. We now need even more advertisers to come on board and then we'll be set up for a long time coming!
"It is hugely rewarding and the work ethic, theories and skills I gained and developed through the course are integral to where I have got to. I'm not where I want to be yet but once we have a regular product coming out every month there are a few people behind the course who will have been vital in getting it there. I'll never forget the help of Paul Bradshaw, Pete Wilby and Sue Heseltine, especially in my final year."
Bearded magazine launched online at www.beardedmagazine.co.uk on 27 June as a news service for the independent music industry. The first issue of the magazine will be available to pick up in independent records shops and available to view and order online from 20 August.
For more information on Bearded, contact
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Related website: http://www.beardedmagazine.co.uk
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