How to Start a Music Webzine

So you’ve been looking for a way to indulge your inner music geek or expand your music journalism career. You have decided to start up your own music webzine. Although there can be only one Pitchfork, you can create your own stand-out music webzine. Rock on!

Instructions

1. Have some publishing experience before starting your music webzine. It will give you a feel for the profession and will also help to establish contacts with publicists and labels that you may not find access to otherwise. It will also help your credibility and that of your webzine.

2. Come up with a specific angle for your music webzine. There are so many music webzines out there. How will yours stand out? Pick a genre or movement or region and cover that aggressively. Look around at other music webzines and see what they do—or don’t—cover, and find a way to make yours unique.

3. Come up with a name. Be sure to do a thorough search to make sure no other magazine (print or Web) uses the same title. Besides trying to avoid confusion, using a trademarked name could also get you into trouble. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

4. Set up a domain name and Web hosting space. There’s no way to have a webzine without it.

5. Find a Web or graphic designer. Pick a look that fits your focus but is also clear to read and easy on the eyes. Even if you’re doing a music webzine dedicated to punk or new wave, neon green is probably not a great idea for a main font. Be creative, but keep your soon-to-be readers in mind.

6. Find writers. For an upstart, Craigslist is an excellent resource for finding up-and-coming music writers. If you don’t have the money upfront to pay them, although this is frowned upon, many novice music journalists are willing to work for free CDs and review passes to shows.

7. Decide what other content your webzine will provide besides reviews and features. Other sections may include breaking news, blogs, daily or weekly MP3s or anything else that fits your focus.

8. Generate original content. Assign reviews and feature stories to your writers by using the contacts you have established working for other publications. Also seek pitches from your writers who may also have connections for artist access for interviews. It is a good idea to have several features and reviews (the backbone of the music webzine) stockpiled before launch in case writers fail deadlines or anything else comes up. Even though you are working for the Web, as editor, you should still establish some sort of lead time so that you don't end up in a dry spell.

9. Set a publishing schedule. Will the webzine be updated daily? Weekly? Monthly? Will reviews be posted daily, but features on a weekly basis? Pick a schedule upfront that works with the amount of content you are able to generate, and stick with it. Readers will make your zine a part of their Web routine and may stop coming if the update schedule is lacking. This is especially important if you choose to cover breaking music news!

10. Launch your music webzine and do everything you can to get the word out. If you provide excellent, original content, then readers will come clicking your way.

Tips & Warnings

• Listen to reader comments and criticisms. The best way to win over more readers (and, if you’re so inclined, ad revenue) is to give them what they want.

• Don’t expect to win access to the biggest stars straight from the gate. Although you may be able to get review CDs and passes to review concerts, artist access for interviews may not be available until your zine has become more established. However, it never hurts to try.