How to Start a Hip Hop Magazine

Starting a magazine in any industry is very challenging, but if you've got a great passion for hip hop, you might have what it takes to start a successful niche publication. Taking every step of the process into account before you begin will help you to lay out an appropriate plan from the beginning. Adequate preparation will ensure that your venture is long-lived and potentially even turn a profit.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Design the magazine. How many pages would you like it to be, how many photos will you include, and what sizes will the photos be? Will the pages be glossy? How will it be bound? Make sure you've answered all of these questions before you continue.

2. Locate a print shop that can implement the design you want. Start with local printing businesses. Even a UPS Store or FedEx/Kinkos can do basic printing and binding.

3. Recruit a team of writers and editors. Posting help wanted ads on Craigslist and notifying writing-related newsletter publishers about your need will get the word out fast. From there it's up to you to screen queries and pick which stories you want and who should write them. For content, you should interview hip hop celebrities or write stories about them. This is a good place to start.

4. Set deadlines for receiving content from writers and editors. Stick to these deadlines.

5. Submit the edited and laid out content to the printer you've recruited.

6. Distribute the finished product in appropriate locations. You could start by selling magazines at hip hop concerts and venues, then slowly build a subscription base once you're offering regular issues.