Next Magazine

Next Magazine emerged as an American business publication for the recorded-music industry, with operations in Santa Monica, California. It was founded by Bryan Boyd and John Van Citters and served a professional audience that included record companies, radio broadcasters, music retailers, and artist-management organizations. Its role was broader than reporting on artists and releases: it covered the systems through which music was promoted, distributed, monitored, regulated, and monetized. The publication’s editorial mix included new-release information, music technology, and music-business reporting. It addressed payola and the implications of promotional payments or influence in radio, including possible enforcement by the Federal Communications Commission. It also covered the relationship between politics, popular culture, and broadcasting. Another distinctive area was international copyright and intellectual-property reporting, including discussion of China’s role in infringement concerns. The magazine further differentiated itself from narrowly focused trade publications by incorporating lifestyle editorial, including book reviews and city-travel coverage, into every issue. Next operated as a small publishing and services group. Between issues, it produced Next At Retail, a weekly newsletter carrying news and upcoming release dates for retail-oriented readers. It also published Next Flash, a weekly outlet devoted to unsigned artists and A&R developments. Next Flash had been acquired under the name Gordon’s Flash before being renamed. In addition, the organization provided direct-mail services to music-industry clients, giving labels and related businesses a specialized channel for reaching professional audiences. The company’s creative capabilities were organized partly through n. design, an internal advertising and design agency. n. design worked on CD and DVD packaging for music and film projects, including the soundtrack associated with The Crow: City of Angels. The publication’s visual identity was developed by Grammy-nominated designers Todd Gallopo and Tim Stedman, with later creative direction from Chris Jones. This design-led identity extended to the company’s physical environment. In May 1998, Interior Design published a four-page feature on the magazine’s Wilshire Boulevard offices in Santa Monica. The offices occupied half of the top floor of an Art Deco building designed by Frank + Frisch, with a layout intended to give each office an ocean-facing view. Next also claimed several forms of editorial and information-gathering innovation. It was described as the first music trade magazine to use radio monitors capable of capturing station identifiers, drops, commercials, and on-air jock talk. This approach gave professional readers more granular insight into radio programming and promotion than conventional chart or playlist reporting. Its coverage of lifestyle, politics, copyright, and broadcasting likewise positioned the magazine as a hybrid publication linking music commerce with wider cultural and regulatory questions. The magazine’s cover subjects reflected its focus on contemporary and alternative music. Featured artists included Screaming Trees, Soundgarden, Tori Amos, Stone Temple Pilots, Iggy Pop, Alice in Chains, Sebadoh, Social Distortion, Bob Mould, and Midnight Oil. These covers placed the publication within the professional infrastructure surrounding rock, alternative, and adjacent music scenes. Next Magazine was eventually included in a larger acquisition by Clear Channel Communications. The transaction also encompassed Virtuallyalternative, The Album Network, Network 40, and Urban Network, and was described as a cash deal worth more than $75 million. The source material does not specify the transaction year, the exact legal structure, or the brand’s later publishing history. It also does not establish whether Next continues to operate, when it ceased publication, or whether its assets were subsequently transferred. Accordingly, the brand’s current status remains unknown.

• 1998

  Santa Monica offices featured in Interior Design

  [1]Next Magazine (Santa Monica)en.wikipedia.org

  In May 1998, Interior Design published a four-page feature on Next’s Wilshire Boulevard offices, designed by Frank + Frisch in a Santa Monica Art Deco building.

• Next Magazine founded

  [1]Next Magazine (Santa Monica)en.wikipedia.org

  Bryan Boyd and John Van Citters established Next Magazine and related music-industry properties in the United States. The available source does not give a precise founding year.

• Next Flash expanded the publication group

  [1]Next Magazine (Santa Monica)en.wikipedia.org

  The organization acquired Gordon’s Flash and renamed it Next Flash, using the weekly property to cover unsigned artists and A&R activity.

• Clear Channel acquisition

  [1]Next Magazine (Santa Monica)en.wikipedia.org

  Clear Channel Communications acquired Next and associated properties including Virtuallyalternative, The Album Network, Network 40, and Urban Network in a cash transaction reported at more than $75 million.

A business-to-business music publication combining release and market intelligence with reporting on radio, technology, regulation, copyright, artist discovery, and music culture.

• Music trade publication

  Next Magazine

  The principal publication was a professional music-industry magazine distributed to record labels, radio stations, retail outlets, and artist managers. It combined new-release coverage with reporting on music technology, radio monitoring, payola, FCC enforcement issues, copyright, politics, broadcasting, and lifestyle subjects such as books and travel.

• Weekly music retail newsletter

  Next At Retail

  Next At Retail was a weekly newsletter issued between magazine editions. It carried music-business news and information about forthcoming release dates, with particular relevance to retail and distribution professionals.

• Unsigned-artist and A&R newsletter

  Next Flash

  Next Flash focused on unsigned artists and A&R news. The property was acquired under the earlier name Gordon’s Flash and subsequently rebranded as Next Flash, making it a dedicated discovery and talent-information service within the broader Next publishing group.

• Advertising and packaging design agency

  n. design

  n. design was Next’s in-house creative agency. It handled music and film CD and DVD packaging and related design work, including packaging for the soundtrack to The Crow: City of Angels.

• Expansion of the Next publishing group through acquisitionM&A

  Background

  The organization broadened its professional music-information portfolio by acquiring Gordon’s Flash and changing its name to Next Flash.

  Action taken

  The acquired newsletter was repositioned around unsigned artists and A&R news.

  Aftermath

  Next Flash became one of the group’s associated weekly information products. The source does not provide the acquisition date or later operating details.

  Source

• Clear Channel acquired Next and related propertiesM&A

  Background

  Next was part of a wider group of music-industry publishing and information properties founded or developed by Bryan Boyd and John Van Citters.

  Action taken

  Clear Channel Communications purchased Next, Virtuallyalternative, The Album Network, Network 40, and Urban Network in a cash transaction.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition placed the properties under Clear Channel’s ownership. The available source does not document the subsequent brand structure or whether the magazine continued publication.

  Reported transaction value. More than $75 million (At the time of the acquisition; transaction year not specified in the source)

  Source

1. 1Next Magazine (Santa Monica)en.wikipedia.org