Muso's Guide
Muso's Guide or musosguide is a UK-based online magazine. It was launched in 2003, and has been re-launched four times. It is an editorially independent magazine.
History
Muso's Guide was first launched on June 30, 2003, by then amateur journalist, Holly Noseda.
According to the site’s About Us[1] page, “it was launched for a number of reasons, namely the lack of coverage of classic music alongside new releases, the oh-so-obvious press release drivel in a lot of music mags at the time, the desire to create a website full of city guides with music tourists in mind and the desire to get to listen to promo CDs all day."
"In November 2012 ownership of the site passed from Holly to Joe Watson and long-time contributor Kenny McMurtrie with a view to maintaining the already high quality of coverage and expanding the site’s reach. We still want to cover the classics and the best new music. We still bristle at the press release drivel and regurgitated guff but city guides have died a death. Now we listen to Rdio all day and have resurrected our Underexposed tab to get closer to the grass roots of the music scene. How things have changed ..."
Staff
The online magazine has 150 registered contributors,[2] but a smaller fraction of these are active.
Since 2003 the site has had a number of editors in all areas - Catherine Wilson, Natalie Shaw, Greg Salter, Louise Coles, Paul Brown, Russell Warfield and Holly Seddon née Noseda.
As of July 2013 the Editorial Team consists of:-
Kenny McMurtrie - Editor-in-Chief
Joe Watson Jnr - Performance Manager
Hayley Scott – Managing Editor
Rosie Duffield - Albums Editor
Stef Siepel – Chief Columnist
Cat Schaupp – Features Editor
Matt Jones – Live Editor
David Beech - Deputy Live Editor
Danielle Gibson - News Editor
Faye Ducker - Social Media Collator
Awards
In November 2009, Muso's Guide was shortlisted for Best Digital Publication and Best Blog in the Record of the Day Awards.[3]
Versions
The original version of the website was produced using Microsoft FrontPage and each new article had to be manually created, there was no content management system.
The next version was launched in 2004 and had a PHP content management system.
Another version was launched in 2008, and was built using WordPress.
The latest version was launched in 2010, and was built using WordPress.
Offline activities
In October 2009, Muso's Guide put on its first offline event, Muso's Guide presents... Extradition Order, Arrows Of Love and Bethia Beadman.[4]
On 30, October 2009, it put on its first Pic n Mixx[5] event at the Buffalo Bar in London. The event's promotion was bolstered by Everett True contributing a mix tape.[5]
On 20, January 2010, it hosted its tips for 2010 Cats and Cats and Cats, Stairs To Korea and Ute at The Monarch.
Media appearances
In June 2009, days after Michael Jackson died, then Muso's Guide editor, Natalie Shaw, was invited onto Sky News to discuss the singer's musical legacy and impact.
Exclusives
On 4 May 2009, Muso's Guide contributor, Paul Wilson, was given access to Lynval Golding and John Bradbury of The Specials.[6]
References
- ↑ http://musosguide.com/about-us,
- ↑ http://musosguide.com/contributors,
- ↑ http://www.recordoftheday.com/www/awards/awards2009-vote.php
- ↑ http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/gig-23418468-musos-guide-presents-extradition-order-arrows-of-love-and-bethia-beadman.do
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.run-riot.com/node/%203188
- ↑ http://musosguide.com/part-one-of-our-exclusive-chat-with-the-specials/4515