Thanks to IBMA Print Media Board member, Stephanie Ledgin, we have learned of a new magazine devoted to bluegrass music and related music styles.

Jerusalem Ridge Magazine, to be published quarterly, was conceived and dedicated to the promotion and preservation of traditional bluegrass, old-time and acoustic string music.

Each issue will feature in-depth stories, interviews, information and regular features about the creators, performers, fans and supporters of traditional bluegrass and old-time acoustic string music in the true spirit of those music legends that helped to shape this truly American art form.

The first edition is to be published in October, timed to be available at the 2008 Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Celebration, scheduled for October 2-5, in Rosine, KY.

In view of the difficulties experienced recently with some niche music magazines terminating their print publication we asked Editor Ron Malec about his reasons for publishing Jerusalem Ridge Magazine, his plans and expectations ……

“I am the Publisher, Editor, designer and chief cook and bottle washer for the first number of issues at least. It is a result of my almost seven years involvement with Campbell Mercer and the Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Foundation, which was conceived about 10 years ago to honour the memory of the great Bill Monroe and to promote and preserve his musical legacy. Having attended the past five Jerusalem Ridge festivals in Rosine, Kentucky, it seemed like a natural calling for me to use my creative writing and background in advertising/marketing and graphic design talents to start a publication that finally gives a voice and tribute to Bill, his music, and all of the fans, bands performers and supporters of the traditional bluegrass style.

I have researched the self-publishing movement and carefully ‘crunched the numbers’, and feel that this publication definitely fills a ‘niche’ in the bluegrass arena, and certainly there is no other bluegrass publication which addresses the traditional-style bluegrass audience. My plan is to start small and slowly build a steady readership from an already well-defined target audience. I think many start-up publications try to start too big, grow too fast and be all things to all people, which, in this extremely fragmented marketplace is near impossible to achieve without the benefit of an enormous amount of capital and a large publishing and distribution network‚Ķ’Jerusalem Ridge Magazine’ won’t be found at your local Barnes & Noble or newsstand, but rather will be distributed by the same fans, bands and performers at local festivals, music venues and retailers. It is by ‘keeping it simple’, that I hope to avoid the pitfalls of other such ventures that have come before me.

This is truly going to be a ‘grass roots’, magazine about traditional bluegrass and acoustic string music. and it will rely heavily on a similar ‘grass roots’ effort to help it to grow and flourish.”

There will be an on-line version with information about contents, and condensed, preview versions of the stories, articles and regular features.

Subscription details and more information about Jerusalem Ridge Magazine can be found at the website.

We wish Ron well with this new venture.