Musical America

Musical America is the oldest American magazine on classical music.^[1] Presently it is a website (musicalamerica.com) with a weekly online magazine.

History

Musical America's first issue was on October 8, 1898. Its founder was John C. Freund. 36 issues appeared until June 24, 1899, covering music, drama, and the arts. In 1899 the publication was discontinued for six years due to a lack of financial resources. It reappeared as a weekly from November 18, 1905 until 1929, solely focusing on classical music. In 1921 Musical America published the first "Guide", that later evolved into the International Directory of the Performing Arts, now the Musical America Directory.

After John Freund passed away in 1924, Milton Well who had been Freund's business partner continued the publication. In 1926 Trade Publications Corporation took over Musical America. The publication diversified with articles about jazz, dance, radio, and records. It filed for bankruptcy in 1929, after which Weil's former assistant John Majeski bought the magazine. After some 30 years of relative stability, it was sold to staff member Theodate Johnson (1907–2002), sister of the architect, Philip Johnson.^[2] The publication was then owned by High Fidelity, Billboard, Capital Cities/ABC,^[1] Gerry M. Ritterman,^[1][3] Primedia Information, and Commonwealth Business Media. During these years it was published in various formats. Shirley Fleming served as the magazine's editor from 1967-1991.^[1]

MusicalAmerica.com was launched in December 1998. It publishes some 30 news stories per week. Since April 2004, it also has a weekly newsletter.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Allan Kozinn (April 3, 1991). "Musical America Magazine Announces Reorganization". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/03/arts/musical-america-magazine-announces-reorganization.html?scp=2&sq=%22Shirley+Fleming%22&st=nyt. 
2. ^ Deaths: Severns, Theodate Johnson, The New York Times, March 15, 2002
3. ^ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-10449360.html

• Musical America - About us: History

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