Idolator

"The music business sucks." Thus spake Steve Bernstein, publisher of Metal Edge and several other music rags, in a blog post for business mag Folio. "So does the magazine business." Sucks to be you then, dude. Yes? No, despite the fact that he's steering one sinking ship dependent on another sinking ship staying somewhat upright (or vice versa?), Rich Uncle Pennybags is remarkably upbeat about not only his financial future but the future of magazines in general. Why? Because "music is not going away and neither is the printed page" thanks to the fact that you can totally use a copy of Relix to sun your face while on vacation in a way that you can't with an iBook. More »

Continuing today's hidden theme of merchandising music until it bleeds: Relix is now offering bracelets made out of "authentically used" guitar strings, thus opening the secondary snapped-steel market to people who are willing to drop some cash in order to wear an accessory that was actually shredded on by people like The Great Kat. Because nothing says "rock and roll" like a $75 piece of steel that comes with its very own authenticity statement. More »