Modern Drummer
Categories | Music | |
---|---|---|
Frequency | Monthly | |
Publisher | David Frangioni | |
Founder | Ron Spagnardi | |
First issue | January 1977 | |
Company | Modern Drummer Publications | |
Country | United States | |
Based in | ISSN 0194-4533 | |
Modern Drummer is a monthly publication targeting the interests of
First published in 1977, today the print version of Modern Drummer is available in 67 countries. The monthly digital edition, enhanced with music and videos corresponding to the current issue's contents, is available on the
In 1993, Modern Drummer Publications introduced a bimonthly drum dealer-oriented magazine called Drum Business, and for more than 20 years its book division has released works by drum educators. In 2006 the company published its first hardcover book on the history of drumming, entitled The Drummer: 100 Years Of Rhythmic Power And Invention. Since 1987 it has also produced the Modern Drummer Festival.
History
Modern Drummer magazine was conceived in the basement of Ron and Isabel Spagnardi's home in
"What we didn't consider when we put the ads in the papers," recalled Isabel in The Drummer, "was that we were innocently breaking the law by advertising a product that didn't even exist yet!" The ads worked, however, and
Ron Spagnardi died on September 22, 2003.[2] David Frangioni became Publisher in 2019 and then CEO/Owner in 2020.
In 2023, Modern Drummer was acquired by Consequence Media. [3]
Drum Business and book publishing
In 1993 Modern Drummer Publications introduced Drum Business, a magazine dedicated to the needs of drum retailers. The bi-monthly publication features interviews with drum sellers, press releases for new products, drum-industry news, articles and news such as on the annual National Association of Merchant Musicians (NAMM) convention.
Among the books Modern Drummer Publications has released are titles by well-known drummers such as Gary Chester, Carl Palmer and Bill Bruford. Ron Spagnardi authored more than a dozen books.
Readers poll
Each year Modern Drummer publishes the results of its readers poll, which highlights top drummers spanning all genres of music and inducts one drummer into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame.[4] Awards are also given for top educational materials and recorded performances.
References
- ^ Mark Small, "Alum Profile - Ron Spagnardi '63", Berklee College of Music (accessed 2014-07-19).
- ^ "Ron Spagnardi.(Deaths)". Music Trades. November 1, 2003. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
- ^ rognrolla (January 19, 2023). "Modern Drummer Has A New Parent Company – Consequence Media". Drumming News Network. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
- ^ "Modern Drummer's Readers Poll Archive, 1979–2017". Modern Drummer Magazine.