Musics (magazine)

In 1975 Derek Bailey, Steve Beresford, Max Boucher. Paul Burwell, Jack Cooke, Peter Cusack, Hugh Davies, Madelaine and Martin Davidson, Richard Leigh, Evan Parker, John Russell, David Toop, Philipp Wachsmann and Colin Wood came together and agreed to produce a magazine.

It would be independent and dedicated mainly to the coverage of free improvised music. Its need was originally suggested in a conversation between Evan Parker and Madelaine and Martin Davidson. The title was proposed by Paul Burwell at the first meeting in the Davidsons' house and unanimously adopted. In itself the title represented a paradigm shift.

Musics, headquartered in London, has not been published since 1979.

Musics was launched with Issue No. 1 April/May 1975 with the banner 'MUSICS an impromental experivisation arts magazine'.

Mandy Davidson edited the first issue. Soon afterwards she moved to the USA and it was decided that there would be no permanent editor. Max Boucher was appointed as Production Editor. The original 'editorial board' moved quickly towards becoming a collective.

The journal was distributed within the UK and worldwide. For example this author purchased his copies in Black Swan records in Vancouver BC, Canada.

Each collective member contributed £4 to cover the costs of issue no.1, which was run off on an A3 Gestetner duplicator. Issue no.2 was pasted up and printed by offset-litho. Over time the print run was increased and all income was ploughed back. Eventually it was possible to pay the printers (Islington Community Press) to make the plates and run off the copies. However collective members continued to do all the unpaid work of editing and preparing the camera ready artwork. No editors, writers, designers or photographers were ever paid.

Limiting expenditure was only part of the financial model. From the beginning the Musics collective took the principled position that they would not accept paid advertising or grant aid and the only income came from subscriptions and sales through (mostly alternative) bookshops.

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