RIP, Reax

May we have a moment of silence, please, for the passing of a fine publication … thank you. No, we’re not talking about the Orlando Sentinel. We said “fine” publication. (Oh god, we kill us.) We speak of the late print edition of Reax, a statewide music mag full of piss and vinegar. We loved the attitude and the beautiful layout, and we were jealous of their full-color format. The Tampa-based publication called it quits with its 40th issue, which featured lit-geek rockers the Decemberists on the cover.

Publisher Joel Cook says it may not be the end. “I’m actually weighing my options right now,” he wrote in an e-mail. “I’ve had a few offers come to the table. I’ve turned down a few, but keeping options open. There have been talks of syndication, but it takes time and the will. I’ll keep you updated as things go down. It really comes down to what I want to do next. We’ve built a hell of brand and don’t want to tarnish it. I’m excited about what comes next regardless.”

Reax will still live online at www.reaxmusic.com. But the passing of a good magazine makes it hard to shake the feeling that printing things on dead trees is a dying tradition.

Posted by Bob Whitby on 10/13/2009 4:56:37 PM Permalink | Comments: 2

Comments on this story:

Brian Feldman said:
I hear ya on “beautiful layout.” I also appreciate that they occasionally had features on non-musical artists (though never on the cover!). Would you (Weekly) ever consider using a service like Reax did with Issuu? Especially if/when Sentinel ceases publication and leaves you without a printer?
posted on: 10/13/2009 8:47:28 PM

Brian Feldman said:
Wasn’t sure if that @reaxmagazine status seen in the above image was real or not: http://twitter.com/reaxmagazine/statuses/4668894485
posted on: 10/13/2009 8:52:48 PM