Cymbiosis Explained

Editor:Ric Levine
Category:Music
Frequency:Quarterly[1]
Format:Journal, magazine
Firstdate:July/August 1986
Finaldate:December 1988
Finalnumber:5
Country:United States
Based:West Covina, CA
Language:English
Issn:0895-6936

Cymbiosis is a short-lived music magazine that lasted from 1986 to 1988.[2] Since the magazine was released with either a cassette or a CD, its tagline was "The marriage of music and magazine".

History

The magazine was conceived by free-lance music journalist Ric Levine in early 1985 while at a restaurant.[3] The magazine contained interviews, reviews, and opinions regarding musicians associated with progressive rock, jazz fusion, and new age, though the magazine would stray to other categories deemed "innovative".[4] The magazine also contained a complimentary cassette that includes the music covered within the magazine.[5] [6] In regards to the Magazine's packing, Levine told Guitar Player that the packing for the first issue "looks like a videocassette box, which caused some confusion" and that the packing was expensive at the time; the subsequent issues featured a blister pack where both the magazine and cassette are visible.[7] Levine, alongside his wife Deborah, attempted to publish the magazine nationwide.[8] At the peak of the magazine's run, Cymbiosis was available in 37 states and in 13 countries.[6] However, in 1988, Levine put the magazine out of the market after four issues to rethink his efforts.[2] In December 1988,[1] Levine reintroduced the magazine format with CDs instead of cassettes, released the magazine as a CD booklet, and increased the length of the magazine from 48 pages to 130 pages; the magazine was also distributed by A&M Records.[9] [10] Only one issue was released under the new format.[11]

Reception

Flipside wrote that the magazine's steep cover price would "appeal only to yuppies who could afford it" and that the magazine features "very few strong hooks". However, Flipside opined that the musicians featured in the magazine are great for their genre.[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Darling. Cary. RIFF. Orange County Register. December 11, 1988. J-18. Cymbiosis, a quarterly music magazine, has released its new issue with an accompanying compact disc featuring artists profiled in the magazine... Past issues of Cymbiosis came with cassette versions of music..
  2. Newman. Melinda. Music/Magazine Mixture Back On Market. Billboard. March 4, 1989. 101. 9. 45. February 6, 2018.
  3. News: Racine. Marty. Whale 'songs' anthologized - The REAL 'new wave' music?. Houston Chronicle. April 26, 1987. 12. Cymbiosis....is the brainchild of one Ric Levine, former radio disc jockey, freelance music journalist and record store manager. He dreamed up the idea in a restaurant in early 1985 and quickly scribbled it on a napkin...Three months later he had the financial backing to form a corporation. First issue came out in summer of '86..
  4. Rewind this Magazine. Changing Times. August 1987. 41. 8. 86. February 6, 2018.
  5. Morris. Chris. Cassette-Magazine Bows. Billboard. February 21, 1987. 99. 8. 43. February 6, 2018.
  6. Shop Talk. Kassan. Brian. Cash Box. May 23, 1987. 50. 47. 25. February 6, 2018.
  7. Mulhern. Tom. Cymbiosis: Magazine Meets Tape. Guitar Player. November 1986. 20. 11. 14. It premiered with its July/August '86 issue and contains reviews and commentary, as well as interviews...'Well be changing the packing for our second issue...the initial package looks like a videocassette box, which caused some confusion. That particular packaging was very expensive, so we will be able to drop the price from $12.95 to $9.98. The magazine and tape will now be in a CD-like blister pack, where the tape has its own case and the magazine's front and back are both visible.'.
  8. News: New Magazine 'Cymbiosis' Offers Tapes Between The Lines. February 6, 2018. Orlando Sentinel. June 28, 1987. en.
  9. Murray. Edward. Double Dip. CD Review. March 1989. 5. 7. 10. The current issue-Volume 2., No.1-features a 130-page booklet...Distributed by A&M records, Cymbiosis is available through subscription and participating retailers..
  10. News: Music Update. February 8, 2018. Orlando Sentinel. January 1, 1989. en.
  11. Coclanis. Deborah. New Periodicals. Notes. June 1990. 46. 4. 966–967. 10.2307/941273. 941273. Music Library Association. A cassette tape or, beginning with no. 5, a compact disc accompanies and constitutes an integral part of each Cymbiosis issue..
  12. Record Reviews. Flipside. Summer 1987. 52. 30. February 6, 2018.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Cymbiosis".

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