Classic Rock magazine launches new subscription service
Future publishing’s Classic Rock magazine is launching a new subscription service letting readers download new albums before they are released in shops.
The Classic Rock Club service – Future’s first premium content offering – costs £3 a month and is being launched with online content specialist Jack Brand, according to a report on MediaGuardian.
The editorial team at Classic Rock sends recommendations to subscribers, with the albums remaining online for 10 days. Users are then given the option of downloading the album or buying the CD.
The decision to charge for premium content comes as News International and other newspaper publishers decide to explore the paid-for model (see Paid-for model is the key).
Chris Ingham, publisher of Classic Rock, told MediaGuardian: “We know that Classic Rock readers are hungry to hear new music.”
“They’re not going to discover new bands via the radio or TV, so this is the perfect way to complement the magazine. Now readers don’t just have to take our word for it – or make judgments based on 30-second samples – we bring the album straight to their desktops and they can live with it for a week.”