This article has multiple issues.Please helpimprove itor discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Plan Bwas a monthly music magazine based inLondon,England.It catered mainly towardsindependent musicbut did not discriminate between the relative popularity of the bands it features.Plan Balso documented alternative culture such asfilm,comics,video games,visual artandbooks.It was founded by editor-in-chiefEverett True(a.k.a. Jerry Thackray), art director Andrew Clare and publisher Chris Houghton, although later editor and publisher Frances Morgan was also a major influence.
 | |
| Editor | Louis Pattison |
|---|---|
| Categories | Independent music,Film,Books,Visual art |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Publisher | Frances Morgan |
| First issue | June 2004 |
| Final issue | May 2009 |
| Company | Plan B Publishing Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Website | planbmag.com |
In May 2009, it was announced thatPlan B's forty-sixth issue would be its last.[1]
Background
editPlan Bwas started after the demise of the magazineCareless Talk Costs Lives,which shared a similar ethos and many of the same contributors.
Ethos
editThe concept originally laid down by Thackray was to exist under the radar of the mainstream music press such as theNew Musical ExpressorQ,both of which are seen as the antithesis ofPlan B.Although Thackray used to work in the mainstream media throughout the nineties under the pseudonymEverett Truealong with hisCTCLcompatriotSteve Gullick,he became disheartened by the lack of individuality and increased focus on commercialism. Thus,Plan B(along with Gullick'sLoose Lips Sink Ships) was created to champion causes apparently forgotten in the mainstream press.[2]Plan Btried to mirror the artistic nature of its content by including full page photography and colourful illustrations. This is largely due to the work of art director Andrew Clare. It is also printed in full colour on thick,satinpaper, which creates a musky scent.
The emphasis ofPlan Bwas on nurturing young talent and subsequently, many of the writers are unknown within their field. Several regular contributors do freelance work for the mainstream music press but their work inPlan Bwas usually more varied because the magazine did not impose a 'house style' on its writers. This often led to a more anecdotal, emotional response to art - a style which is discouraged in the mainstream press. This was reflected in the magazine's reviews, which did not contain the 'grading' or 'marking' system so commonly found elsewhere.
In keeping with this ethos,Plan Bcommonly covered artists with little mainstream appeal. The contributors as a whole did not distinguish between artists within the mainstream and those in the left-field but the bias is arguably towards the latter. Thackray is also renowned for being a champion of equality within music, whether sexual, gender-based or racial. Indeed, detractors have in the past labelled his supposed bias towards female-helmed bands to be over-zealous. Of course, this could also be seen as a genuine attempt by Thackray to redress the balance in a male dominated music press.
In September 2006,Plan Bchanged its frequency from bi-monthly to monthly.
In a post-mortem piece of the magazine as part ofDrowned in Sound'sMusic Journalism R.I.P? WeekArchived2009-07-17 at theWayback Machine,former staff writer kicking_k said ofPlan B's demise: "Had we been selling more issues, there would have been a buffer, we may have been able to ride out the drought. I think it’s important could-be readers realise that – if there’s a magazine out there you still plan on reading month after month, brace yourself and buy it – every edition of Plan B, surveys say, was read by four people. If each of those had bought their own, it’d still be here."[3]
Content
editPlan Bwas divided into the following sections -
- The Void- previews of new bands and miscellaneous short articles and columns.
- Features- longer interviews with bands and musicians.
- Live- reviews of live music.
- Albums- reviews of recorded music.
- Media- articles on books, films, video games, visual art and comics.
Covers
editThe following bands have been on the cover ofPlan Bmagazine:
Chicks On Speed,Joanna Newsom,Magnetic Fields,Smoosh,Afrirampo,Arcade Fire,Black Dice,Sonic Youth,The Research,Cat Power,Yeah Yeah Yeahs,The Long Blondes,Silver Jews,The Gossip,CSS,Boris,Sunn O))),Deerhoof,Herman Dune,Electrelane,Grinderman,Battles,Wiley,Björk,M.I.A.,Animal Collective,Scout Niblett,Prinzhorn Dance School,Billy Childish,Dirty Projectors,Earth,The Breeders,Glass Candy,Chromatics,No Age,Sparks,Los Campesinos!,Roots Manuva,Rolo Tomassi,Gang Gang Dance,Grace Jones,Micachu,Bat For Lashes,Dan Deacon,PJ Harvey&John Parish,Grizzly BearandSpeech Debelle
Credits
editPlan Bwas credited to the following people -
Editorial
edit- Louis Pattison-Editor
- Andrew Clare-Art Director
- Cat Stevens (not the singer) -Photography Editor
- kicking k-The Void (new bands and smaller features) + Lives
- Lauren Strain-Albums
Publishing
edit- Frances Morgan -Publisher
- Everett True -Publisher-At-Large
- Nick Taylor -Advertising Manager
- Richard Stacey -Assistant Publisher
Plan B Magazinewas published by Plan B Publishing Limited. Distribution through Warners Group Distribution (Newsagents, Borders and International), Worldwide Magazine Distribution (HMV/Virgin) and Cargo Records (Record Stores).
Notes
edit- ^"Plan B- R.I.P."Drowned in Sound.21 May 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 24 May 2009.Retrieved22 May2009.
- ^McNamee, David (2009-06-04)."Plan B magazine remembered".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved2017-08-21.
- ^"The Last Days Of Plan B Magazine".Drowned in Sound.14 July 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 17 July 2009.Retrieved9 August2009.