So, on January 16, Waxpoetics announced to its subscribers that it will "no longer be able to fulfill Wax Poetics Magazine subscriptions." After sixteen years in print, it will cease being a traditional newsstand publication.

The ‘zine went on to say its starting a new venture where it will “offer a version of Wax Poetics as a print-on-demand journal via Amazon/Ingram.”

Weeks later, on Valentine's Day, the ‘zine announced they are releasing another Prince edition, which is basically part two of Issue 50, which they wound up reprinting twice, I think.

This new Prince edition will be available in paperback for $24.95 and hardcover for $34.95. Readers can pre-order now and expect shipping to begin later this month.

Here’s the link: http://www.waxpoetics.com/wax-poetics-magazine/wax-poetics-issue-67/

I'm curious to know...

* How people are feeling about this change at Waxpoetics? Notably, founder Andre Torres left the company after 16 years for Genius a couple years ago. He has since left Genius and now works at Universal Music Enterprises as the VP of Urban Catalog, according to his LinkedIn profile. (Yes, I'm nosey).

* How they feel about the new Prince edition? Is it Prince overload, or nah? Apparently, the first run of Issue 50, which I own, contained factual errors that were corrected in later reprints, no? I vaguely recall DJ Brainchild noting some errors on Twitter when the issue came out in 2012.

* I still don’t understand exactly what Waxpoetics will be doing in the future as far as print content is concerned, but what kind of editions should editors produce?

I don’t ever recall a Chicago House edition or a Stevie Wonder edition. I do remember the Detroit techno joint and other genres being covered, like Latin and Brazilian music.

I’d like to see an UK Soul edition and an edition covering mainstream and obscure 80s R&B, like the joints that were sampled on Onra’s Long Distance (side bar: those Long Distance samples were blocked on WhoSampled last time I checked. LOL) Maybe features on Kashif, Change, S.O.S Band and the like.

Maybe a New Jack Swing issue?

What y'all think?

here's the full announcement from January 2018:

Subject: Wax Poetics Magazine Update for Subscribers

"WAX POETICS UPDATE
It is with great sadness that we announce we are no longer able to fulfill Wax Poetics Magazine subscriptions. After sixteen years in print, we will cease being a traditional newsstand publication. We want to sincerely thank all of our loyal fans, customers, and subscribers who supported us since December 2001. And we are truly sorry that we are unable to fulfill our obligations to our current subscribers who put their trust in us.

While our subscribers have always been very important, please understand that we never made a profit from selling subscriptions because of the high price of printing an independent, niche, high-quality magazine; as well as the increasing shipping prices and the cost of customer service. We always set the price at a breakeven level, but we often lost money on subs when all was said and done. Unfortunately, we are unable to refund the cost of your subscription. And we are unable to deliver the Prince issue.

We will be starting a new venture where we can offer a version of Wax Poetics as a print-on-demand journal via Amazon/Ingram. This technology will allow us to continue creating the long-form music journalism that we have always been know for in a printed form, but we will no longer have to front costs for printing and freight. Please understand this is a separate venture, and thus a separate product for these reasons. We hope our longtime customers will understand and continue to support Wax Poetics."

You can't deliver what people paid for so you just gonna keep their money?

I read it over the years, have about 20 issues.
Every once in a while caught a lower priced sleeper on eBay
I appreciate their journalism and dedication but keeping subscriber money is wrong

Agreed. I wonder what the ‘zine’s finances are looking like, not that it would justify partial refunds.

I had a subscription, but I let it lapse and began buying issues off the newsstand. I’m glad I didn’t renew as I planned last year.

Edit: I meant, not that it would justify *NOT* offering partial refunds.

I remember when I had a two year subscription to Stress Magazine and to Underground Soundz magazine, and two Bomb Hip-Hop zine, Stress went under but I still had about 6 more months of magazines left to get and boom they were no more.

Bomb Hip-Hop I use to like that one got in early when they released a LP compilation, and ended up finding out info on it, even talked to the owner a few times, I did a two year subscription to them as well but after a year he stopped printing the magazine but I talked to him and he sent me a bunch of old issues to make up for what new issues I didn't get.

For Underground Soundz, they was already sketchy cause I remember buying two issues and couldn't find the rest so I called them up and asked them about it and they said they had a deal with a distributor for a trail period and only 3 issues were shipped to stores but since the magazine was indie they were only putting out issues four times a year instead of monthly as advertised so they did sell many issues and lost their distribution deal.

I ended up buying a two year subscription if they sent me four previous issues that before the ones I had already, but no show for almost four months after I sent the money, so I called and they told me the info about the mag, asked if I wanted a refund, & I told them to just send the issues I asked about and sign me up for a year of future issues (four coming up issues) and they sent me one back issue, and two new issues but then nothing; found out they closed up shop, still didn't get the other five issues I paid for, oh well.

Since then I've been hesitant to do subscription to magazines, but I did do one for URB as well, got all the issues for two years plus a two extras cause they shipped twice.

I was going to do a subscription to Wax Poetics after the third issue but by then I was buying too many records and bills caught up with me, and couldn't afford to subscribe to them but damn the prices for theirs was mad high but worth it though, I should've done it cause I missed out on all the good ones cause every place in my town stopped carrying Wax Poetics after issue seven.

The Dilla issue is one of my favorite music-related possessions. I got like 3 copies of just that one.

I used to buy WP on-sight at Borders/wherever. I didn't dig every issue or I would've been a long-time subscriber. I didn't even realize they were still cranking out new issues.

The Anthology books are good. Would be cool if they put out a Vol 3.

with them.

a ton of old complex magazines as well, back when complex was great.

miss the good ol days of anticipating a magazine issue release. going to b&n to pick up the latest copies

What's wrong with Complex now? I never kept up with them so I can't compare early Complex with modern-day Complex. My guess is that it went downhill in the way VIBE went downhill?

i hadn't seen it and was wondering if something like that had gone down. sorry to hear. Thanks for the heads-up though, i did go ahead and grab that last Prince issue, proper way to go out...

I ordered the Prince issue a couple days ago. They're supposed to be shipping out this week.

NOTE: It's my understanding they aren't going out of business; they're just switching their business model and a big part of that will be on-demand printing via Amazon.

It would be nice if they went digital and made available like mainstream 'zines.

because Wax Poetics recently re-released a couple of issues in hard cover format. I only wonder if they knew when they put those hard cover special editions out that they were going belly up. I understand folks that paid for subscriptions getting upset, but I have to imagine the money paid for those subscriptions fees were spent a very long time ago by Wax Poetics if they are deciding to close up shop.

I only wish I had bought the edition that has Hiatus Kaiyote on one of the covers, but that pretty menial in the scope of things.

These were supposed to ship out in late February.

I ordered my issue before the month ended and paid for Media Mail Rate, which usually takes a week to arrive. I never received a shipping notice, but I don't remember if I received one in the past.

Maybe I'm just impatient?

Someone is selling a copy on eBay...for $100. I'm amused that the seller is based in the same area as me (No, it ain't my listing): https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wax-Poetics-Issue-67-The-Prince-Issue-Hardcover/173203579133?hash=item2853bce0fd:g:BIMAAOSwfTVaoU2g

I looked at that and wondered if they actually had the issue in their possession. Then, I visited the Waxpoetics website to remember I much I paid.

What did I discover?

Issue 67 has already sold out: https://store.waxpoetics.com/collections/new-issues/products/wax-poetics-issue-67-prince-edition

Here's the message on the site:

*** CURRENTLY ON BACK ORDER ***

*** Please check back next week or go to Amazon, who is now selling both hardcover and paperback editions. Japan, Australia, and South America, please order from Amazon. ***

Both editions are sold out on Amazon.

Them joints were $24.95 for a paperback and $34.95 for a hardcover on Waxpoetics.com. I paid for the paperback, and I'm mad I didn't buy two. I was smart enough to buy two copies of Essence when the Purple One graced the 'zine before his death. Sold that extra joint on eBay and saved the other for my collection.


Interesting.

I emailed them today with my order information. I purchased my paperback copy on February 26.

Response: "Orders from around that time are in production now and should be shipping by the end of the week. You will receive a confirmation email once it ships. Thanks!"

Did you read or browse it yet?

What do you think of the content? Better than Vol. 1? About the same? Not as good?

Both versions are back in stock, and they're on sale:
https://store.waxpoetics.com/products/wax-poetics-issue-67-prince-edition?variant=5418988503104

I still haven't read my copy. LOL.

It appears WaxPoetics recently reissued Issue No. 1.

"This is a near-exact replica reissue of Wax Poetics Issue One, originally published in December 2001. Some text has been corrected for accuracy, and there are a few Easter eggs, but generally it is identical to the original debut issue (warts and all). 80 pages."

The list of articles: https://store.waxpoetics.com/products/issue-one-reissue-paperback

I checked my inbox and I don't recall seeing an email from Wax Poetics since this spring so I'm curious to know when this first appeared in the online store.

In April, WP debuted a pilot episode of a new music/travel series called "Soul City." The first episode was about Chicago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRVSsDpOYDM

I thought it was pretty good.

In May, WP announced the Cultures of Soul LP Subscription Series where magazine readers were given the opportunity to subscribe. The series encompassed the release of 4 LPs over twelve months, with the first LP being the incredible "Septimus – We Want a Piece of the Pie LP."

Did anyone check that out?

Their website does not use dates for the articles so it's hard to keep up with their content frequency. I feel like things haven't been quite right since its founder, Andre Torres, left the company. ;-(

Le sigh.

I'd happily pay 18 for it.

Read the issue at B&N lol.

Done.

They just announced the reissue of No. 17 (Dilla issue) today via the email newsletter:

Here ya go:
https://store.waxpoetics.com/products/wax-poetics-issue-17-paperback-reissue

It's $30 bucks.

It looks like two original printings of the Dilla issue went for $42 and $51, respectively, plus S&H, based on my eBay search of recently sold listings. (You can filter results for sold items).

Now, two eBay sellers, as of today, May 22, 2019, have original printings going for $49.99 and $165.99.

In recent years, I've seen the Dilla issue listed for under $30.

I just got an email announcing the inaugural episode for Waxpoetics’ new podcast, No Need for Alarm.

“For the inaugural edition of the Wax Poetics Podcast, hosts David Ma and Nate LeBlanc interview Del the Funky Homosapien about his classic 1993 sophomore album No Need for Alarm, which celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary this year.

The podcast, which was recorded at Del’s home studio in the Bay Area, features the exclusive track “Smoked-Out Charlie,” a recording made circa 1991 to ‘92 from Del’s archives.”
Read more here:
http://www.waxpoetics.com/blog/news/news-blog/no-need-alarm-wax-poetics-podcast/

Apparently upcoming episodes will “ deep-dive into albums and artists on the Wax Poetics spectrum.”

Sounds like we have a new member of the quality Hip Hop podcast club. Much needed and having Del and that album as the opener is promising.

my girlfriend just specially ordered this magazine for me last week as a birthday gift. She is so GOOD to me and the BEST girlfriend that Ive ever had.

Awww. That’s sweet!

It looks like WP reissued the ATCQ/Davie Bowie edition, too. Unlike the Issue No. 1 reissue, it's available in hardcover.

https://store.waxpoetics.com/products/issue-65-a-tribe-called-quest-b-w-david-bowie-hardcover

I don't recall seeing an email about this so I'm wondering how they're promoting these reissues... I really miss the 'zine in its original format.

What music zines are y'all reading these days?

But I did find some my old Elemental issues the other week


*************************************

Fuck aliens

-Warriorpoet415

https://astackofwax.com/

#2dopebrothersandastackofwax

https://www.instagram.com/thirtythree.three/

The Greatest Story (N)ever Told (finished)

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=s

my girlfriend gifted my copy as a birthday present last year.

I didn't see it coming. I honestly thought it was the end for Waxpoetics but they're back with new content since Issue No. 67, the second (and posthumous) Prince issue. As longtime WP fans know, the zine was heavily focused on reprints (read: no new content) since they switched to an on-demand format, but apparently the publication is back "in its original format, size, and structure," at least for this Special Europe Edition.

1. Issue 68 with Digable Planets and P.M. Dawn
https://store.waxpoetics.com/products/wax-poetics-issue-68-digable-planets-b-w-p-m-dawn
The pre-order is available now. Ships in January 2020. P.M. Dawn seems like an odd choice for a Waxpoetics cover but I guess...

2. Wax Poetics Europe 001 Special Edition
This is mainly a reprint/compilation but there are two new articles about the London Jazz Renaissance and Acid Jazz Records. The official WP website says its sold out already as does its partner website, which was the official seller. This one somehow flew under my radar because it came out this summer (?) and I didn't know about it until today's email. I checked my email account and WP never promoted it via email until today (12/20/2019). I'm a bit pissed, to be honest. I did some searching and found inexpensive copies for sale on UK sites Boomkat and Phonica. There's also a pricer copy on eBay. https://www.rushhour.nl/record/magazines/wax-poetics-special-european-collectors-edition
https://store.waxpoetics.com/products/wax-poetics-europe-001-special-edition

/nm

Like it already drops on a slow schedule and (seemingly) just hanging on and the best they could do for a cover is PM Dawn??? It's like it's dope to keep it so WaxPo...but at the same time?!?

It's like they don't wanna sell.....that said I just ordered lol.

With Wax Po barely survivng and RBMA dead it's no country for the fringe these days.