A New Era for The Big Takeover!

by Mick Lewis
23 November 2005

As Executive Editor, I welcome you with great excitement and anticipation to the new BigTakeover.com. I’d especially like to thank everyone who has generously given time and talent to help us get to this first phase. The volunteer spirit that has carried The Big Takeover up to this point is alive and well!

For those familiar with the print magazine founded in 1980 by the esteemed Jack Rabid (not his given name, in case anyone was wondering), BigTakeover.com will be an extension of the mag’s combination of quality writing and exhaustive music coverage.

In some ways, BigTakeover.com will inevitably surpass its forebear. The primary limitation of a semi-annual publication is the impossibility of timely reviews of CD releases and concerts. Another issue is lack of print space due to publishing costs, which has forced many of our writers to heavily edit otherwise excellent articles to conform to a necessary word count limit. Happily, the website will be able to address these regrettable realities.

Our first phase is The Big Takeover Blog (BTB), a weekly (at least!) selection of point-of-view columns from regular Big Takeover writers as well as newcomers with impressive credentials. We see the BTB as a repository for all types of information: record reviews; live show recommendations and reviews; short interviews; news items with analysis; opinion pieces; excerpts from upcoming features for the magazine; photos; and more! Future plans include an online section devoted to independent film; user accounts that enable readers to maintain lists of favorite artists and reviews; fully searchable access to our voluminous back catalog of articles and reviews; and a regular CD compilation of songs released exclusively by Big Takeover Records.

The BTB will also help extend the sense of community that has grown around The Big Takeover over the years. Readers are encouraged to contribute their comments regarding any of our bloggers’ posts, and bloggers are encouraged to respond to reader comments. Ultimately, it is the opportunity for creating dialogue about music and culture that fuels The Big Takeover, a dialogue that brings exposure to deserving music regardless of (or sometimes despite) hype and marketing muscle.

Once again, welcome – I hope you will stay with us as we continue to grow!

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