Dance Music Authority Magazine Lives On... Get Ready for the Launch!
Dance Music Authority Magazine had it's humble start from a former writer at DMR (Dance Music Report), Gary Hayslett. He filled the void that remained after DMR ceased publication in 1993, by founding a trade magazine called Remix Service Authority. After a few issues, Hayslett expanded the mission and coverage of the fledgling publication, and changed its name to Dance Music Authority, better known by the moniker "DMA."
Gaining stature and credibility with each monthly issue, DMA quickly came to be considered the "Bible of the dance music industry." Dance fans referred to DMA to find out the latest news, reviews, and interviews from clubland! The world-class writers, reviewers, and columnists, plus a bevy of other contributors, all experts in their respective field, worked hard to deliver DMA's tagline: Club Music, Club Style, Club Life.
In 2003, after ten years in print, Hayslett put DMA on haitus to assess what was happening in the rapidly changing and evolving music industry. As a magazine, DMA was always where the fans were... in mom-and-pop DJ stores, chain stores such as Tower and Virgin, etc. But times and technology were changing, and there was a shift from brick and mortar shops to online digital portals. More and more, mp3s and the iPod were replacing cds and vinyl.
Following where the dance community went, DMA is going where they are. Cyberspace! And this time, DMA is much more than a magazine. Its mission is to be a multimedia news organization. Having an online presence means that the way information is presented will not be limited by paper and pages, but rather allow us to reflect a cutting edge in graphics and words. Yes, the high standard for written feature articles will remain, but building on the former magazine's foundation, readers will also be able to view videos, listen to and download audio, watch slideshows of artists and event coverage, and much more. Our goal will be to make DMA an interactive experience; keeping up on the latest dance music news, while meeting other fans of dance music in the process.
As DMA's new editor, I promise to do whatever I can to honor the vision that Gary Hayslett had with the original DMA, which was to present the wide spectrum of dance music, from freestyle to trance to house and more. And from club fashion to DJ gear and technology, etc. Operations Director Johnny Medley (himself a longtime member of the DMA family), Gary Hayslett and myself intend to create the best source for more dance music news, more opinions, more coverage and more hard-nosed investigations in issues affecting the dance community, than we were ever able to do before.
Welcome to the re-launch of DMA, this time as a multimedia experience! Brace yourself...
Yours Truly,
Steven Ratz, Jr