Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine problems

[Greg B]

Hi Folks:

In the past I've been a huge advocate and supporter of Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine. The use to publish 6 issues a year. Each issue had 6 to 10 pieces of music along with interviews or lessons from the performer or composer. Each issue also had a CD of the music being played as well as pdf files of the tab/standard notation of each piece.

I use to subscribe several years ago but let it lapse because in just 3 years I collected more great music than I possibly had time to learn. But in April I decided to subscribe again so I signed up via PayPal for $43 for 2 years.

And nothing happened. I emailed them, no response. I emailed again, no response. It turns out that Bill Pillburn, the former owner/editor sold the magazine and the new owners haven't produced an issue in over a year. In 2010 they produced 1 issue and not all of their subscribers got one.

I posted this on Facebook and Wren mentioned they they got her too. Just like me, they took her money and ran.

Just yesterday I talked to Bill Pillburn himself via Facebook and he said that they owe him $20,000 which they've never paid. But the website is still up and they'll still take your money if you try to subscribe.

By the way, the same company also bought "Bassic" a bass player's magazine. So I'd avoid them as well.

I've registered a claim with Paypal and with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB already gives them an F rating due to all the claims against them.

So be warned. It's the kind of magazine which would really appeal to the people on this forum and when Bill ran the magazine it was a very high quality publication. But unfortunately, it's now become a place to lose your money.

[PaulKay]

Because of my fingerstyle guitar web site, I use to get complimentary issues and use to promote subscriptions. But I've gotten so many emails complaining about them I took it all down. It's interesting to read what you found out about them. Very sad really. It had to be one of the worst managed magazines I've ever seen. They have absolutely zero customer contact. Even when Pillburn ran the magazine, they had a reputation of never responding to subscriber communications. People always complained about the publication rate and they did nothing to explain their problems to their subscribers.

I have a collection of past issues w/CDs going back to the late 90's.

[Greg B]

When I was a subscriber they always published 6 issues a year. I never had a problem. As I understand it, the publication rate problems (3 per year, then 1, then none) happened after the buyout. I wasn't aware of communication issues back when Bill owned it, probably because I never had the need to contact them.

It's sad to see what use to be a truly great resource turn into such a scam.

[theevan]

The new owners could mine it for money...honestly...by reissuing collections of just the music from past issues. This is sad. It was a great resource.

[Russell Letson]

I've said it before: Don't trust a magazine that stiffs its writers. And don't expect even an honestly run magazine that can't afford to pay its writers (e.g., the admirable, volunteer-written Dirty Linen) to remain operational indefinitely.

As for FG issuing reprints--I have no reason to believe that they own the copyrights to what they published. I can't find my contracts-and-correspondence files right now, but I don't think I sold all rights to what I wrote for them, and I would not look kindly on their reprinting it without consulting me.

[theevan]

That makes sense, Russell. I was wading, however tentatively, into unknown territory. It's my M.O.

[sidheguitarmichael]

FS has had production problems before-the buyout is not the first time. That said, it sounds like this time, it's toast.


Or not; they've recovered from other periods of one-issue-per-year to put out a few good examples in the past. Who knows?

[Greg B]

I got lucky then. During the span I was a subscriber I received the issues I paid for.

Guitarmaker magazine, the magazine of ASIA (The Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans) was WAY behind about 4 or 5 years ago. Whatever they did fixed their problems but at one point they did just say "OK, we missed issues but we're not making them up. Starting now there will be 4 issues per year. Sorry about the missed issues but that's past. Starting now we'll publish on time"

Ans as far as I know, they have. I was an ASIA member for a year or two. I recently rejoined the Guild of American Luthiers. Both have good magazines but what a thing to come back from. Once you miss an issue you're already in deep trouble.

BTW Russel. What issues did you write for? I may have them in my collection.

[Russell Letson]

I recall only doing two: a Pat Donohue interview/profile in #4 and the "Guitar Camp" story in May-June 1996. After payment for the second one turned out to be a box of FS instruction books rather than money (nice enough, but not bankable) and I was informed that I couldn't expect anything better in the future, I stopped pitching stories to them. AG, on the other hand, always paid on time and per contract and gave me some of the best editing I have ever encountered. I'd write for them again in New York minute.