While I listen to a lot of different styles of music, lately I keep returning to "today's country music". My mother, knowing of my interest in the music, purchased me a subscription to
Country Weekly magazine. She wanted me to have all the inside scoop on the singers, songwriters, and those involved in the world of today's country music.
Description This magazine measures 7 3/4" wide x 10 1/2" high. The pages are of typical magazine-weight paper, and the issues run about 72 pages.
The front cover of the magazine features a prominent photograph of a well-known country singer. Surround the photograph are taglines to other stories in the magazine. The "Table of Contents" for each issue is located at least ten pages into the magazine.
There are some consistent Departments in each issue:
Reviews New music releases are reviewed
I Love My Country Well-known personalities discuss country music
What's Online Country music entertainers discuss what's new on their websites
Stars Up Close Music stars with fans / fan drawings / celebrity birthdays
Catching Up With What music personalities are doing today
Flashback Looking back at music history / Then & Now
Charts Music Charts tracking the top hits (music & videos)
Puzzles Two puzzles in each issue: Word Search & Crossword
Questions -- An artist is profiled in a Q&A session
My Experiences I'm surprised to say that I enjoy reading this magazine. While I find today's country music entertaining, I was not sure that I wanted to read about the behind-the-scenes activity of music stars. This magazine offers a wealth of information about what is happening in the country music industry. The articles are well written and tasteful. This is not a tabloid publication; it is not a fanzine. "Country Weekly" is like "People" magazine, except its focus is the country music industry.
Each issue opens with several pages of photos featuring country music stars. There are lots of short bits well placed throughout the magazine that offer brief insights on what his happening in country music. There are also fun pieces such as the story behind certain songs (including the song's lyrics), and sometimes even recipes from the entertainers.
Lots of color photography is sprinkled throughout each issue. As you can imagine, there are personal shots of the stars but there are also lots of behind-the-scenes photographs from rehearsals, concerts, charity events, family gatherings.
The articles from past issues include music star profiles, personal workouts, music and faith, fun pieces such as "My First Job" and an article about top country stars turning 40 years old. There is a good variety of material, including music award ceremony recaps. When a country legend passes on, the magazine includes a profile piece.
This magazine concentrates on "today's country music" rather than the country music of years gone by. In case you are wondering about which artists are featured in the publication, here is a sampling of names. This is just a partial list of who is featured (and if a country music artist or group is reading this review, I apologize if your name is not included!): Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Rodney Atkins, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Chris Cagle, Kenny Chesney, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Sara Evans, Rascal Flatts, Julianne Hough, Jack Ingram, Alan Jackson, Wynonna Judd, Toby Keith, Martina McBridde, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, James, Otto, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Phil Vassar, Trisha Yearwood.
I also like the Charts pages that feature the top music. There are several charts: Singles, Albums, and Videos. The charts also list how the music has changed in ranking, the title and artist. A brief listing of a Retro Chart is included from a year-gone-by.
Of course, anyone who has followed my reviews, knows that I love to do puzzles. "Country Weekly" always includes two puzzles with unique twists. The first is a Word Search Puzzle that features a country music theme. The twist is that the list of words for the puzzle is submitted by a reader of "Country Weekly". The magazine pays $25 to the reader whose word list is chosen to make the Word Search Puzzle. The second puzzle in the magazine is a Crossword puzzle. The crosswords in this magazine are one of the few crossword puzzles I see that frequently use two-letter words, and the puzzle layout is unusual, not the typical crossword grid. Also, there are yellow squares in the crossword puzzle that when unscrambled form the answer to a clue that is given.
Advertising As with most magazines, this one contains advertising. This magazine offers a variety of them, too. There are car, pharmaceutical, weight loss, houseware, and collectible advertisements to name a few. The ads are well placed in that they don't hit me in the face when I read the magazine. I notice them, but it's not like there are so many of them that the meat of the magazine is hidden. The magazine articles are easily assessable, and the magazine enjoyable despite the advertising.
Purchasing A 13-issue subscription costs $14.97. A 26-issue subscription costs $23.97. Yearly rates are $34.95 U.S. and $44.95 Canada. Subscriptions outside the United States and Canada go for $68.75 a year.
Summary - Updated July 7, 2009
I have been enjoying
Country Weekly magazine. The information is diverse, well presented and entertaining, and there are lots of photographs. This magazine is a great way to learn more about the people behind the country music I love.
Update -- I thought you would like to know that Country Weekly is no longer offering mail subscriptions. Their new policy is to sell the magazine only at newsstands (or in stores). To fulfill my subscription with them, they offered me the choice of receiving
Star Magazine. I would have preferred a refund ... but that was not offered.
I hope you found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Please read my other reviews:
People Magazine
TV Guide Magazine
Country Extra Magazine
Simple & Delicious (recipe magazine)
Dell Pocket Crossword Puzzles
Sudoku and More! (magazine)
Good Time Word Seek (magazine)
Pogo.com (online games)
Copyright 2008 Dawn L. Stewart
