I like the fact that it is in PDF format--something that is platform agnostic and has multiple readers available for it. I detest those bloated apps that make the sound of pages turning, etc. I also like the fact that back issues are available for download. I have them all stored locally here, so I can refer to them without eating up Jeff's bandwidth more than I have to.
I like the equipment and music reviews, but don't particularly care for the other "lifestyle" content (though I tend to skim it anyway, just in case something catches my eye).
And of course, the price is right!
If there was one thing I would ask to improve Tone Audio, it would be to increase the publication schedule!
Well, our goal for next year is not to increase the issue count, because if you read the average issue of Stereophile or TAS, they both have about 50-70 pages of actual content after you take out the letters, announcements and ads, while we tend to be about 110 pages of actual content in an approximately 160 page magazine.
What we are going to do is increase the density of our website next year...
At the present, the gear, hardware and concert reviews on the site are bonus content, not in the magazine. What we are trying to do, to give everyone more to read is add to that content, giving you more info on a weekly basis. These days, we've been updating the site about every three to four weeks and I'm pushing for weekly asap.
I've also got another big surprise in store sometime late 1st quarter, early 2nd quarter that we've been working on for some time that I think everyone else will enjoy.
We are also working on a TONE "lite" website that will be accessible to PDA's, iPhones and the like... not sure when that will be done.
Last but not least, we've done multiple readers surveys and per one of my earlier posts, we are really on a mission to bring more music people that aren't hifi people into our world and the style section has been a big hit with about 95% of our readers.
We will not increase the style section any bigger than it is now, I just wanted it to be something fun to tie in with what the readers of our magazine have told me they are interested in and whenever possible it's always tied in to some kind of angle with music or visual arts. I get tired of just taking pics of gear all the time! But rest assured, we will not turn into the Robb Report any time soon.
Unfortunately, classical will go away after the Feb issue. Less than 1% read it, but what we have found out is that most people that really enjoy classical music DON'T like much else. So our classical writer, Dan Babineau will be starting a classical only site that we will cross promote. Give the classical people more of what they want I say. He will then review more new classical for us in the current release section.
We have added four new music writers in the last two issues and we have three more about to come on board, so we will be broadening our coverage to include more country, alt country, singer/songwriter, blues and reggae music. Jazz coverage will also be beefed up next year.
So that's the short list of what's on the agenda for now. Now that we are in year four, I'm happy with where TONE has gone, but there is still plenty of work to do.
We do appreciate your reading and support...
