As Daniel Mount has noted, the Singing News is now offering both an online subscription to the magazine at $15/yr, which is $5 off the print price, and the magazine in PDF format to both print and online subscribers. While we have seen several changes to the magazine in the period since Salem communications bought the magazine, this is by far the most substantial of the changes. First, the next month’s issue will be posted by the 15th of the current month (the April issue is already available for download). Secondly, since CCM Magazine has gone to a web-only version, this may be the first step in a similar path for SN. I do agree with Mount’s assessment, that even if this is the path that Salem is taking, it will be a much longer transition period, if simply due to the fact that the readership of SN is much less technically savvy on the whole as is the readership of CCM. The demographic that makes up the SN will necessitate a much longer transition. However, it is still a positive step, and I would imagine we will begin to see a tighter integration of the News/SG Wire section of the website in with the format of the magazine. Again, one can’t help but see this as a major signpost on the way to our industry’s leading publication coming into the fold with the rest of the music industry, both sacred and secular. Kudos to Salem and the Singing News.
It is interesting to note that the chart is removed from the online version of the magazine. I understand the redundancy, but it also removes New Day’s CD Sales chart from view of the online readers. I still wish SN would compile an industry wide CD sales chart, but one step at a time, don’t bite off more than you can chew, and all other relevant platitudes.
