Music Street Journal Celebrates 25 Years

ROCKFORD, Ill. - Jan. 28, 2023 - PRLog -- The February issue of Music Street Journal, which was published on January 28th, may be the 158th issue, but it represents a bigger milestone - 25 years of publication for MSJ. The first issue of Music Street Journal was emailed as a Microsoft Word document to about two dozen subscribers on February 1st, 1998. By the end of that year Music Street Journal had grown to a website and had picked up many more readers.

In the early days Music Street Journal was strictly a progressive rock zine, and at first it was all about album reviews only. Since those beginnings it has grown to cover other types of music, but each issue remains at least half prog rock to this day. In addition to album reviews, Music Street Journal does concert reviews and interviews along with book and video reviews - all music related.

Artists interviewed over the two-and-a-half decades include: Grand Funk Railroad, Jethro Tull, Hawkwind, King Crimson, Lamb of God, Yes, Yngwie Malmsteen, Uriah Heep, Blue Öyster Cult, Judas Priest, Motörhead, Queensrÿche, Jean-Luc Ponty, WASP, Nazareth and many more.

When it started, Music Street Journal was a one person operation, and that person was Gary Hill. Over the years an ever changing group of contributors joined. Some were just on board for an issue or two. Others have contributed to many issues. All brought their own styles and tastes to MSJ, lending a diverse and dynamic vibe to the publication.

Since 2018, each issue of Music Street Journal has been published simultaneously online and in print. The books are available in both paperback and hardcover editions. Each book also includes at least one Print Edition Exclusive article. Starting in 2020, MSJ started doing review bonus videos at the Gary Hill/Music Street Journal Youtube channel at youtube.com/@MSJGaryHill. Those videos showcase aspects that are best shown in video. As part of the 25th Anniversary celebration the channel will also include profiles of some MSJ contributors in the coming weeks.

The books, which are considered the definitive editions of Music Street Journal, are available in paperback and hardcover at lulu.com/spotlight/strangesound and garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal/. The online version of Music Street Journal (including all the archives and exclusive members' area content) lives at MusicStreetJournal.com. You can find Music Street Journal on social media at facebook.com/MusicStreetJournal and instagram.com/msjgary. Music Street Journal's (and Gary Hill's) Youtube channel can be found at youtube.com/@MSJGaryHill. And, finally Music Street Journal merchandise is available at cafepress.com/musicstreetjournal.