INTRO| FROM THE EDITOR
I SEE THISpage as a place to introduce the issue you hold and tell you something about how it came together. That’s my usual approach, but this month, while I sit here on the first week of a new year, I’d like to share a few things that are on my mind about Guitar Player’s past year and the one that is to come.
We Had a Great Year:All things considered, 2023 was terrific for Guitar Player. Subscriptions, which have been especially strong in recent years, continued to grow (and, I’m happy to say, we’re hearing fewer complaints about missed issues, duplicated subscriptions and the like). Most encouraging, our newsstand sales remained nearly flat in a year when overall U.S. magazine sales were down 15 percent on average. There are many factors that account for our strength, but easily the most important one is our choice of cover artists, who are the main draw at newsstand.
On that note, I know some of you lament that your favorite artists have not been featured on the cover in years, if ever. I assure you, we regard all the artists we feature equally. Our goal is to give you a magazine each month that satisfies a range of musical tastes and interests, so please don’t get too hung up about who’s on the cover.
The MI Industry Is Readjusting: The past year has been tricky for our industry partners. As many of you know all too well, rising consumer prices have led to belt tightening, leaving the average guitarist with less money to spend on gear. At least two manufacturers have said sales of guitars under $1,500 have been sluggish, while more expensive models are selling well. Assuming the trend is widespread, it will be interesting to see how the industry responds with their model lineups in 2024. If well-heeled consumers — those least affected by rising prices and interest rates — are driving the industry, what will it mean for everyone else? While it’s impossible to predict where the economy is heading, clearly, we could all
