Songlines, which was launched by editor-in-chief Simon Broughton and publisher Paul Geoghegan, will complete a trio of music magazines in the Mark Allen Group stable.
It will join forces with the iconic classical music authority, Gramophone, which was founded by the writer Compton Mackenzie in 1923, as well as one of the country’s foremost jazz magazines, Jazzwise, which is 18 years old. Songlines started life as an off-shoot to Gramophone in 1999, so the magazine has come full circle.
Songlines will be located at Mark Allen Group’s offices at St Jude’s Church in Herne Hill, barely a stone’s throw away from the magazine’s current offices in nearby Effra Road. All the full-time staff, as well as Simon Broughton, will be transferring.
Mark Allen said: “I am delighted by this acquisition. Songlines is a wonderful magazine and the only one of its kind that highlights indigenous roots’ music in different parts of the globe. It adds immensely to our music stable and gives us additional clout in the music industry.”
Paul Geoghegan added: "I'm thrilled that Songlines is moving to the Mark Allen Group, the home of Gramophone and Jazzwise, and in doing so completing the roster of the most respected music magazines for classical, jazz and world music. It's the perfect home for Songlines where the magazine and all its various off-shoots will be able to flourish and benefit from the expertise and support from Mark Allen and his team.”
Mark Allen Group now has 62 magazines within its stable, involved in healthcare, education, business-to-business and leisure as well as manufacturing and engineering. It also boasts a dedicated tour company and is actively involved in conferences and exhibitions.
“As an arts lover, it’s always been my secret ambition to develop a music and cultural arm to our company. The acquisition of Songlines is a further step in this direction”, Mr Allen said.
