32 min
Michael Molenda - Guitar Player Magazine, Music Journalism & Beyond Behind the Backline
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- Music
No one can predict the future. No one can ever know what’s coming next (except me, just kidding). A lot of times we have to roll with what life throws at us, regardless of how predictable we want our life to be.
As humans we are creatures of habit, loving every minute of having a routine, going to work, coming home, advancing our career, staying organized and having everything in its place, and knowing that we have the power to make tweaks to it whenever we want, as long as its within our comfort zone.
But as we very well know, life enjoys throwing the occasional right hook at us to see how we handle it. This is something that both Michael and I, your humble podcast host, have experienced in recent years.
THANK GOD YOU FOUND A REAL JOB
Michael had two career path options in his early years: music and journalism. As you’ll hear, his father was super happy he chose journalism, a job that he knew was stable and had a future (cough).
As time (and the Internet) will tell you, music and journalism began to have more and more in common, debunking this “some industries are future-proof” myth. But lucky for Michael, he was able to merge his two passions into one as he worked through an array of music and non-music related publications and media outlets.
His crowning achievement? Landing a dream job as the longest-serving Editor-in-Chief at Guitar Player Magazine from 1997-2018, also overseeing Bass Player Magazine, Keyboard Magazine and Electronic Musician Magazine. Score!
EVERY ENDING HAS A NEW BEGINNING
In 2018, not long after the magazine’s parent company was purchased by a UK-based firm, several members of the team, including Michael, were let go as the new owners reorganized and changed the way the magazines were run.
While not a fan of the changes, the grieving process was short-lived. Michael got back on the horse and decided to launch a new endeavor that allowed him to continue his music journalism path.
In October 2018, Guardians of Guitar was born, an online media outlet that evangelizes guitarists, guitar music, and guitar gear while supporting players of all ages, genders, skill levels and styles.
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Michael Molenda, former Editor-in-Chief of Guitar Player Magazine and Founder of Guardians of Guitar, joins us in this episode to share his journey from his humble beginnings in journalism and Guitar Player Magazine to his new venture with Guardians of Guitar, and what he’s learned along the way.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/behindthebackline/support
No one can predict the future. No one can ever know what’s coming next (except me, just kidding). A lot of times we have to roll with what life throws at us, regardless of how predictable we want our life to be.
As humans we are creatures of habit, loving every minute of having a routine, going to work, coming home, advancing our career, staying organized and having everything in its place, and knowing that we have the power to make tweaks to it whenever we want, as long as its within our comfort zone.
But as we very well know, life enjoys throwing the occasional right hook at us to see how we handle it. This is something that both Michael and I, your humble podcast host, have experienced in recent years.
THANK GOD YOU FOUND A REAL JOB
Michael had two career path options in his early years: music and journalism. As you’ll hear, his father was super happy he chose journalism, a job that he knew was stable and had a future (cough).
As time (and the Internet) will tell you, music and journalism began to have more and more in common, debunking this “some industries are future-proof” myth. But lucky for Michael, he was able to merge his two passions into one as he worked through an array of music and non-music related publications and media outlets.
His crowning achievement? Landing a dream job as the longest-serving Editor-in-Chief at Guitar Player Magazine from 1997-2018, also overseeing Bass Player Magazine, Keyboard Magazine and Electronic Musician Magazine. Score!
EVERY ENDING HAS A NEW BEGINNING
In 2018, not long after the magazine’s parent company was purchased by a UK-based firm, several members of the team, including Michael, were let go as the new owners reorganized and changed the way the magazines were run.
While not a fan of the changes, the grieving process was short-lived. Michael got back on the horse and decided to launch a new endeavor that allowed him to continue his music journalism path.
In October 2018, Guardians of Guitar was born, an online media outlet that evangelizes guitarists, guitar music, and guitar gear while supporting players of all ages, genders, skill levels and styles.
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Michael Molenda, former Editor-in-Chief of Guitar Player Magazine and Founder of Guardians of Guitar, joins us in this episode to share his journey from his humble beginnings in journalism and Guitar Player Magazine to his new venture with Guardians of Guitar, and what he’s learned along the way.
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/behindthebackline/support
32 min