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Media
and sports agent Greg Tingle gives take on pop culture Sin City Sydney style re
The Brag Media farewells Sydney’s street press magazine - 6th February 2020
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The
Brag Media is readying a farewell to one of Sydney’s most beloved print magazines,
The Brag street press. While
thebrag.com website is still a major pillar
of The Brag Media’s business, the free Sydney street press will bid adieu
on March 4 with its final issue. At
the height of street press’ popularity, The Brag magazine was music’s
heart and soul at every Sydney street corner and local pub booth. Music fans would
crowd over its inky pages to read aloud the pull-quotes, spot friends in the social
pic galleries and stain their index fingers black as they traced the gig guide
and planned their weekly pilgrimage of the city’s live venues. But
times have evolved, gig guides are sophisticated and online; breaking news happens
on your phone in mere seconds, and people now look to print issues for a premium
experience that they can’t have online, something tangible which moves them
with longer form deep dive editorial created over months of money-can’t-buy
access to artists and celebrity figureheads. Artists
and industry are now spoilt for choice with The Brag Media’s music titles
Tone Deaf, The Industry Observer, Don’t Bore Us and now Rolling Stone –
which includes the launch of a premium, long form Rolling Stone print magazine.
The Brag Media is evolving with its audience by offering them the premium experience
they demand in print, while still delivering all the gig guides, news and op-eds
they loved in The Brag Magazine online in a real time, interactive format. The
Brag print-only magazine launched in 2003 after over six years under the title
Revolver, servicing just a few drop-off points around Sydney. The
Brag Magazine was founded by the best kinds of ratbags; the ones who didn’t
mind a late deadline as long as beers were served. The ones who, when faced with
extinction in the first year, re-branded as Evolver for one issue and planned
that week’s mag out of a nearby pub. The
music and arts industry has changed dramatically since then. The Brag website
is no longer a music and arts site; it’s become the hub for music fans to
explore all their interests outside of music, including food, travel, and culture.
With Michael
Di Iorio at the helm, the final issue will serve as a love letter to those who
have gone before, those who have laboured over and fought for its place, and to
the Australian artists who without, the magazine would be nothing.
The
good news is The Brag’s history is still being made. Last year Seventh Street
Media rebranded to The Brag Media, making clear its investment in The Brag as
an integral part of the company. More than that, The Brag Media has never been
more widely read with 1 million monthly Australian readers. Rolling
Stone Australia launched online February 3 with the first print magazine available
in May. Facebook The
Industry Observer Rolling
Stone Australia Greg
Tingle Ah,
reminiscing already with the loss of Sydney, Australia loosing another print magazine,
but the pain is fortunately only temporary. Rolling Stone Australia's resurrection
can almost be compared to the rebirth of Jesus in Australia, at least for the
pop culture world. Fans and musos are rejoicing while there's a couple of Aussie
politicians quietly shitting themselves. Even the posh crowd is pleased to see
the local arts scene get another much needed injection of life. These are all
positive signs. Be certain to offer significant and ongoing coverage to music
bushfire relief concerts, Mother Nature, and note more rock and metal inserting
itself into boxing, pro wrestling and mixed martial arts films and documentaries.
The wrestling war is alive with WWE and AEW, with New Japan, Impact and the NWA
having a crack at the biz once totally dominated by Vince McMahon. AEW's Chris
Jericho ('Fozzy' frontman) also with Cody Rhodes and Tony Khan is helping even
the odds and shake up the establishment. Jericho and Rhodes helped out with Aussie
bushfire fundraisers also. But Metallica has really delivered with a sizable donation
for bushfire relief. Local promotions IWA, BCW, PWG and AWF remain hotbeds for
producing upcoming wrestling stars and BCW has a rep of bringing in established
legends such as Ultimo Dragon, Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn. Non rocker (or wrestler)
but eco warriors Greta T and Leonardo DiCaprio are doing wonders for the environment
and WWE gentle giant Titus O'Neil did some sweet collabs with Australia Zoo (I
know that's Queensland). Fellow giant Nathan Jones is pumped about the latest
installment of Dr. George Miller's 'Mad Max' franchise. Bondi Beach and Maroubra
Beach seagulls told me to expect strong environmental themes. Speaking of Maroubra,
a surfing movie is expected to be in production towards year end. Down the road
at North Bondi, Bondi Radio has been enjoying their relatively new digs at Bondi
Golf Course club house. Locals such as Steve Spacek have been loving it. The Bondi
Radio crew is also putting on some live performances at The Bucket List from time
to time, often on weekends. The Bondi and Maroubra skateparks need some work.
Could be an opportunity for Red Bull or Monster Energy. I'm tipped Monster at
present since one of the Sydney based Red Bull reps apparently doesn't know how
to return a media and business call. Ah, they are probably fired by now - BANG
(name of another energy company also). On the arts side of things I'm sure Aussie
greats such as Ken Done, sculptor Vince Vozzo, bodyartist Eva Rinaldi and enigma
Charles Billich will have little difficulty in drumming up more creative arts
news, be it in The Tele, SMH, Art Monthly or whatever. I just had a flashback
to the Rolling Stone: Covers creative art job (Mick Jagger human state and look-a-like)
I did at Shoalhaven City Arts Centre a few years back. I felt compelled to share
some intel and gems with The Industry Observer / Rolling Stone / The Brag family,
rather than keep it all to myself and just scribe "great news Brag".
Yeah, I'm a sports and media agent and photoartist, but news and good fodder remains
just that. Should we get on the R.S. payroll at some point just imagine what we
could do. The mind boggles does it not? Keep pumping out stuff that the late,
great and infamous Hunter. S. Thompson would be proud of. Where The Wild Buffalo
Roam, over 'The Bra way these days. Art is anything you can get away with! (just
ask OneFour). Gonzo Journalism lives baby. Cheers from Maroubra Beach. Media
Man News Music
themed Facebook launched by Media Man Group; Inspired by Rolling Stone, MTV and
Chris Jericho's 'Web Is Jericho' News
media, wrestling fans, music biz buzz about potential show featuring Violent Idols,
Fozzy and Metallica at same venue; Media Man exchange with AEW / Bellator's Jake
Hager. AEW momentum builds in Australia, Asia Pacific, globally Chris
Jericho launches Web Is Jericho - August 2019 The
Brag Media secures Rolling Stone Australia licence - 20th November 2019 Rolling
Stone loves living statues from Human Statue Bodyart creative team Surf
Rock, Surf Music - What's this wave of music all about? Elias
or Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson - greatest sports entertainer / wrestler - performing
artist of all time? Chris
Jericho on AEW vs. WWE: ‘This is a war — even if you don’t want
it to be’ - 16th May 2019 | 
