- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"37.25", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"72 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
- unitid
-
{"value"=>"JPB 03-10", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"20340", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1962-1992", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1962/1992"}
{"value"=>"1977-1991", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1977/1991"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1962
- date_inclusive_end
-
1992
- keydate
-
1962
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Ear magazine records"}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</span> <span class=\"subarea\">Music Division.</span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">New York, New York</span></div>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"The <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> Magazine Records document the operation of a small press magazine of new music, and contains items that describe the music culture of the 1980s and early 1990s."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p><span class=\"title\">Ear</span> Magazine Records, JPB 03-10. Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</p>"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Ear, Inc", "type"=>"corpname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Founded in Berkeley, CA in 1973 by Charles Shere and Ann Kish, <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> magazine was a volunteer-based effort from the start. Twenty-five issues were published between January 1973 and March 1975. Beth Anderson became the primary editor starting with the fifth issue in May 1973; the magazine moved with her to New York City in 1975. At this point two separate <span class=\"title\">Ear</span>s existed, with the West Coast version continuing into the early 1980s. Volume 1, no.1 began in New York in April 1975. Anderson left <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> in 1979, but one of the other New York founding editors, RIP Hayman, remained active throughout the magazine’s life.</p> <p>In 1976 the New Wilderness Foundation (NWF) took over the task of publishing <span class=\"title\">Ear</span>, and remained its parent organization until 1987. Founded in 1974 by poet Jerome Rothenburg and sound artist Charlie Morrow, the NWF was a not-for-profit organization that funded alternative arts and music projects. Many of <span class=\"title\">Ear</span>’s early activities were closely related to other NWF projects, such as the Summer Solstice celebrations in Central Park. In 1980, Carol Tuynman joined the NWF staff and became the managing editor of <span class=\"title\">Ear</span>, and later its executive publisher.</p> <p>The magazine began publishing themed issues in April 1980 as a way to streamline its editorial process. By announcing a deadline for submissions, the staff could collect articles and related items for one theme, and create a more professional product. Many of these issues featured guest editors who were specialists in the theme, and who absorbed some of the workload from Tuynman and other volunteers. A normal year featured five issues, but the month of publication was not consistent.</p> <p>In 1987 the magazine separated from NWF and incorporated itself as a non-profit organization called Ear, Inc. They expanded operations by publishing ten issues a year, and hired an advertising director to increase ad sales. In 1989 <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> changed format from tabloid size newsprint, to a standard 8 ½ x 11” format with glossy cover and 64 pages.</p> <p>A major achievement occurred in the fall of 1990 when Absolut Vodka sponsored the production of new music CDs to include with issues of <span class=\"title\">Ear</span>. The project guidelines called for five themed CDs, each of which would correspond to an issue of the magazine; however, only four of the five were produced. In May 1991, <span class=\"title\">Ear</span>’s annual benefit event lost money, and set in motion the magazine’s demise. The situation worsened in June when their printer declared bankruptcy, and refused to release the June issue without payment (<span class=\"title\">Ear</span>’s printing costs were often paid after an issue shipped). Several emergency fundraising efforts followed, but the results were not enough to keep the magazine afloat. The last item published was a 1991 Fall Supplement.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>In addition to documenting the production of a magazine, the <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> Magazine Records offer an account of the new music scene in America during the 1980s. The Artist Files describe the type of musician that was active in the scene, and the Subscription series identifies the audience. The strongest portion of the collection is from 1987-1991, or the time period when the magazine operated under Ear, Inc. There are some significant files from the earlier years when it was a part of the New Wilderness Foundation, particularly in the Production Files, and Fundraising series. The only information about the years 1973-1976 is found in interviews or other descriptions of the magazine’s history, rather than primary documents. The collection does not include much interoffice correspondence, such as memoranda, but there are many notes from meetings and other informal sessions. It also does not contain complete issues of the magazine, with the exception of damaged copies, and the final supplement, which was not widely distributed.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Ear magazine records are arranged in eleven series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20340#c589999'>Series I: General Office Files</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1975 - 1992, undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>2.5 linear feet (5 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p><span class=\"title\">Ear</span> magazine's office files consist of items central to the organization, such as Board of Directors' meeting minutes, and staff-related records. A significant part of the series documents the Spring Street Tenants Joint Venture, in which a group of arts organizations, including <span class=\"title\">Ear</span>, moved into a shared space at 131 Varick Street, New York, NY in 1989.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20340#c590094'>Series II: Production Files</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1962; 1977 - 1992, undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>6 linear feet (12 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series focuses on the production of <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> magazine, and includes a wealth of information about the magazine's contents. Noteworthy files include: Absolut CD project, Artwork, Correspondence, Issues, Printers and printing of magazine, Record Reviews, and Writers. Correspondence is arranged chronologically to allow it to follow the magazine's evolvement. The main difference between the correspondence from contributors and the general category is that these folders were originally separate in <span class=\"title\">Ear</span>'s files (however, the general folders will contain some contributors and vice versa). The Issues are also chronological, or rather, by volume number.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20340#c590313'>Series III: Artist Files</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1972 - 1992, undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>4.5 linear feet (9.25 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The artist files collected by <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> contain primarily professional information about musicians and other performance-based artists. Photographs, press releases, résumés or vitae, and clippings constitute the majority of these files. For help identifying the contents of the general alphabetical folders, see the artist index in Box 18, folder 1.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20340#c590530'>Series IV: Distribution</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1980 - 1992, undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1.75 linear feet (3.75 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series provides information on the distribution of <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> magazine, including circulation figures and shipping details. The majority of the series falls under the distributor level, which contains information about where <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> was sold, who was selling it, and how many copies were sold at each location. Other important folders include lists and invoices (Box 29, folder 13), and notes (Box 29, folders 17, 18).</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20340#c590599'>Series V: Advertising</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1980 - 1991, undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>4 linear feet (8.5 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p><span class=\"title\">Ear</span>'s advertising records show how the magazine evolved during the 1980s. The series consists of client files, which trace <span class=\"title\">Ear</span>'s relationship with various companies and advertising agencies. Folders without notes generally contain invoices and supporting information about the ad. Of note are the three folders of logs (Box 37, folders 6-8), which show advertising revenue per issue. The set of folders under the mailing lists is notable for the range of different contacts. Some of this information may not be directly related to advertising, but the staff pursued various resources and people in an effort to establish the magazine in both the music and publishing worlds.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20340#c590782'>Series VI: General Financial Papers</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1977 - 1992</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1.5 linear feet (3 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains a considerable number of reports created to track <span class=\"title\">Ear</span>'s accounts and expenses, specifically after the magazine became a non-profit corporation in 1987. These reports are found under fiscal year, which is organized chronologically. For information prior to 1987, see the folders titled \"Early records,\" and \"New Wilderness Foundation\" (Box 39, folder 6, and Box 41, folder 6, respectively). Also of note is the business plan drafted in 1986 as preparation for the magazine's separation from its parent organization.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20340#c590826'>Series VII: Fundraising</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1976 - 1992, undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>3.5 linear feet (7 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The three main components of this series are benefits, correspondence, and grants. The benefits are arranged chronologically, and contain information about parties hosted by <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> to raise money. The correspondence folders are notable for the examples of solicitations made by <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> to various celebrities and other individuals or corporations. Government grants were a major funding source for <span class=\"title\">Ear</span>, and the applications include a significant amount of background material about the magazine's history, its projects, and its finances. Please note that while the foundation files appear extensive, the information is generally of a lesser nature, in the form of annual reports or form letters, and there is little relevance to <span class=\"title\">Ear</span>.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20340#c590955'>Series VIII: Projects</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1979 - 1992</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1 linear foot (2 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>There are two types of projects found in this series. One concerns any kind of activity that <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> participated in as a magazine, or connected itself to for promotional purposes. The second type occurred primarily in 1991 as the magazine found itself in financial duress, and looked for ways to keep the <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> name alive (if not the publication). An example of the first type is the number of different radio programs <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> created or participated in during the 1980s. The latter type is best exemplified in Box 48, folders 8, and 10, which respectively deal with fundraising and management of the magazine.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20340#c590995'>Series IX: Subscription</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1978 - 1992</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>7.5 linear feet (15 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series features a complex arrangement scheme, due to the varied ways that <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> staff filed subscription forms. Rather than combine all forms into one alphabetical sequence, there are several different alphabetical sets, which were determined by the date span of the forms. In addition, other forms were found in separate folders labeled, for example, \"new\" or \"Canada.\" A notable group of forms is for libraries, which includes many academic institutions. Please also note that the correspondence folders are arranged chronologically, due to the multitude of requests and other general letters.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20340#c591155'>Series X: Subject Files</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1972 - 1992, undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>3 linear feet (6 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Although this series is extensive in the number of subjects it covers, the amount of information varies considerably. Much of the content is in the form of press releases or other media kits; rather, there is little unique material. One exception may be in the set of folders for the New Music America festivals, where <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> had some involvement (particularly the 1990 festival in Montreal).</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20340#c591236'>Series XI: Oversized Materials</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1977 - 1991, undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>2 linear feet (1 box</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The majority of this series is oversized production-related items, such as photographs and artwork. Of note are the veloxes, which include images of Laurie Anderson and Robert Wilson, and were used on covers of the magazine.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>The collection is organized into eleven series. They are:</p> <p> <ul> <li>Series I: General Office Files, 1975-1992, undated</li> <li>Series II: Production Files, 1962; 1977-1992, undated</li> <li>Series III: Artist Files, 1972-1992, undated</li> <li>Series IV: Distribution, 1980-1992, undated</li> <li>Series V: Advertising, 1980-1991, undated</li> <li>Series VI: General Financial Papers, 1977-1992</li> <li>Series VII: Fundraising, 1976-1992, undated</li> <li>Series VIII: Projects, 1979-1992</li> <li>Series IX: Subscription, 1978-1992</li> <li>Series X: Subject Files, 1972-1992, undated</li> <li>Series XI: Oversized Materials, 1977-1991, undated</li></ul></p>", "supress_display"=>true}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Ear, Inc. donated the <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> Magazine Records to the Music Division in 1993.</p>"}
- separatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<ul> <li>Sound recordings<ul> <li>Cassette tapes<ul> <li>Monty Alexander's Ivory and Steel sampler, undated</li> <li>Susan Botti, Jabberwocky, 1990</li> <li>Peter A. Brock, untitled sampler, 1985</li> <li>Anna Homler, Breadwoman, 1985</li> <li>Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, The Lion Roars, 1991</li> <li>Anita Wetzel, Interview by Ruth Dreier, undated</li></ul></li></ul> <ul> <li>Compact Discs<ul> <li>Amadinda Percussion Group, 1987</li> <li>The Mission U.K. and The Wonder Stuff, The Deliverance Tour sampler, 1990</li> <li>RRRadio, Live broadcast, undated</li></ul></li></ul> <ul> <li>Digital Audio Tapes<ul> <li> <span class=\"title\">Ear</span> Magazine, Absolut CD #3 reference copy, c.1991</li> <li>Radio Subcom, Europe Report - \"War looks good on a color TV\", c.1991</li></ul></li></ul> <ul> <li>LPs<ul> <li>George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, \"Emergency Calls\" soundsheet, 1987</li> <li>Kenney Weber, \"Shine\"/ \"Pick a Winner\" 45rpm, 1985</li></ul></li></ul></li></ul>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Chief, Music Division</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Anastasia Karel; Machine-readable finding aid created by Anastasia Karel.</p>"}
- extent_statement
-
37.25 linear feet (72 boxes)
- date_start
-
1962
- date_end
-
1992
- date_bulk_start
-
1977
- date_bulk_end
-
1991