Atomic Reaction's Freestyle Music Magazine

[Jason@atomic]

My name is Jason D. LaMonaca. I am a writer that used to publish Freestyle Music Magazine. I also used to publish What’s Up?!? Music Newsletter. Also I used to write for DMA Magazine, Street Beat Magazine, Freestyle Focus Music Magazine, and a number of other publications.

Ever since bassy started asking about Freestyle Music Magazine, I have been getting flooded with PMs asking about it. Thaks to Rhoq for keeping the info alive.
Here is all the information....

Atomic Reaction Presents: Freestyle Music Magazine premiered in February 1994. It was the first all- Freestyle music magazine. Read: the first! It was bimonthly for the first three issues, and then went monthly with the fourth issue in August.

When it started out, Freestyle Music Magazine only published 250 copies and only had a circulation of Philly and South Jersey. Distribution included a couple clubs, a handful of DJs, and three record stores (Record Bar on Passyunk Ave in Philly, Tower Records on South Street in Philly, and The Music Factory in Sewell NJ.)

When the last issue was published, there were 5000 copies, and a circulation that included 85 subscribers, a flow list to over 150 industry types, (Record label people, artists, producers, club and radio DJs, other music writers, promoters, etc.) It was also available free in over 30 record stores and clubs across the USA, and in Canada.

Lack of money was the first and main reason for the stoppage of the magazine. There were only a handful of advertisers and only a few on a steady basis. The magazine was expensive to publish, and my partner Ernie Jackson, and myself, were paying for the printing, postage, film developing, etc. out of our own pockets, to the tune of almost $800 a month! And that doesn’t even cover the long distance phone bills!

Lack of support was the second reason for the stoppage of the magazine. It worked like this. Someone sends me new music. I would write about it. Someone mails me information about a new release or new artist - I would write about it. Someone phones or faxes me information- I would write about it. Good or bad, I would write about it. And I wouldn’t even say it was bad. I would just mention it was out now. But there I was every month calling the same record companies asking what is new, and when so-and so has a new song coming out. It was like pulling teeth! So there I was begging them for the information to help tell 5000 people about their new albums! They call that promotion!

Lack of respect was the third reason for the stoppage of the magazine. I never figured out how a record company would send 12 copies of their latest Freestyle single to a record pool in hopes that the DJs would play the record in front of maybe a 200 people each. Lets see, if all 12 Hip-Hop DJs played the new Freestyle song in front of about 200, lets even say 250 people… Cause that could happen! That would equal a maximum of 3000 half-drunk Hip-Hop heads that might hear the song in the middle of a mix, with no introduction of the artist or song title.
Or send one copy to me and I write about it and 5000 people who should know about it…do!

I did have a nice bunch of supporters though.
Ernie Jackson, Publisher who helped pay for the production of the magazine.
Team Atomic: who helped contribute in countless ways: David LoMastro, Pat Nardizzi, Robert J. Pino, Stephen Lanciano, and Steve Sibbitt.
Fellow Freestyle scribes: Steve “Mr. Miami” O’Neill and Bernie Rosenberg for their shared information.
Advertisers: Record Bar, Timber!/Tommy Boy Records, After Dark Records, the Winter Music Conference, Strong Island Records, and especially Tazmania Records, and the Music Factory in New Jersey.

I do not have any back issues!!!

Here is a brief synopsis of each issue

Issue 1 (Feb. ’94) Features:
 Collector covers available in Red, Yellow or Orange
 The premier of the Rumors column
 Record Reviews of Tazmania Freestyle Volume 1, and K7 – Swing Batta Swing
 Interview: Adam Marano
 Hot New Singles List

Issue 2 (April ’94) Features:
 On the Cover: Stefanie Bennett
 Special Tazmania Records Issue
 Interview: Tazmania Records' owners and producers Pete Cerone, Mike Ferullo, Anthony Ponzio, and Mykl Astorga of Pure Pleazure
 Pullout Centerfold Poster: Pure Pleazure and Stefanie Bennett
 Rumors
 Where Are They Now List
 Artist Profile: Stefanie Bennett
 Record Review: Viper Freestyle Hit Parade Vol. 2
 Atomic Top 10 List
 Hot New Singles List

Issue 3 (June ’94) Features:
 On the Cover: Denine
 Interview: Denine
 Rumors
 Pullout Centerfold Poster: Denine
 Record Reviews: Classic Freestyle/ and Lil’ Suzy – Back To Dance
 Atomic Top 10 List
 Hot New Singles List

Issue 4 (Aug. ’94) Features:
 On the Cover: Anthony Montleone of Collage
 Rumors changes it’s name to Whats’s Up?!? Featuring 2 whole pages of Freestyle news!
 Pullout Centerfold Poster: Sammy C. and Pain
 Artist Profile: Katja
 Record Reviews: Collage – Chapter 1, Jocelyn Enriquez – Lovely, and Tazmania Freestyle Volume 2 – The Return
 Atomic Top 10 List
 Hot New Singles List

Issue 5 (Sept. ’94) Features:
 On the Cover: Lil’ Suzy
 Whats’s Up?!?
 Interviews: Lil’ Suzy and Jocelyn Enriquez
 Pullout Centerfold Poster: Jocelyn Enriquez
 Artist Profile: Gina Lanze
 Record Reviews: Tury Q – I Love You, Nyasia – Nyasia, and Metropolitan Freestyle Extravaganza Volume 4
 Atomic Top 10 List
 Hot New Singles List

Issue 6 (Oct. ’94) Features:
 On the Cover: Giani
 Whats’s Up?!?
 Interview: Giani
 Pullout Centerfold Poster: Giani
 Artist Profile: Annette
 Record Reviews: Pure Pleazure and Stefanie Bennett – self titled EPs, Laura Enea – Catch Me Now
 Atomic Top 10 List
 Hot New Singles List

Issue 7 (Nov. ’94) Features:
 On the Cover: Pure Pleazure
 Whats’s Up?!?
 Interview: Pure Pleazure
 Pullout Centerfold Poster: Mail in Ballot for Best of ’94
 Artist Profile: Joei Mae
 Record Reviews: Stevie B. – Funky Melody, Korell – Make It Last Forever/, Denine – To Be Continued
 Atomic Top 10 List changes to Atomic Top 15
 Hot New Singles List

Issue 8 (Dec. ’94) Features:
 On the Cover: K7
 Whats’s Up?!?
 Interview: K7
 Pullout Centerfold Poster: K7
 Artist Profile: 8th Angel
 Record Reviews: Tazmania Freestyle Volume 3 – Stronger Than Ever, Viper Freestyle Hit Parade Vol. 3
 Atomic Top 15 List
 Hot New Singles List

Issue 9 (Jan. ’95) Features:
 On the Cover: Stevie B
 Whats’s Up?!?
 Best of ’94 Results
 Atomic Top 25 of 1994
 Pullout Centerfold Poster: Pure Pleazure
 Artist Profile: Michael Anthony
 Record Reviews: Metropolitan Freestyle Extravaganza Volume 5, Chris Phillips & Alexia – Always Thinking Of You
 Atomic Top 15 List
 Hot New Singles List

Issue 10 (Feb. ’95) Features:
 On the Cover: Stefanie Bennett
 Whats’s Up?!?
 Interview: Stefanie Bennett
 Pullout Centerfold Poster: Stefanie Bennett
 Artist Profile: Bethaney
 Record Review: Upstairs RecordsVolume 1
 Atomic Top 15 List
 Hot New Singles List

LAST ISSUE!
Issue 11 (March. ’95) Features:
 On the Cover: Cynthia
 Whats’s Up?!?
 Interview: Cynthia
 Pullout Centerfold Poster: Cynthia
 Artist Profile: Charlie
 Record Review: Ti Amo’s Freestyle Collection
 Atomic Top 15 List
 Hot New Singles List

 

[Rhoq]

No problem Jason.

I still have the last 3 issues around here, somewhere...

I remember I used to get them at the old Funk-O-Mart...

After the final issue as a magazine, I remember that there were a few months where the format was changed to just 1 page of information.

 

[bassy]

Jason:

Thank you for your post on Atomic Reaction. Lack of money + lack of support + lack of respect in '94 certainly sounds like more than enough reason to discontinue your endeavor but begs the question as to why you would consider another freestyle project in 2002 when there are less commercial releases, less commercial radio play and less and less bigger labels!

I had other questions in my mind not that one but as your pms are disabled after your deluge, I will just wish you good luck on your latest venture. I'm sorry if I caused you any distress.

 

[JackG]

You hold your place in Freestyle History Jason. Great job for trying to promote freestyle. I know exactly what you mean.