One of the best sources in the industry for album release dates, Ice Magazine, has closed its doors.
The last issue of Ice.
The details behind the magazine folding remain elusive at the moment, but the publication’s founder, Pete Howard, promises that he will not be disappearing into thin air, and that a link to a Q&A and discussion forum about the whys and hows of the magazine’s departure will appear at IceMagazine.com in short order. In the meantime, Howard successfully wrangled a deal to have his subscribers finish their subscriptions by receiving Billboard Magazine instead, which at least shows how well-respected Ice was in the industry.
I guess the internet kind of killed Ice, since anyone can pop onto the ‘net and get release dates at the drop of a hat, but when I was a record store clerk, there was almost bloodshed between the employees over who would get to read the new issue of Ice first. I’m as guilty as anyone for its demise – I was never a subscriber – but I never failed to recommend it as the definitive source for what’s coming soon. It will be missed.
