Wanna Buy Yourself a Career As a Music Journalist?

Earlier today, someone alerted me to something called Guitar Media Magazine. I'd never heard of it before, but I had a look at their website and it has lots of interesting articles about stuff like Stone Sour recording a new album and some guitars that are so beautiful they'd "probably make Tom Morello jealous as shit". It also has some empty forums where people don't gather to talk about diatonics and scales and other stuff I haven't cared about since I "completed" guitar when I was 16. Anyway, the strapline of the site boasts that the magazine is "100% FREE to read". But Guitar Media Magazine hasn't always been 100 percent FREE to write for.

Before they deleted it last week, there was a page at their website (cached here) advertising the opportunity for "budding reviewers" to join their new "Gig Reviewers Members Scheme".

"Be a gig reviewer and go see artists such as Joe Bonamassa, Guns N Roses, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Rush, Joe Satriani and many more as a member of the Guitar Media press team," they said.

Sounds good. I don't know who Joe Bonamassa is, but if his name's anything to go by, he's the new Santana, and I love the way that guy makes sweet love to his axe. So how might I take advantage of this wonderful offer?

To be a part of this you need to have the following:

- Driving License or access to transportation
- A talent for writing informative articles
- Be over the age of 18
- Have a computer/laptop with WORD or equivalent.
- Have a clear understanding of music from all genres

A "talent" might be a bit strong, but for argument's sake, let's say "check" on the first five. I'm not sure I can say I have a "clear understanding" of all the genres, but I can try, and besides, I couldn't find any articles about clownstep or drill and bass on the Guitar Media Magazine website, so I think I'll be OK.

Anything else? "We are charging an annual fee for this membership at £49.99 GBP or for US applicants its $79.99 USD (Other currencies will be calculated upon giving your payment details)"

What? I have to pay to write for your magazine? That's weird, because in all my previous experience (NME, Loops, the Quietus, Stool Pigeon, the BBC, a few others, WITHOUT WANTING TO BLOW MY OWN TRUMPET…) it's worked the other way round.

So, I got in touch with the people behind Guitar Media Magazine to see if their kind offer was still open. (And BTW, I wasn't aware of anyone else emailing them before this, but I guess they must have received a few messages already for them to think I was part of a "mob".)

So there you go. I guess that's one way in which music journalism might be able to "save itself". Hopefully they'll be in touch soon to ask where to send the cheque.

(PS: If you're a "budding" music journalist and you want to write for VICE, send your copy to kev dot kharas at vice dot com and I'll see what we can do.)

Follow Kev on Twitter: @kevkharas