Ear, Inc

Founded in Berkeley, CA in 1973 by Charles Shere and Ann Kish, Ear 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 Ear 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 Ear in 1979, but one of the other New York founding editors, RIP Hayman, remained active throughout the magazine’s life.

In 1976 the New Wilderness Foundation (NWF) took over the task of publishing Ear, 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 Ear ’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 Ear, and later its executive publisher.

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.

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 Ear changed format from tabloid size newsprint, to a standard 8 ½ x 11” format with glossy cover and 64 pages.

A major achievement occurred in the fall of 1990 when Absolut Vodka sponsored the production of new music CDs to include with issues of Ear . 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, Ear ’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 ( Ear ’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.

From the guide to the Ear magazine records, 1962-1992, 1977-1991, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)