Gather round, for its time for another instalment of our Publisher 1-On-1, where we pick the brains of our publishing partners in 7 questions.

Today we’ll be hearing from Paul Geoghegan, publisher of music magazine Songlines and Managing Director of Mark Allen Music, Leisure & Travel.

Launched in 1999, Songlines is the leading magazine covering traditional, contemporary, folk and fusion music from around the world. Each issue is packed with the latest album reviews, artist interviews, festival profiles and travel adventures. Music is about culture, politics, history and the environment, and Songlines is your essential guide to it all. 

Issues From The Songlines Complete Digital Archive

Individuals and institutions can subscribe to the complete digital archive, comprising over 160 issues, in the Exact Editions online shops. Subscriptions allow readers unlimited, fully-searchable access across web, iOS and Android platforms.

On with the interview! Let’s see what Paul has to say:

1) What’s your role within Songlines? 

I’m the publisher of Songlines, which was launched in 1999, and the Managing Director of MA Music, Leisure & Travel, the division of the Mark Allen Group which publishes other music titles including Gramophone and Jazzwise.

2) What attracted you to the magazine publishing industry? 

I graduated from Nottingham University with a BA Hons in Classical Music and since I’ve always had the gift of the gab, it seemed obvious to combine the two, so my first job in the publishing industry was as a sales exec for Gramophone magazine. I just never expected to be working on the title 25 years later!

3) Who’s your favourite musician and why? 

It has to be Peter Gabriel; his music has been the soundtrack of my life for over 30 years and his album, Passion, is undoubtedly my desert island disc. In terms of a musician no longer with us, I’d have to say Frederic Chopin (who died in 1849) and whose piano works are exquisite.

4) If you weren’t working in publishing, what would you be doing? 

I’d probably be a burnt-out city trader by now.

5) Do you have an all-time favourite Songlines issue? 

Having published over 150 issues during the 20 years since we launched it’s tough to pick an all-time favourite. My favourite covers would have to be the 50th issue (March 2008) which had a stunning image of the planet within a gold foil frame. 

But also our July 2018 cover featuring Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara which was nominated in the BSME 2018 awards for consumer cover of the year. 

I’m also very proud of our (world exclusive) Sir David Attenborough issue (December 2018) and our latest issue (Jan/Feb 2020) which looks at how the music industry is tackling the climate crisis.

A selection of Paul’s favourite front covers

6) Which country have you enjoyed visiting most? 

My mum is Maltese so I love going to Malta and catching up with all the family.

However, I’d have to say Brazil which ticks all the boxes: music, food, drink — plus, I got engaged on Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio (and my wife would kill me if I didn’t mention that!)

7) What do you think the new decade will bring for the publishing industry? 

I’m fascinated to see what new technological devices will appear on the market, with consumers’ mobile consumption of media constantly increasing. The decade will undoubtedly bring new distribution platforms as we’ve already seen in recent years.

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Thanks so much for taking part Paul! If you’d like to be the star of an upcoming interview, please get in contact on publisher@exacteditions.com.