Two weeks after resigning his post as chief operating officer
of The Source magazine, publisher Jeremy Miller has announced the launch of
DOWN magazine, a new publication focusing on the southern Hip-Hop scene.
chose that name because essentially, it’s a magazine entirely dedicated to southern
hip hop and down south [music], that’s pretty much where it came from,"
Miller told AllHipHop.com. "I want to focus on the music that’s being played
in the south, the music that’s being performed by southern artists, or if you’re
new and upcoming artist, music that I think could be played down south in the
clubs or the radio, that might be more of a southern style."
Miller plans to have the new title on the newsstands on July
26 in 16 states across North America. The magazine will regularly highlight
up-and-coming artists from southern regions and emphasizes that no other publication
puts such a spotlight on southern hip-hop talent.
"I am somewhat biased when it comes to music I like,"
Miller said. "I like southern hip-hop music. I like the crunk type music.
I am going to be open to every form of music coming out of the south, but I
am going to have a focus on that grimy, country get crunk style of Hip-Hop.
I am not trying to reinvent the wheel. The Source and XXL both have wonderful
formats. I’m taking almost the same format and plugging in the niche style of
music within Hip-Hop."
Each issue of the magazine, which will be initially published
bi-monthly, includes a compilation CD featuring tracks from unsigned hip-hop
artists from the South.
have investors in the magazine, because it takes a lot of money to ensure you
are going to be around for that third fourth or fifth issue," Miller said.
"I told people I wouldn’t put out the first issue until I could tell them
when the second third and fourth issue were coming out."
As former COO of The Source for three years, Miller was involved
in the hip-hop magazine’s publishing division, securing book deals and
overseeing foreign licensing agreements among other things.
The Oklahoma native started as an intern at the magazine in
1991 while attending New York University’s Stern School of Business.
"After I moved into the circulation department, I helped
grow the magazine from 50,000 copies to 800,000 copies," Miller stated.
"My primary focus early on was expanding the magazine and getting the magazine
to the streets and the stores.
"I am hoping I have that catch 22 of having to print more
copies than I am planning on by the second or third issue. That will be a nice
problem to have."
