Nashville, TN (February 28, 2008) -- Cory Sparks of STP Music Group and SIT Marketing has taken the Nashville-based southern hip-hop publication, Concrete Magazine, to Memphis as its first stop on the road to expansion. Sparks will serve as the Editor-in-Chief of Concrete Memphis.
With Ricardo Hunter as head of media and Tierney Hendricks as sales and creative consultant, Sparks plans to build on the success that Concrete Magazine has seen for the past four years in the Nashville area. "We decided to franchise the Concrete Magazine brand," says Sparks. "I always respected the magazine since it's been circulating in Nashville. I figured I had to bring it to Memphis and put a spin on it." The Memphis version of the magazine will include local talent, promoters, businesses, radio stations and other features that embody the city's edge and culture.
Bryan Deese, innovator of Concrete Magazine and Nashville Editor-in-Chief, is very optimistic about the expansion. "We are really excited. We are working with some great people," says Deese. "They are a very knowledgeable team who are in the know about trends and young America. They are very capable to make it a go. Memphis is a great market to support such a magazine." With approximately 10,000 copies distributed bi-monthly in the Nashville area, Sparks plans to carry over this concept to Memphis. The pocket-sized magazine is about 40-60 pages and free of charge. "We have to appeal to our people," says Sparks. "Memphis has a lifestyle of its own. We want people to talk about our magazine and only our magazine." With the slogan, "You Can't Lose When The City's Behind You," Sparks hopes the magazine will become a mascot for the city. Plans to expand the franchise publication to other cities are underway.
The inaugural issue of Concrete Memphis hits the city on April 15th with a special edition, "Kings and Queens of Memphis." Concrete Memphis will be available at over 150 locations such as nightclubs, restaurants, barber shops and beauty salons. For more information, contact: concretememphis@gmail.com
About Concrete Magazine
Founded by Bryan Deese, Concrete Magazine is a free urban publication started 2004 in Nashville, TN. Catering to males and females ages 14-33, Concrete showcases the hottest hip-hop artists, models and businesses in the South with interviews, album reviews, advertisements and lifestyle articles. Covering the hottest trends in music and urban culture, the magazine became one of the top street marketing vehicles in the southeast region and received the SEA Urban Magazine of the Year Award in 2006. Concrete Magazine is available at urban music retailers, clothing stores and college campuses in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. www.concretemag.com or www.myspace.com/concretemag
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