The Editor in Chief and COO Speaks Out on Cashbox Canada

We live in an 'instant' world and the days of writing, creating and publishing have become so much faster than the old way of operating a magazine. We have an online issue of Cashbox Magazine, the magazine that started decades ago in the United States and was famous for coining the phrase 'With A Bullet' when a song was making fast moves up the radio charts.

There are days when the electronic world comes crashing down and the October 5 issue fell into that slot. From one of our employees being hacked, to my submitting files being corrupt, late submissions and other issues that seem to only happen when that word 'Deadline' is flashing in front of you. In my haste to publish on time, I made a “clerical” error that saw us publishing the wrong story and caused a maelstrom of activity on the social network FaceBook. I was prepared to move on but in light of the attack on myself, our staff and our publication,  I felt it necessary to respond. My silence might be conceived as guilt.

Once made aware of the situation I corrected the error, apologized and considered it an honest mistake. While researching my story, I saved in my documents a story on the subject I was writing about, using facts from another writer from another publication. I was using it purely for factual content. I wrote my story, saved it and went on to other stories to edit.  When I sent my story to be published I sent the wrong file, which was accidently published instead of mine and started an avalanche of comments.  I corrected the mistake, confessed my error to the offended party but by that time the hate and offensive slander on myself, my staff and our credibility was in full swing. We were accused of knowing nothing about journalism. We were accused of doing nothing but cut and paste stories.  Maybe we are not ink stained scribes rooted in tradition, but we know music, have radio and record business experience, songwriting and producing credits  as well as journalism and editor backgrounds.  One responder said we wrote stories about  “has beens” and “never was acts.’ Or acts who are “friends of the publisher”. In fact that is correct. I am proud to call various rock legends friends, who have sold millions of units, hold Order of Canada positions, Songwriter Hall of Fame credits, Junos and other accomplishments both here and in other countries. These so-called 'has-beens' are ones I am honoured to know and have many a time been mentored by one or two of them. The music industry is built on connections and friendships. Without these trailblazers I would never have had a career that has lasted over four decades plus.

One person went so far as to question whether or not we actually had the right to use the name Cashbox. Bruce Elrod, President of Cashbox Magazine U.S.A., commenting on this mob mentality attack, " I brought the legendary Cashbox Magazine back to life in 2006 with the blessing of the grandsons of the original Cashbox. Cashbox Canada signed a deal with us in 2009 to own and operate Cashbox Canada, with the rights to use our logo. We are pleased to work with the Canadians as music should have no borders.Canada plays an important part in the mosaic of the music world and we are proud of the work the Canadian team has done with Cashbox Canada. They are every bit a part of Cashbox Magazine in the United States."

The positive outcome is I saw the real side of people I considered strong allies in this business, some of them showed their true colours, others were steadfast in their loyalty. The interesting part was there actually ones who attacked us while knowing they had received many editiorials and reviews of their artists from us in the past. Others have never even met us or know us personally or professionally in any way.

In closing, I will make the statement that Cashbox Canada will continue with our original mandate when we started the publication close to four years ago. We will always give press to the legendary artists; without them there would be no Canadian Music Industry. We will promote unknown and wonderfully talented artists who deserve a leg up when they have given their all to their music and dreams. We will not be swayed by this negative attack and will do so for the love of an industry that we are proud to have been in for over forty years. We have never forced advertising on anyone, and our writers, contrary to another comment, write all their stories themselves, with great passion and love for music.

I have a great staff and they deserved better than this but it is so easy to be brave behind a computer screen on Facebook.

For our loyal friends, fans and readers , thank you for your support. For the others I am sorry you don't see the value of what we are doing. Thousands of others do.

Sandy Graham C.O.O. Editor In Chief Cashbox Canada