Migrate mag looks to grow global brand

Richard Inman has been booking bands at local venues since he was 17. His love of music eventually transformed into a event production company and online publication, Migrate. 

 

The online publication, Migrate Music News, supplies visitors with music reviews, interviews, show listings and downloadable songs. Migrate focuses on underground music in genres from rap to classical, but it started as an event production company.

The event production side of the business was Inman's main goal, but after seeing his long-time friend, Matthew Dickson, post the articles and reviews he wrote about lesser-known bands, the publication side of Migrate was born. Inman approached Dickson about working with Migrate, and the publication was soon launched with Dickson as the editor.

 

With goals of launching additional websites, print publications and creating events around the country and beyond, Inman needed a business partner. He ran into high-school friend, Brandon Walker and discussed his plans for Migrate. Walker joined the team a few days later. 

 

After only a few months, Inman and Walker were receiving press releases and albums from bands around the world. Now, they employ a web developer, an editor and six writers.

With the interest they received, the pair decided a print publication was a realistic option. The plans are to print two publications, Migrate Music News, which will feature information similar to the website, and Migrate, a magazine that will have feature articles in areas from fashion to music to lifestyle. Migrate is also working with venues such as the Emery Theater to bring live entertainment to Cincinnati.

 

"We chose the name Migrate because we won't just be based out of Cincinnati," Inman says. "We are building relationships in Colorado and even Europe to grow our brand worldwide."

 

Inman and Walker have their eyes on an OTR office space, which will serve as a headquarters once their printing gets started, which they expect to be before the year's end. They will distribute the magazine in Ohio and surrounding states and expect it to expand into other states once they build momentum. 

 

"It sounds chaotic when we say we are going to be doing all these things so soon," Inman says. "But we have everything balanced and have a good plan behind it."