Ryan's Gig Guide
Ryan's Gig Guide is an independent incisive band friendly gig guide and music magazine based in The Black Country, England and distributed throughout the West Midlands United Kingdom. The printed publication is not just a list of gigs each month, but the finger on the pulse of the Birmingham and the Black Country music scene. The magazine was founded by editor Reckless Ryan in 1995 - though he sold the magazine to Valtex Ltd in January 2018 - and is based in the Black Country. It is a free magazine in association with Surge Music published monthly  and distributed to pubs, clubs, venues and music centres located within Birmingham and The Black Country. Its editorial coverage concentrates mainly on bands and songwriters whose music originates from the Midlands and on music events taking place in Birmingham, The Black Country and surrounding areas. Writer Nick J Townsend is credited for being mainly responsible for covering live reviews of high-profile events. Artists who have graced the front cover of the magazine include The Wonder Stuff, Megan Reece (singer), Erica Nockalls and Ned's Atomic Dustbin. In 2008 Ryan's Gig Guide had a revamp after Weak13 vocalist and  guitarist Nick J.Townsend became a columnist for the magazine and introduced a regular monthly column which originally began as an industry advice page but in later years became a popular satirical music column. The column written by Nick uses a style of humour that is savage, profane and often controversial; critically analysing national music media and international music news. As readership increased, in 2012 another regular feature page titled 'The Verdict' was introduced to the once gig listings only magazine, a CD review page became a lifeline to the careers of musicians, songwriters and bands from Birmingham and The Black  Country area. Singles, EPs, Albums and Demos from original artists are reviewed every month in the magazine's pages. Many artists awarded 'Album of the month' or given a positive review have found many doors open to them in the music industry. In March 2014, editor Reckless Ryan launched an on-line version of the magazine to mirror the printed version.