Nine-O-One Network

The magazine originated during the heralded 1986 "Class of '55" recording session in Memphis with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Carl Perkins. Producer Chips Moman asked James L. Dickerson, a reporter with The Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis, if he would create a magazine that could be used as part of a sales package for a telemarketing campaign for the album. Dickerson agreed to do it without fee if Moman would allow him to name the magazine, copyright it, and use it to launch a bi-monthly music magazine. Moman agreed, and the magazine was named Nine-O-One Network, the name derived from Memphis's telephone area code, 901.Dickerson, James L. (1996) Goin' Back to Memphis: A Century of Blues, Rock 'n' Roll, and Glorious Soul. Schirmer/Simon&Schuster. {{ISBN|0-02-864506-5}} Dickerson resigned from The Commercial Appeal to publish the magazine so that he would not have a conflict of interest.Wiley, Rob (April 1988). "Introducing Memphis' International Music Magazine". Memphis Magazine.

The first subscription check to arrive in the mail came from Cash. Soon afterward a subscription check arrived from Lewis.Dickerson, James (1996) Goin' Back to Memphis: A Century of Blues, Rock 'n' Roll, and Glorious Soul. Schirmer/Simon & Schuster. {{ISBN|0-02-864506-5}}.

By the end of the first year, the full-color, slick paper magazine had newsstand circulation in fourteen states. By the end of 1987 it was sold on newsstands in all 50 states and throughout Canada, and in selected cities in Portugal, Japan, Australia and the Soviet Union. The distributor was Capital Distribution Co. of Derby, Connecticut. At its peak, the magazine had a circulation of 100,000 which made it the third-largest music magazine in the United States, behind Rolling Stone and Spin.Grantham, Lee (August 27, 1987). "Nine-O-One Network Emphasizes Memphis Music". The Daily News (Memphis). p. 1.

Initially, the magazine was financed by Dickerson, who used his savings and cashed in his life insurance policy to live on and pay start-up costs. The magazine was incorporated in the State of Tennessee and preferred common stock was offered, all of it purchased by 25 Mississippi and Tennessee investors.

The first issue featured a photograph of Cash, Perkins, Orbison and Lewis. The second issue featured Rolling Stone Ron Wood as the cover story, with inside articles about Belinda Carlisle, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Steve Wariner and Sweethearts of the Rodeo. The eclectic mix reflected the magazine's philosophy that a true American music magazine should contain articles about all the major forms of native music{{spaced ndash}} rock and roll, country, blues and jazz.

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• Issue 1{{spaced ndash}} Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Carl Perkins
• Issue 2{{spaced ndash}} Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones
• Issue 3{{spaced ndash}} Deborah Allen
• Issue 4{{spaced ndash}} Aimee Mann
• Issue 5{{spaced ndash}} Robert Cray
• Issue 6{{spaced ndash}} Gregg Allman
• Issue 7{{spaced ndash}} Elvis Presley
• Issue 8{{spaced ndash}} David Bowie and Ringo Starr
• Issue 9{{spaced ndash}} The Bangles and B.B. King
• Issue 10{{spaced ndash}} Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart; Waylon Jennings
• Issue 11{{spaced ndash}} Dan Fogelberg, Willie Nelson and Yes

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Back issues of Nine-O-One Network Magazine are available at:

• Memphis, Tennessee, Public Library, Benjamin Hooks Central Library [http://www.memphislibrary.org/about/libraries/central.htm Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library]

In 1988, the magazine formed a spin-off company to produce a radio syndication called Pulsebeat{{spaced ndash}} Voice of the Heartland. With James L. Dickerson as executive producer, the company produced two programs{{spaced ndash}} a 30-minute, weekly country music program that was carried by about 60 radio stations from coast to coast, and a 60-minute blues program that was produced in partnership with Helena, Arkansas, radio station KFFA-Am, which had broadcast since 1941 the universally acclaimed King Biscuit Time show.Wynn, Ron (May 6, 1988). "Magazine Begetting Offspring for Radio". The Commercial Appeal.

Both syndicated programs featured radio personality Kim Spangler. Veteran King Biscuit announcer "Sunshine" Sonny Payne, KFFA general manager George Hays and Memphis radio personality Henry Nelson also hosted segments on the blues show.Lee, Larry (November 26, 1988). "Blues Show to Go Big-Time". The Commercial Appeal. The weekly blues show was broadcast by 40 stations from New York City to the Yukon. Featured guests included Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Melissa Etheridge and Little Milton. Pulsebeat—Voice of the Heartland ceased operations in 1990.

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• List of defunct American magazines
• List of music magazines

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Category:Bimonthly magazines published in the United States

Category:Music magazines published in the United States

Category:Defunct magazines published in the United States

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Category:Magazines disestablished in 1989

Category:Magazines established in 1986

Category:Mass media in Memphis, Tennessee

Category:Magazines published in Tennessee