Our History

Enter Music was formed by Andy Doerschuk, Connie Hood, Phil Hood, and Kristine Ekstrand in 1991 with a simple idea in mind: Reach as many young drummers as possible and help them achieve their musical goals. The first issue of DRUM!, an oversized tabloid featuring studio legend Joe Franco and Anthrax’s Charlie Benante on the cover, came out in September of that year. It was a free magazine, given away in West Coast music and record shops.

Though a free drumming mag was a first, it wasn’t profitable when we tried to expand it beyond California. Eventually, DRUM! became a glossy and shrunk to today’s svelte 8 1/8” x 10 3/4” size.

Prior to starting DRUM! Andy had played with the Naughty Sweeties, Billy Vera and other bands in Los Angeles. In the ’80s and ’90s he performed or recorded with a who’s who of music royalty from Chet Atkins to Leslie West to blues stars like Debbie Davies and Tommy Castro. He continues to perform occasionally with blues artists in northern California.

While working at Guitar Player Publications (now New Bay Media, musicplayer.com) Andy and Phil first teamed to produce Drums & Drumming, a magazine that Andy started. In its too-brief existence, Drums & Drumming won kudos for its design and approach to stories. But it went down in flames in 1991, when the company’s new owners, closed it in a round of cost cutting. But the experience there was invaluable. Andy was the editor of dozens of books and also the launch editor of Bass Player magazine. Phil formerly was the editor of Frets and also the original publisher of EQ magazine.

After the bloody demise of Drums & Drumming (a saga we’ll tell another time), DRUM! was born less than a year later.

  • 1991

    • The first issue of DRUM! is published with Charlie Benante and Joe Franco on the cover.

  • 1992

    • First magazine to publish a cover story on Chad Smith.

  • 1993

    • DRUM! stages the world’s first all-electronic percussion expo in Los Angeles.
    • First special issue on electronic percussion.
    • Moved to Lincoln Avenue in the Willow Glen section of San Jose.

  • 1994

    • First drumming magazine online (AOL)

  • 1995

    • First drumming magazine to cover Carter Beauford
    • First drumming magazine with a special issue on hand drumming.

  • 1996

    • The Drummies! Awards are launched.
    • DRUM! introduces Stark Raving Brad, to the consternation of bluenoses everywhere.
    • First cover story on Taylor Hawkins

  • 1998

    • Believe it or not, DRUM! publishes the world’s first Mitch Mitchell cover story.
    • 50th Issue. Moved to North Ninth Street in Japantown.
    • Moved to Lincoln Avenue in the Willow Glen section of San Jose.

  • 1999

    • First special issue on female drummers (what took us so long?).
    • First magazine to write about the amazing John Otto.

  • 2000

    • DRUM’s February issue is available with four different covers celebrating artists of the past decade.
    • First drumming magazine to put Travis Barker on its cover.

  • 2001

    • Best selling issue of the year: How to Play Fast.

  • 2002

    • Special Issue on Recording is a first for the drumming magazine business.

  • 2003

    • Stick It! Magazine expires and DRUM! takes over the subscriber list.

  • 2004

    • DRUM! puts a career board game in the magazine.

  • 2005

    • DRUM! introduces Collector Cards.
    • DRUM! runs a poster in nearly every issue.

  • 2006

    • Launch of TRAPS magazine.
    • Launch of HOW TO PLAY DRUMS, a magazine/dvd for intermediate players

  • 2007

    • Launch of short-lived first digital edition of a drumming magazine called DRUM! DIGITAL

  • 2009-2010

    • Remarkable Run Of Legends On The Cover: Neil Peart, Chad Smith, Mike Portnoy, Carter Beauford, Travis Barker, Jason Bittner, Matt Cameron, Steve Jordan, Dave Lombardo.
    • DRUM! Night launches with Tower Of Power, Thomas Pridgen, and Marco Minnemann concert.

  • 2011

    • Hall of Fame established with February Issue.
    • Mike Bordin wins BADAAS award (Bay Area Drummers Achievement Award) at DRUM! Night.
    • DRUM! launches global ad network for percussion advertisers, the Enter Music Network.

  • 2012

    • Big Cymbal Issue released: Readers call it "the best issue of any drumming magazine ever."
    • DRUMmagazine.com reaches 125,000 visitors monthly
    • First female drumming contest Hit Like A Girl 2012 launched with partners. Hit Like A Girl

  • 2013

    • The "200 Greatest Moments In Drumming Issue" released in February.
    • DRUMmagazine.com becomes North America's most popular drumming website.