It is with a heavy heart that I make the official announcement that many of you have anticipated: The Beat magazine has ceased publication and will no longer be taking subscriptions. The precipitous decline in the music business, publishing business and the economy has finally caught up with us after 28 years of existence.

There is one piece of news that will keep The Beat as we knew it alive for the future. An information resource company called Proquest that provides databases of periodicals to libraries and research institutions will include the entire print edition of The Beat in the International Index to Music Periodicals and Ethnic NewsWatch databases in 2010. The Beat's back issues will then be available to the public online at any library that subscribes to these services. Please visit the links below for more:

GET THE BEAT

GET THE BEAT

Stay tuned, and keep checking the ByeByeBeat blog for updates.

Thanks to everyone for all the support over the years. It has been carrying us through a difficult time.