Mark Herman departs from Live Sound International

News

Andy Wood Apr 1 2008, 12:00pm

Magazine publishing veteran looks to new vistas after 17 years at the helm

Mark Herman, the ebullient San Francisco-based publisher of Live Sound International has announced his departure from the company to pursue new challenges.

After 17 years at the helm of the groundbreaking US title, Herman, who sold the magazine to Boston, Mass based EH publishing just under two years ago, has decided to call it a day as head of Huge Universe, a conglomeration that includes the highly successful ProSoundWeb.com website.

The move, seen as highly significant in the industry, allows Herman (pictured with wife Lucy, and daughter Holly) to concentrate on family life and new business ventures, which follow on from his highly successful SF-based dry-hire rental pro audio company, manufacturing and publishing ventures.

Explaining his move in the current issue of Live Sound International, Herman states that; "There is a similarity between producing timely media and a live show. Turning out a monthly techie niche audio magazine is like being on a world tour that never ends. There are many constant deadlines, plenty of critics, little room for error and no true vacation for one completely consumed by the passion to produce a quality B2B publication in today’s world of bottom line expectations. Add on the 24/7 pressure of maintaining the industry’s biggest website, ProSoundWeb.com, and it is similar to mixing FOH and monitors, collecting the money, herding the band and driving the truck – every day.

"Recently when asked what mattered most to me in the world, I replied, “Time. I desperately want to be around to watch my young daughter grow up. Have a relaxed lunch date with my fabulous wife. Talk to my brother when he calls instead of putting him off for a business call. Visit the parents and in-laws. Hang out with friends outside of business. Trim the roses. Go skiing. That kind of time.

"As a man with more than enough material wealth and success than I ever expected in this lifetime, this revelation hit home so hard I had to reconsider everything and make a choice that was inevitable anyway.

"Knowing that I’m a self-confessed workaholic this is a very hard thing to say: I am leaving the job of running Huge Universe Inc., which includes Live Sound magazine and ProSoundWeb.com. It is the moment to “chill” and smell the many roses that I have neglected for years.

"I proudly profess an extremely strong emotional attachment to Live Sound that will likely never go away. It has been a large part of my life for 17 years and has consumed me in a quest for excellence, reality, fun and a decent read on the bus/plane, or in the office/bathroom.

"Thank you to all the industry leaders and quality readers who have helped grow Live Sound into a premium print and digital magazine. Of course there are not enough words to express my appreciation to the incredible writers and contributors who have always been the heart of the content. Same with ProSoundWeb.com: The moderators and frequent posters are what make it the greatest audio forum on earth. Without all of these people each asset just wouldn’t be real. Keep the killer content and attitude coming!

"Everything is now in good hands for the transition and I look forward to getting my monthly copy. For once I will be the reader anticipating the next cover and the insights provided by the various writers."

Herman is keeping his future plans close to his chest at the moment, however, sources close to him suggest that he will not be letting the grass grow long under his feet.