Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1536125
12 maconmagazine.com | June/July 2025 W W hen you're hosting in town or you're traveling, do you talk about Macon's music? If you do – our past or our present? Asking the questions leads us to the real stor y. We didn't want to assume any expertise on the subject , so we asked some of our local talent in a roundtable discussion focused on artist compensation, featuring various voices in Macon's music scene. D o w e va l u e t h e m u s i c a n d t h e p e o p l e w h o a re c re a t i ng i t ? Hear it from the musicians, the engineers of the sound, the culture creators on p. 66 and in the third episode of our podcast . Spoiler alert: We've got work to do. I love a DJ, don't get me wrong. We tell some of their stories in our archives. But it's our musicians who write Macon's song, whose words can right Macon's wrongs. If only we tune in. Be sure to check out our homespun picks that were were recorded or debuted in the last year on p. 44. From Little Richard's ongoing influence on st yle and identit y far beyond the stage and seeing Otis and Zelma's legacy realized for our burgeoning artists, to composing our way to Carnegie Hall while we dig in to listening to the voices in Unionville building an arts festival, the notes are alive and you'll feel it in these pages. Are we keeping Otis's "dreams to remember" alive, building the next generation of legendar y musicians? If you've ever lost someone, you cling to memories to keep their legacy alive. A massive influence in my life and beloved friend, my f irst boss Allison Beale Fuchs recently died. At 46 and a daughter, sister, mother, wife, and dear friend to many, she is gone much too soon. In my grief, I've called on songs that we listened to most during formative years in my life. Making me long for more time with her, they do me no good, except to be the conduit to allow me to recall her voice, presence, spirit most vividly. Sometimes, the songs are the singular balm we can call on. W hether lyrics or melody, celebrator y or somber, the poetr y in music does that . And like the symphony that creates the song, to keep our song spinning in Macon it's imperative that we can count on our outreach tools (read about Visit Macon on p. 36), our teachers, and our audience. In this spirit we challenge you, reader, to buy the tickets to hear a local act , hire our musicians for your next function, or encourage a student to pick up a musical instrument and take lessons… We're listening. Tag @maconmagazine in your social media when you experience the authenticit y of Macon's music. Editor's letter | JUNE/JULY 2025 Editor, Susannah C. Maddux @susannahcmaddux W e w a n t t o k n o w y o u r s t o r y . J o i n t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n @ m a c o n m a g a z i n e o r e m a i l u s h e l l o @ m a c o n m a g a z i n e . c o m . ABOVE Managing Editor Julia Morrison and Zelma Redding BELOW MM staff receiving the McDuffie Award at Macon- Mercer Symphony Orchestra concert.