Remembering Duncan Warwick of ‘Country Music People’ Magazine

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You might find it curious that the longest-running country music magazine in the world is not based out of Nashville, or distributed out of Texas. In fact, that distinction goes to the venerable magazine Country Music People that’s published out of London, England of all places.

Even as the internet has put many print publications out-of-business and perhaps made the idea of people cozying up with a magazine to read about their favorite artist or find something new to listen to seem quaint and obsolete, Country Music People has kept printing monthly issues no different than it’s done for 50 years, with some 650 issues in total published. Over that time it’s won the Wesley Rose International Achievement Award handed out by the Country Music Association (CMA) twice.

What’s even better is that Country Music People is probably one of the best country music publications around. If you enjoy the approach of a website like Saving Country Music where the emphasis is on under-covered and up-and-coming performers, that has also been the approach of Country Music People for many years, while also not ignoring important mainstream folks who are worthy of critical recognition.

While it might be a pipe dream for some independent performers to end up on a magazine cover in the United States, Country Music People has made that happen for numerous deserving artists over the years. By remaining in print and only delivering digital copies via PDF, Country Music People has also been able to keep its integrity as opposed to chasing clicks, while featuring album reviews, interviews, and features that always put the music first irrespective of a performer’s digital footprint.

Even better, Country Music People has always been proud to stay true to what country music is supposed to be. And since 2009, all of this has primarily been the fault the person at the helm of Country Music People, editor Duncan Warwick. Known as a staunch supporter of traditional country music who was unafraid to share his honest opinion, he was the heart and soul of Country Music People for 15 years.

Unfortunately, Duncan Warwick passed away on November 17th. He’d been fighting a long battle with Cancer. He was 63-years-old.

“Duncan has been a huge advocate and champion for traditional country music and its creators for decades,” said American traditional country artist Scott Southworth at the news of Warwick’s passing—one of many performers who spoke fondly for Warwick upon the news. “The community owes him so much gratitude for shining a light on the music creators. But even more important to me is he was a great friend.”

British country artist Ags Conolly gave praise to Warwick for “..the ability to see beyond hype, PR and budgets and get to the music. It’s impossible to name every artist his reviews introduced me to. Duncan would shout names like this from the rooftops in the hope that their music would be heard above the din of mainstream Nashville and the hype train in general. He was a champion of real country music (with a distinct penchant for the 80s and 90s!).”

Those who know about Country Music People swear by it. But since it’s digital presence is virtually nonexistent, you have to know about it to know, and this truth was also extended to Duncan Warwick. This purposeful effort to not capitulate to the internet age by Warwick is what has kept the publication pure, and free of digital residue.

To be frank, it was a question if even writing this remembrance for Warwick was appropriate since the digital signature he leaves is virtually non-existent. But it also seems like a dereliction of duty to not herald a guy who championed so many unheralded artists in country music for so many years.

In January of 2018, Saving Country Music was asked to contribute a Top 10 Albums list of the previous year to Country Music People, and it was a privilege to be featured in the publication beside Duncan Warwick, and other important characters in British musical journalism like BBC’s Bob Harris. Both Warwick and Saving Country Music agreed that Zephaniah OHora’s This Highway was one of the best of the year.

Upon Duncan Warwick’s passing, Country Music People posted on Facebook,

One of his greatest wishes throughout the final few days of his illness was that the magazine continues in its current format, and we are working hard to ensure this happens. CMP magazine has been Duncan’s ‘baby’ for many years and he always saw it as a way to share his huge love, and knowledge of country music with as many like minded people as possible. He has been an inspiration to ‘newcomers’ to the genre and never too busy to discuss, recommend and listen to peoples views on different artists and styles. We will, of course, keep all of our subscribers informed of developments and wish to assure you all that our intention is to continue with CMP magazine as per Duncan’s wishes.

Duncan Warwick: July 18, 1961 – November 17, 2024

© 2024 Saving Country Music

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