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July 28, 2005

Bio of Mike Shea

Mike Shea is the Publisher and CEO of The Alternative Press Magazine, one of the most well-respected music publications in the nation. He is the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats Vice President for Media Relations, and is a regular contributor to Instict magazine.

Mike first entered journalism in 1985 when Kent State University decided to close its film school. As a young film student without a film school, Mike Shea turned his attention to journalism. As a member of Ohio's punk rock scene, a friend soon convinced Mike to publish a homemade fanzine.

Using the skills he learned while being editor/writer of his highschool newspaper, he put together a four-page fanzine and handed it out at Cleveland area punk rock shows. The publication would soon grow into The Alternative Press Magazine, with mike becoming the CEO and Publisher.

20 years later, A.P. is one of the most respected new music/youth culture publications in America. With circulation of over 200,000 copies every month, A.P. can be found in every major bookstore and record store chain as well as in many supermarkets and convenience stores in the U.S., Canada and overseas.

Mike Shea has won several awards for his contributions to the music world. In 1995, Mike received Most Influential Person in Music award from Northern Ohio Live. In 2002, Cleveland Scene Magazine named Mike as one of the "Top 10 Most Influential People in Cleveland's Music Scene" while that same year the Cleveland Plain Dealer listed Mike as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Cleveland's Music History. In 2004, AP was awarded "The Best Contribution in Cleveland's Music Scene" by SCENE Magazine.

By joining TrailMix as a regular contributor, Mike is able to once again return to a creative instant-publishing format that kicked him onto the field of journalism 20 years ago.

Posted by NSD at July 28, 2005 10:47 AM