Music Connection – August 2026

Summary

Megadeth sits at page 36 of Music Connection August 2026 and Ross Halfin's photographs run at 62, with Vol. 50's issue also offering exclusive directories of rehearsal studios and gear rentals at 50 and a drummer roundtable at 39.

Music Connection August 2026 (Vol. 50) leads with Megadeth at 36 and Photos: Ross Halfin at 62, alongside the 2026 Drummer Roundtable at 39 and exclusive directories of rehearsal studios and gear rentals at 50. Departments run Close Up at 8, New Toys at 10, Book Store at 14, Up Close at 16, Studio Mix at 18, The Legal Beat at 24, Signing Stories at 26, Song Biz at 28 and Film-TV-Theater-Games at 32.

Profiles carry Justin Gray at 20, L. Londell McMillan at 22, Angie Hartley at 24, Jimmy Jam at 30, Ronit Kirchman and Taura Stinson at 33, Taj Mahal at 42 and 16" On Center at 43. Reviews run NMCs at 44, Albums at 46 and Lives at 47, with Tip Jar at 62. Priced $3.95, or $4.95 in Canada, the issue is built around the rehearsal and rental directories and the Megadeth and Jimmy Jam pieces.

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Content Guide

▸ Features
p.36 · MEGADETH
Megadeth take the lead feature at 36, with the piece covering the band and the work behind them. It names the records and the players. Play the album discussed here before the reviews at 46.

p.62 · PHOTOS: ROSS HALFIN
Ross Halfin's photographs run at 62, closing the issue with a photography feature. The page names the subjects he shot. Study one frame for how he lights a stage, then try it at your next show.

p.39 · DRUMMER ROUNDTABLE 2026
The 2026 Drummer Roundtable gathers players at 39 to talk through their work. The piece names the drummers and the questions they answer. Take one practice point from a drummer here and use it this week.

▸ Profiles
p.20 · PRODUCER CROSSTALK: JUSTIN GRAY
Justin Gray takes Producer Crosstalk at 20, covering his production work and method. The piece names the records and the approach. Listen to a track he produced with his method in mind.

p.30 · SONGWRITER PROFILE: JIMMY JAM
Jimmy Jam is profiled at 30, covering his songwriting career and the records behind it. The piece names the songs and the artists. Study one song's structure from the list here.

p.42 · ARTIST PROFILE: TAJ MAHAL
Taj Mahal gets the artist profile at 42, tracing his career and current work. The piece names the records and the instruments. Play an early Taj Mahal record after reading, since the profile anchors on it.

p.22 · EXEC PROFILE: L. LONDELL MCMILLAN
L. Londell McMillan is profiled at 22, covering his executive role and the business he works in. The piece names the companies and the deals. Check the company named here if you work in the same field.

▸ Directories
p.50 · EXCLUSIVE DIRECTORIES OF REHEARSAL STUDIOS AND GEAR RENTALS
The exclusive directories of rehearsal studios and gear rentals run at 50, listing facilities and rental houses. The listings give the contacts a working musician needs. Save these pages, since they are the most-used part of the issue.

▸ Departments
p.10 · NEW TOYS
New Toys at 10 covers new gear and software, naming products where printed. It is the quickest gear page in the issue. Note one product here and demo it before buying.

p.26 · SIGNING STORIES
Signing Stories at 26 reports recent signings, naming artists and labels. The column tracks who is moving. Pitch to the label named here if your material fits.

p.28 · SONG BIZ
Song Biz at 28 covers the business of songwriting, naming deals and organisations. The column gives working detail. Compare the terms here with your own publishing agreement.

▸ Reviews
p.46 · ALBUMS
Albums at 46 reviews recent releases with verdicts. The section names records and artists. Sample one record reviewed here before the month's other releases.

p.47 · LIVES
Lives at 47 reviews concerts, naming venues and performers. The section covers what happened on stage. Catch the next date on any tour reviewed well here.

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Editor's Take

Music Connection Vol. 50 for August 2026 has two things going for it: the exclusive rehearsal studio and gear rental directories at 50, which are exactly the kind of listing a working musician keeps, and Megadeth at 36 plus Jimmy Jam at 30, two names that justify the cover price on their own. The weakness is the cover, which is given over to ADAM Audio and JBL advertisements — T Series monitors, portable PA loudspeakers, "Gear Up For Summer Sound" — with no cover subject at all, an odd choice for a magazine that has Taj Mahal and Ross Halfin inside. The profile run at 20, 22, 24 and 42 is competent but formulaic. Buy this for the directories and the Megadeth piece; the cover is a lost opportunity.

Strengths
• Rehearsal and rental directories are genuinely useful
• Megadeth and Jimmy Jam justify the cover price
• Ross Halfin photography closes the issue well

Weaknesses
• Cover is all ADAM and JBL ads, no subject
• Profile run is competent but formulaic

Verdict: Selective read — Directories and Megadeth carry it; the cover is a wasted slot.