Music Connection – September 2026

Summary

California Schemin' and Strawberry Alarm Clock share the cover of Music Connection September 2026, and Vol. 50 No. 9 backs them with exclusive directories of film/TV music supervisors and post-production, compiled by Robin Rose.

Music Connection September 2026 (Vol. 50 No. 9) runs its cover lines California Schemin' at 40 and Strawberry Alarm Clock at 44, with Earth, Wind & Fire at 36 and the exclusive film/TV music supervisor and post-production directories that Robin Rose compiled. Departments carry 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 fill the middle: Wynne Bennett at 20, Grayson Sanders at 22, Halo Kitsch at 24, Jack Barksdale at 30, Norihiko Hibino at 33 and Tamber at 47, with Tip Jar at 62. Reviews run Albums at 49, NMCs at 50 and Lives at 52. For working musicians the directories are the reason this issue stays on the desk: they are the part you cannot get from a website.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story
p.40 · CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN'
California Schemin' takes a cover line at page 40, with the piece covering the project and the people behind it. It names the act and the work they are doing. Look up the release named here before the reviews section at 49.

p.44 · ARTIST PROFILE: STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK
Strawberry Alarm Clock get the artist profile at 44, tracing the band's records and their standing now. The piece names the songs and the line-up. Play "Incense and Peppermints" after reading, since that is the song the profile anchors on.

▸ Features
p.36 · EARTH, WIND & FIRE
Earth, Wind & Fire are featured at 36, with the piece covering the band's catalogue and current activity. It names the records and the players. Revisit the album discussed here rather than a greatest-hits collection.

p.47 · INDUSTRY PROFILE: TAMBER
Tamber gets the industry profile at 47, covering the company and the services it provides. The piece names the business and its clients. Compare the services here against what your own releases need.

▸ Directories
p.32 · FILM-TV-THEATER-GAMES
Film-TV-Theater-Games at 32 is the department tied to the issue's exclusive directories of film and TV music supervisors plus post-production, compiled by Robin Rose. It names the sectors and the contacts. Save these pages, since the directories are the part of the issue with lasting use.

▸ Departments
p.08 · CLOSE UP
Close Up at 8 opens the issue with a short, focused piece on a person or company. It names who is involved and why now. Read it before the features, since it often flags a name that returns later.

p.10 · NEW TOYS
New Toys at 10 covers new gear and software, naming products and prices where the magazine prints them. 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 the artists and the labels. The column tracks who is moving. Check the label named here if you are pitching similar material.

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

▸ Reviews
p.49 · ALBUMS
Albums at 49 reviews recent releases with verdicts and formats. The section names records and artists. Sample one record reviewed here before the month's other releases.

p.50 · NMCS
NMCs at 50 covers new music releases in the magazine's short-form column. It names the acts and the tracks. Add one act named here to a playlist this week.

p.52 · LIVES
Lives at 52 reviews concerts, naming the venues and the 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 No. 9 is bought for one thing and it delivers that thing: the exclusive film/TV music supervisor and post-production directories, compiled by Robin Rose, are the reason this issue stays on a working musician's desk rather than in recycling. Earth, Wind & Fire at 36 and Strawberry Alarm Clock at 44 are solid, and the departments run wide. The weakness is that the profile run — Wynne Bennett at 20, Grayson Sanders at 22, Halo Kitsch at 24, Jack Barksdale at 30, Norihiko Hibino at 33, Tamber at 47 — blurs into a series of similar pieces, and California Schemin' at 40 is thin for a cover line. The cover is crowded, stacking California Schemin', Strawberry Alarm Clock, Yamaha and the directory line, with a Yamaha ad pulling attention from the editorial. This is a directory issue: buy it for the contacts, skim the features.

Strengths
• Exclusive film/TV supervisor directories have lasting use
• Departments span gear, legal, signings and song business
• Earth, Wind & Fire piece covers a real catalogue

Weaknesses
• Profile run blurs into similar pieces
• Cover is crowded, with a Yamaha ad competing

Verdict: Recommended for the directories — The contacts justify it; the features are secondary.