Inaugural Issue of Root Indie Covers Revealed
AFTER 13 YEARS OF PUBLISHING, HASAN JAMES, FOUNDER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF ROOT MAGAZINE, LAUNCHES ROOT INDIE MAGAZINE. ANTHONY HALL AND BRIA TO GRACE THE COVERS OF INAUGURAL EDITION
INAUGURAL ISSUE OF ROOT INDIE MAGAZINE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE 7TH ANNUAL AVIDITY AWARDS AND THE 53RD ANNUAL GMA DOVE AWARDS POST PARTY
(October 3, 2022 – BENSALEM, PA) – Last month, Root Magazine’s Editor-In-Chief, Hasan James, announced the launch of Root Indie Magazine. Root Indie Magazine is a counterpart to parent company Root Magazine, LLC, and will produce innovative content, features and cover stories specifically geared towards independent gospel artists.
Root Indie Magazine will be officially launched at the 7th Annual Avidity Awards produced by industry taste maker Derrick Huggins. The awards show will be held at the Halloran Centre in Memphis, TN on Friday, October 14, 2022 at 7PM.
The inaugural issue of Root Indie Magazine will continue with the flip cover theme that Root Magazine has been known for, and will feature new comers Anthony Hall and New York City native, Bria. Hall’s latest single, Altar Call, is currently Top 25 on Billboard’s Gospel Indicator chart and earlier this year he embarked on the Roosevelt Tour that included veteran artists, Jason Nelson and Dawkins and Dawkins.
Bria, formerly of the group Livré, is the daughter of Pastor Subrenia and Bishop Eric McDaniel, who has written hit songs for the likes of Hezekiah Walker, Ricky Dillard, JJ Hairston and many more. Bria’s single, River Song, garnered over 100,000 streams on the first week of release and has afforded her the opportunity to minister the song around the country over the last year.
Uber talented and sought after graphic designer, Blair Monique Walker, will serve as Root Indie’s Senior Art Director.
ABOUT ROOT MAGAZINE
Root Magazine has become one of the premier publications in gospel music, producing cover stories for the likes of Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Marvin Sapp, Hezekiah Walker, Kierra Sheard, Tye Tribbett, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Ricky Dillard, Koryn Hawthorne and many more. In June 2009, the inaugural issue of Root was released online with musical genius Donald Lawrence gracing the cover. After only a few short years, Root Magazine has partnered with multi-million dollar corporations like BET, Global United Fellowship, The Merge Summit, I Hear Music, GMWA and BMI to produce one of a kind magazines and journals.
In 2015, Hasan began his radio journey as the mid day host on the now five time Stellar Award winning gospel station, WIMG 1300 AM in Trenton, NJ, under the moniker Mr. Root. He was also the host of The Root Box LAon Rhythm and Praise Radio powered by Dash in Los Angeles, CA. and the producer of the Lonnie Hunter Morning Show on Stellar Award winning Reach Gospel Radio,which is syndicated in over 25 cities in the United States and Canada.
In 2016, Root Magazine produced one of the biggest photo shoots in Gospel Music history entitled: Leaders of the New School,that featured over 40 of today’s most popular artists that included: Jonathan McReynolds, Travis Greene, JJ Hairston, Jekalyn Carr, Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, Anthony Brown, Casey J and Jonathan Nelson, among others. Never one to settle, Hasan decided to start what he finished 20 years prior and obtained a degree a Bachelors Degree in Business Marketing at the age of 40. He has appeared on The Willie Moore, Jr. Show, Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell, Being Lisa Raye on BET, and We’re The Campbell’s on TV One.
2019 marked Root Magazine’s 10th anniversary and 30th edition, as they kicked off Stellar Awards weekend in grand fashion with an all star lineup of gospel talent that included: JJ Hairston and YP, Leon Timbo, Rodney Jerkins, Leon Timbo, The Walls Group, Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy, Tasha Page-Lockhart and the long awaited reunion of Mary Mary. He also premiered the documentary: Rooted and Grounded: The Evolution of Gospel Music to an audience of industry executives and tastemakers.
