Since 1993, independent rock magazine Harder Beat has provided coverage of the local and touring music scenes from the fan's perspective. You could find it at record stores, bars and other businesses around town. Its presence in the racks signaled to visitors and newbies that Dallas has a thriving hardcore music scene.
But presence alone apparently couldn't pay the bills or keep fatigue from setting in for founder and editor Linda Hollar, who ended the mag's 16-year run with this month's issue. In her goodbye letter, she recounts her history with the publication and laments how difficult it'd become to keep a print publication afloat.
"It was so much work and so frustrating trying to get ads," Hollar told us over the phone today. "At one time, we had lots of local support. Bands and clubs bought ads. Now, everybody thinks they can get by with a MySpace page. It's happened to every print pub across the country to some degree."
Hollar seemed relieved to no longer have to deal with the pressures of getting Harder Beat to the printer each month, but there was also some heartbreak in her voice when she talked about having to tell contributors and supporters that she was calling it quits.
"When I started this, I didn't do it for the money. I did it mostly for the concert tickets, because seeing rock and writing about it was fun."
That's definitely the way of thinking that came through in Harder Beat's text-heavy pages. Album and concert reviews and news from the hard-rock scene were written by people whose passion for the subject was more important than a paycheck.
Hollar says she won't keep the mag alive online for now, but she's not closing the door to those seriously interested in reviving it.
"This isn't something you can do when you've already got a full-time job weighing you down, so we'll see if anyone serious comes along," she said.
Since 1993, independent rock magazine Harder Beat has provided coverage of the local and touring music scenes from the fan's perspective. You could find it at record stores, bars and other businesses around town. Its presence in the racks signaled to visitors and newbies that Dallas has a thriving hardcore music scene. 
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