Džuboks


Džuboks was a Yugoslav music magazine. Founded in 1966, it was the first magazine in SFR Yugoslavia dedicated predominantly to rock music, and the first rock music magazine to be published in a communist country.

History

1966 - 1970

Džuboks monthly magazine was launched during spring 1966 by the Belgrade-based Duga publishing company in the aftermath of the Gitarijada music festival, held months earlier over three days at the Belgrade Fair, whose large attendance and euphoric atmosphere were indicative of the rising popularity of rock music locally. The idea for a rock music magazine came from journalists writing for Filmski svet, a film magazine also published by Duga, who wanted a publication that would cater to the growing number of rock music fans in Yugoslavia by covering new releases of that musical genre. As there were no rock music experts among the journalists employed at Duga, decision was made to extend an offer of becoming Džuboks first editor-in-chief to Nikola Karaklajić, national chess champion, member of the Yugoslav national chess team, and radio personality who had already done much to promote rock music in Yugoslavia. Karaklajić accepted the offer and set about creating a magazine. Although not a first music magazine to be published in Yugoslavia, Džuboks became the first Yugoslav magazine dedicated specifically to rock music, and furthermore the first rock magazine in a socialist state. While interviewed for the Rockovnik documentary series, Karaklajić stated:
The first issue came out on 3 May 1966. There was a huge discussion among the editorial staff whether the Beatles or the Rolling Stones should appear on the cover of the first issue, and the opinion favouring the Rolling Stones prevailed. Višnja Marjanović, who later succeeded Karaklajić as Džuboks editor-in-chief, talked about the magazine during her Rockovnik appearance:
However, the negative reactions did not come from the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, but from conservative cultural circles, and, according to Karaklajić, there was no political interference into the editorial policy. Karaklajić further stated that the only political interference occurred after the magazine's launch via an SKJ representative asking for a meeting with the editors to "see what was going on and to advise us to be cautious, so as not to be regarded as someone's agency".
Historian Radina Vučetić, in her book Koka-kola socijalizam, wrote:
The magazine's circulation was 100,000 copies. In comparison, the circulation of all youth magazines published by Yugoslav university organizations was about 80,000. Džuboks published the top list of Yugoslav hit singles. The magazine also published top lists from the United States, United Kingdom, France and Italy, later joined by Dutch, Belgian, Norwegian and Brazilian top lists, and on several occasions the magazine published top lists from the Philippines and Singapore. During the first three years of the magazine's run, posters of foreign and domestic stars as well as flexi discs featuring international rock hits of the day were often distributed with the magazine. The discs were published in cooperation with the Jugoton record label, which at the time had a licence contract with EMI. The magazine also advertised Western radio stations and music magazines.
After the 39th issue, released in July 1970, Duga stopped publishing the magazine.

Mini Džuboks

In 1968, Duga started publishing Mini Džuboks, which, beside music, covered entertainment and fashion. Its first editor-in-chief was Sava Popović, and was succeeded by Višnja Marjanović. The first issue of Mini Džuboks was released on 9 May 1968. After the 33rd issue, released on 20 February 1969, Mini Džuboks was discontinued.

1974 - 1985

In 1974, Dečje novine publishing company from Gornji Milanovac renewed Džuboks under the name Ladin Džuboks as a supplement to the women's magazine Lada. The first issue of the renewed magazine features Zdravko Čolić on the cover.
The magazine soon appeared as an independent publication under the name Džuboks. The first editor-in-chief was Vojkan Borisavljević, and he was followed by Milisav Ćirović, Peca Popović and Branko Vukojević. The first issue was released on 1 July 1974, and the last, 171st, on 22 July 1983.
In 1984, Džuboks resumed publishing once again, this time run by editor-in-chief Ljuba Trifunović. It was discontinued in 1985.

Journalists and contributors

Some of the journalists and contributors to Džuboks during its activity include:
In 2004, the online magazine Popboks was founded, containing a digitalized archive of Džuboks issues released between 1974 and 1985.

Legacy

In her book Koka-kola socijalizam Radina Vučetić wrote: "The covers of Džuboks printed in color, its gift posters and records were meant to indicate the Yugoslav high standard and to demonstrate both to the East and the West the special version of Yugoslav modernity, openness and liberalism. The Western influences were visible on Džuboks covers, featuring color photographs of the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Donovan, the Mamas and Papas, Sonny and Cher, Cliff Richard..., but also in interviews with leading American and British stars, in texts on their lives, in English language lyrics and sheet music... As — according to the memories of the contemporaries — only a small number of Yugoslav rockers at the time spoke English, all of that made a contribution in raising the domestic rock 'n' roll to a higher level.
In 2017, Serbian news magazine Nedeljnik proclaimed the 1974 renewed publishing of Džuboks one of 100 Events that Changed Serbia.