How a teenage zine turned into a platform for rising stars.
The Year Was 2001…
I was an exuberant teenager, ready to attack any opportunity that came my way as a writer. Back then, I considered myself solely an entertainment journalist. I dreamed of writing for Rolling Stone or working at MTV. Those were my go-to outlets for music news. Never in a million years had I planned to start my own magazine. But that’s exactly what happened.From AOL Zine to Backstage Passes
StarShine Magazine began as an emailed zine sent through AOL. Readers would send me clips of them singing a cappella in WAV files. I’d send over some questions, write up an article, and that became the issue for the week. Building a fan base was all grassroots. I advertised in other zines, slowly growing a decent email list. Then, out of nowhere, record labels started reaching out to me, asking me to feature their artists. Before I knew it, I was backstage at concerts and interviewing musicians I was genuinely a fan of – like Backstreet Boys, Jessica Simpson, 98 Degrees, Simple Plan, and Goo Goo Dolls. I handed out flyers at shows and posted updates on message boards and fan sites. Eventually, I launched a website. But this was back when blogs and online magazines were still considered “new media” — often lumped in with fan sites and not taken seriously.
Earning Respect in a Male-Dominated Field
Getting interviews wasn’t easy. I was young, bubbly, and female — and people often patronized me or pushed me aside. But I didn’t let that stop me. I kept writing, promoting, and letting my work speak for itself. I had a natural ability to make people feel comfortable in interviews, and I loved writing pieces that highlighted the heart behind the music. By 2003, I was being invited to release parties, concerts, and asked to interview artists to boost their press credibility. In a predominantly older, male-driven industry, I had earned integrity and respect — all by the age of 20. And I was getting millions of eyes on my website before social media even existed.When Passion and Profit Collide
But then came the question I couldn’t answer: How the heck was I supposed to make money from this? I poured so much energy into writing, interviewing, attending events, and designing the site that I had little left for figuring out monetization. Charging subscriptions didn’t sit right with me — it felt like it would ruin the magic. Eventually, thinking of StarShine as a business took the fun out of it. Then, in 2006, our server crashed — hard. Reliable web hosting was tough to find back then. I lost readers, momentum, and frankly, I was exhausted. So, I pivoted. I focused on novel writing, worked as a publicist, and contributed to other websites and magazines.The Death of a Dream (And the Birth of a New One)
The dream to work at MTV? Completely dead. MTV had, in my opinion, gone downhill. As for Rolling Stone, I wasn’t sure my writing style would fit — or if their reputation would hold up over time. Too many magazines I used to admire had sold out, turning to clickbait and filler content. Writing for other publications often felt forced. I was told what to listen to, what to write, and sometimes even asked to trash celebrities or promote artists I didn’t believe in. Sure, I found a few magazines I enjoyed writing for. But if they were print, they eventually folded. If they were digital, they paid next to nothing — or nothing at all.Coming Home to StarShine
No matter what, I always found my way back to StarShine. It’s my baby. It always felt magical. It turned my dreams into reality — and I like to think it did that for others, too.- For the fans who received surprise phone calls from their favorite boy band members…
- For the contest winners who got to be my photographer and go backstage…
- For the artists I featured when no one else was giving them a chance — many of whom went on to win awards in the magazine voted on by real fans.
What StarShine Stands For
I’ve found other ways to support myself — through my novels, my marketing business — so that StarShine can remain free for the fans and artists we feature. And as we relaunch, I want to make this clear: StarShine will always uphold the integrity of traditional journalism. You won’t find gossip here. No clickbait. Just heart, soul, interviews, and reviews. We don’t publish bad reviews — not because we aren’t being honest, but because if we don’t love a piece of music, film, or art, we simply won’t feature it. Every article carries a stamp of belief — whether it’s from me, a contributing writer, or a fan who made a request.How You Can Help
- If you love what StarShine stands for, here’s how you can support us:
- Share a link to an article or issue
- Follow us on social media
- Tag a friend in a post
- Leave a comment on our website or social posts
- Tip us if you’d like to show your support
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Sandy Lo is an author, blogger, journalist, and digital strategist. Her personal story is inspiring. Sandy started StarShine Magazine, an online publication in 2001, at the age of 18. She wrote her first novel in 2009, “Lost In You,” followed by the “Dream Catchers” Series. She was the first person ever to professionally interview Taylor Swift and has received personal endorsements for her books from members of boy bands Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees.
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