Conventions and
Intentions of Music Magazine
Everyone has a view on music and it’s a formative part of growing up, so it’s no surprise that magazines on the topic have been one of the most vibrant sectors in magazine publishing. Changing trends and new bands can make or break a title.
Magazines in recent years can be categorised as:
- Teen glossies, such as Smash Hits;
- The 'inkies' such as Melody Maker and NME that thrived on critical rock journalism in the 1970s, so named because the ink came off the tabloid newsprint pages so easily;
- Style bibles, a genre created by The Face, reflecting the role of music and fashion in pop culture;
- Critical monthly glossies such as Q, Mojo, Uncut and Word;
- Genre-specific: Kerrang!, Mixmag, Songlines and The Wire;
The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles chart, in the 14 November 1952 edition. In the 1970s it became the best-selling British music newspaper. An online version of NME, NME.COM, was launched in 1996. Today NME.COM has 5 million users per month. The company that produce the magazine are IPC MEDIA.
Q Magazine
An online version of NME, NME.COM, was launched in 1996. Today NME.COM has 5 million users per month.Q was first published in October 1986, setting itself apart from much of the other music press with monthly production and higher standards of photography and printing. In the early years, the magazine was sub-titled "The modern guide to music and more". Originally it was to be called Cue (as in the sense of cueing a record, ready to play), but the name was changed so that it wouldn't be mistaken for a snooker magazine. Another reason, cited in Q's 200th edition, is that a single-letter title would be more prominent on newsstands. The company that produce the magazine are Bauer Media Group.
