Types of Music Magazines

Recording the Music Charts:

A magazine that is generally aimed at music professionals, this US Weekly published the music charts. It now features DVD info and the internet download charts too.

Serious Music Journalism:

Weekly, up to the minute info on record releases, articles on artists and the music. NME and MM dominated the news stands on he 60's and 70's when music was central to youth culture. They had a reputation for serious journalism and covered both mainstream and non-mainstream music. They weren't interested in glossy images. Their cover price was their main source of income until the 90's when they were forced to update or die. They merged in 2000, went glossy and the new NME compromised the it's 'newsy' identity in favour of a more glossy mag style.

Amateur Mags- The Fanzines

Paul Williams first issued his fanzine 'Crawdaddy' in 1966, It's still going, online. Fanzines are written by fans for fans, and keep pace with new scenes more quickly than the music press. In 1976, Mark Perry's 'Sniffin' Glue' helped validate the New York punk genre.

Music + Culture

Rolling Stone was launched in 1967. It saw music as an essential component of youth culture and it has always featured a mix of music , social issues, politics, fashion, photography and lifestyle. It launched some serious music journalists like Cameron Crowe and also photographers including Annie Leibowitz.

Genre Specific

Smash hits (1978) was the first genre-specific music mag. It brought pop to teenagers and paved the way for celebrity obsessed magazines. It was full of music as well as pics and gossip about the artists and bands it featured. Other genre-specific mags include:

• Kerrang (1981)- Rock and Metal
• MixMag (1990s) - Dance/Clubbing
• Hip Hop- Hip Hop
• Classic Rock- Nostalgic Stuff for the older fan

The Glossy- for Music and Lifestyle

The Face (1980) put style over substance in a ture reflection of the 80's. It catered to the post-youth market and offered a mix of music, fashion, lifestyle and advertising. More 'image heavy' but light on 'text' style mags followed including Q, Select, Mojo and Vox.