The Word magazine to close

[The Nal]

The Word magazine have announced that next months issue will be the last.

Anyone else on here a fan? By a mile my favourite mag, read it cover to cover every month for the last 9 years. Streets ahead of anything else out there. Absolutely gutted.

Posted by David Hepworth on 29 June 2012 - 8:57am.

We regret to announce that the August issue of The Word, which will be published in the second week of July, will be the last.

In the nine years since the magazine launched there have been dramatic changes in the media and the music business. These changes have made it more difficult for a small independent magazine to survive and provide its staff with a living. This hasn't been made any easier by the economic climate of the wider world.

We would like to thank all the staff members past and present, plus the writers, photographers, illustrators, artists, PRs and advertisers who have helped make the magazine what it has been. We also want to thank the backers who have supported us throughout.

Most of all we want to thank you, the readers. Your heartfelt involvement with the magazine - via its pages, its website, its events and its podcasts - have made the last nine years one of the most satisfying periods of our working lives. Mark has written about this in greater detail in the August issue

The website will remain open for the immediate future as a point of contact. We will be writing to subscribers with their copy of the August issue.

When we came up with that slogan - "The Word - a magazine, a website, a podcast, a way of life" - we were being a bit tongue in cheek. But it was, wasn't it?

[The Nal]

Can't think of anything worse happening in publishing really.

The Guardian agree

Edited June 29, 2012 by The Nal

[MrZigster]

Also absolutely gutted to hear this. I agree it's the best read on the stands by a mile.

For me it's better than Q used to be when Q was good. (at least 20 years ago). Which is not surprising seeing as how it was started by the same bunch. Saying that, Q has picked itself up (a tiny bit) over the last couple of issues since Andrew Harrison has been appointed editor (but one star for Slash's latest? Harsh man, real harsh).

I'll just have to put up with Q, Fortean Times, Private Eye & Viz Comic, with the odd PC, guitar and poker mags here and there.

[eFestivals]

Can't think of anything worse happening in publishing really.

The Guardian agree

The Guardian says that loads of people are moaning about it's closure on twitter.

Which begs the question: why weren't you buying it then, idjut?

[The Nal]

The Guardian says that loads of people are moaning about it's closure on twitter.

Which begs the question: why weren't you buying it then, idjut?