 | |
Type of site | Musicwebzine |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Owner | Giant Digital |
| Created by | Simon Perlaki and Andy D Day |
| URL | http://www.gigwise.com |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | 2001 |
| Current status | offline |
Gigwise is a British online music news site featuring musicnews, photos,album reviews,music festivals, concert tickets and video content.[1] Founded in June 2001,[2] the site is based inLondon,England.
Gigwise was launched in 2001 inLiverpool as a gig listings site. Over time, the site evolved into a music news site including reviews and interviews in its content. In 2006, the site relocated its main office to London. It was the UK's 20th most-visited music news website in Dec 2010 ranking aboveNME.COM in thecomScore reports.[3][4]
Gigwise was acquired in 2016 by the team behind Second Screen[5] and Techtonic.[6]
For the 20th Anniversary, Gigwise published its first ever print edition[7] in July 2021 featuringSelf Esteem on the front cover.
Gigwise hosted the Indie Idle band competition for theCamden Crawl festival in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Gigwise also launchedSnowbombing festival's King of the Mountain unsigned band competition in 2009. The winning band, I Am Austin, won €2000 and a headline slot at the festival. In April 2011, Gigwise launched a monthly club night at XOYO withYoung Knives playing an album launch. Gigwise also had their own arena at the June 2011Get Loaded In The Park in London.[11] The acts appearing at the Gigwise Stage wereYelle, O Children,Darwin Deez, Babeshadow, andAlpines. In May 2011,Liverpool Sound City also hosted a Gigwise stage at theO2 Academy Liverpool with Scottish rockersThe View headlining.
In 2018, Gigwise collaborated with Romania's Electric Castle Festival, and in 2019, partnered with Mophie mobile to bring exclusive content from Isle of Wight Festival. In 2020, the site hosted a virtual stage at the first ever digital SXSW Festival.
In 2011, Giant Digital in-house designers and developers began a redesign of Gigwise with the objective to create a visually simplified appearance.[12] The site redefined its usability to accompany a new generation of users. Web Designer Michael Pumo at Branch toldMusic Week the new design is "bold, unpretentious and straight-forward" and that improvements will increase usability on touch devices like the Apple iPad.
As the site changed hands again in 2016, Gigwise was once again updated for desktop and mobile. Relaunched with its freshest look to date in 2021 - to coincide with the site's twentieth anniversary - the latest redesign reflects a diversification of Gigwise into genres of all kinds, away from the indie focus of old.
Gigwise is one of six sister sites which were also launched as part of the Giant Digital network; Other sites include Entertainmentwise, Popdash, Taletela, Tellygossip, and in 2011 Muveez with Alex Winehouse, brother ofAmy Winehouse, serving as Chief Editor. Gigwise hosted the "best song" award at theBT Digital Music Awards at the Camden Roundhouse, where the winner wasJessie J's "Price Tag" featuringB.o.B.[13] In 2012 Gigwise became of the two only media partners for the Strummer Of Love festival held inSomerset in aid of the lateJoe Strummer with all the proceeds going to theStrummerville charity which helps young people in music who would not normally get opportunities in music.[14]
Gigwise was nominated in the 'Best Music Media Brand' category of the 2013Music Week awards.[15]