 | |
| Categories | A4-size music magazine |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Initially monthly, then fortnightly |
| First issue | September 1978; 47 years ago (1978-09); July 2009; 16 years ago (2009-07) (one-off specials) |
| Final issue | 13 February 2006; 19 years ago (2006-02-13) (final regular issue); April 2022; 3 years ago (2022-04) (final one-off special) |
| Company | EMAP Metro (original) Bauer Media Group (one-off specials) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| ISSN | 0260-3004 |
Smash Hits was a Britishmusic magazine aimed at young adults, originally published byEMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006,[1] and, after initially appearing monthly, was issuedfortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand for aspin-off digital television channel, which was later renamedBox Hits, and website. Adigital radio station was also available but closed on 5 August 2013.
Smash Hits featured the lyrics of latest hits and interviews with big names in music. It was initially published monthly, then went fortnightly. The style of the magazine was initially serious, but from the mid-1980s became increasingly irreverent. Its interviewing technique was novel at the time and, rather than looking up to the big names, it often made fun of them, asking strange questions rather than talking about their music.[2][3]
Created by journalist Nick Logan, the title was launched in 1978 and appeared monthly for its first few issues. He based the idea on a songwords magazine that his sister used to buy, but which was of poor quality. His idea was to launch a glossy-looking magazine which also contained songwords as its mainstay. The publisher wasEMAP, a small-time company based inPeterborough, and the magazine was originally titledDisco Fever, before they settled on the nameSmash Hits.[4]
Smash Hits launched the career of many journalists, includingRadio Times editorMark Frith. Other well-known writers have included Dave Rimmer,Mark Ellen (who went on to launchQ,Mojo andWord),Steve Beebee,Chris Heath,Tom Hibbert andMiranda Sawyer.Neil Tennant of thePet Shop Boys also worked as a writer and assistant editor, and once said that had he not become a pop star, he would likely have pursued his ambition to become editor.[citation needed]
The magazine was also available in continental Europe, especially in Germany, where the issues could be bought at railway stations or airports. The title was licensed for a French version in the 1990s. There were other licensed versions in the magazine's history. In 1984, an Australian version was created and proved just as successful for that new market as the original had back in Britain, whilst in the United States, a version was published during the 1980s under the titleStar Hits, drawing articles from the British version.
It was published by EMAP, who also use the name for one of theirdigital television services, and for adigital radio station. The brand also covered the annualSmash Hits Poll Winners Party, an awards ceremony voted for by readers of the magazine.
The magazine's sales peaked during the late 1980s. In the early part of the decade it was regularly selling 500,000 copies per issue, which had risen to over one million by 1989. Sales began to drop during the 1990s and by 1996 it was reported that sales were dropping roughly 100,000 per year.[4] By the time of its demise, it was down to 120,000.[5]
In the 1990s, the magazine's circulation slumped and it was overtaken by theBBC's spin-off magazineTop of the Pops. EMAP's other biweekly teen magazine of the periodBig! (which featured more celebrities and stars of TV series including Australian showHome and Away and United States importBeverly Hills, 90210) was closed and this celebrity focus was shifted over toSmash Hits, which became less focused onteen pop and more of an entertainment magazine. The magazine also shifted size a number of times in subsequent relaunches, including one format that was as big as an album with songwords to be clipped out on the card cover. Television presenter and journalistKate Thornton was editor for a short time.
In February 2006, it was announced that the magazine would cease publication after the February 13 edition due to declining sales.[6]
In July 2009, a one-off commemorative issue of the magazine was published as a tribute to singerMichael Jackson.[7] Further one-off specials were released in November 2009 (Take That), December 2010 (Lady Gaga)[8] and November 2019 (Max Martin), the latter was a free magazine at certainLondon Underground stations to mark the debut of Martin's West End musical& Juliet.[9] In April 2022, another free special issue was released to promote the third series ofDerry Girls.[10]
EMAP licensed the brand for a number of compilation albums, including a tie-in with theNow That's What I Call Music brand forNow Smash Hits, a retrospective of the early 1980s (80–87).
The Australian edition ofSmash Hits magazine began in November 1984 as a fortnightly. The magazine blended some content from the parent publication with locally-generated material. AustralianSmash Hits was originally published byFairfax Magazines and was later purchased by Mason Stewart Publications. Over the years it became a monthly and then a bi-monthly. In 2007 the magazine retailed forA$5.95 Inc.GST andNZ$6.50. On 30 March 2007 it was announced that the Australian edition would cease publication due to low readership.[11] The editor at that time was Emma Bradshaw. The issue that was scheduled to be released on 9 May 2007 was cancelled.
