Rave Off: Brisbane Streetpress Ceases Publication
News posted Tuesday, June 26 2012 at 06:00 PM.
Related: Streetpress, Rave.
The publisher of Brisbane streetpress Rave Magazine (not actually a rave magazine) has called time on the long-running publication.
In a statement published today (June 26), Colin Rankin said the magazine had ceased publication after 21 years and 1047 issues. He said its current staff of five will be paid their full entitlements.
“Rave Magazine has now ceased publication of the weekly print edition of its magazines,” the statement read. “Currently our financial advisors are investigating options with regard to the sale of the magazine and its associated digital assets…
"I would like to thank our dedicated staff and contributors for all their hard work and unwavering commitment to the magazine over these many years. They all have very much to be proud of.”
But speaking to the brisbanetimes.com.au today, Rankin didn’t rule out an 11-hour reprieve. "The phones have been running hot this afternoon so if something suitable can be worked out there could be a reprieve of sorts," he said. "But I can't say whether that will happen or not at this stage."
Rankin blamed a decline in print advertising revenue for the closure. “In the case of streetpress the advertising has collapsed incredibly in the last 12 months,” he said. “It's like a lot of print media problems these days, as evidenced by the Fairfax and News [Limited] announcements last week.”
Today’s final issue featured Swedish garage-rock act The Hives on the cover.
+
Already united in math-y sharpness, Melbourne five-piece STOCKADES and…
Is it possible to hear a sitar without immediately thinking ‘raga’? No…
Melbourne’s Alpine have covered Radiohead’s ‘Just’ for the A.V. Club’s…
Not the first, won't be the last.
It's a bummer.
Can't see the long term sustainability of the model. Apparently margins in the street press game are being maintained solely through cost cuts, there is no revenue growth.
Does that give Time Off a monopoly (for what it's worth) in Brisbane now? Is it still independently owned or is it part of Stree Press Australia?
SPA I believe
There's also Scene and Tsunami. Here's a list.
An 11 hour reprieve? That's plenty of time!
Scene Magazine is still there too, I think.
Scene is mostly focused on dance music/nightclubs. Tsunami is mostly focused on coastal/rural SE QLD, and only comes out monthly or fortnightly or something. So neither of them would really be in direct competition with Time Off the way rave was.
Sad news. I've contributed there for nearly two years and enjoyed every minute. Rave made noticeable efforts to help out local bands as well as cover more esoteric artists.
shit - as far as I know RAVE had the only good online gig guide for Brizvegas (I need an online guide as I can't easily get timeoff cause I'm 200 km away)
I wish the clowns at http://themusic.com.au/ would get more on their ''GUIDE'' page than ''Shit, you beat us here - won't be long'' it's been there for months ffs
does anyone know of any good guides?
Nope, but it wouldn't be too hard to set one up though...you've given me an idea and project Swahili Bob
just move the online gig guide to collapseboard.
Surprised there are advertisers who persist with advertising in the street press - I guess old habits die hard.
I think street press have got profitable years and years to run in the bigger markets. They're free, so there's no problem with people being no longer willing to pay for them, the costs are reasonably low, they get to where people pick them up, and the live/touring scene is okay int erms of advertisers.
I certainly wouldn't start one, but Melb/Syd titles will earn for the rest of the decade.
SPA's ipad app will fix everything (and is cheaper again to make then actually printing and delivering stuff)
It's the ones that are so reticent to publish online who'll go first...I understand the attitude of not wanting to weaken the print copy, but there's not a whole lot you can do about that. Can't imagine any city supporting more than one or two free traditional street press publications. It's always surprised me how many Brisbane manage to keep afloat.
Should start getting those mining dollars and review more metal (and/or coal chamber records)
I'm happy for the online gig guide to move to Collapse Board.
http://brisbanemusic.tumblr.com is a weekly gig guide, but only for gigs $20 and under.
I have a web server and can set up & host a PHP board at no charge if you are interested in working it (ie adding the gigs, venue info etc)
this is the script http://www.hotscripts.com/listing/promoter/
- see the screen shots for an idea of how it works
Fuck off, Jerry
A phoenix from Rave's ashes will be arriving shortly.
''You know, I like some of the articles on this site but the comments section is the most vitriolic, troll-infested string of unnecessary and uneducated abuse I have ever seen. Everyone's a hero when armed with a mouse.''
(Only other comment previously left by ''Bassi'' on Mess+Noise)
Heh.
''Rankin blamed a decline in print advertising revenue for the closure''?!?!
That's fucking laughable!
I personally emailed Rave 3 times over the course of 2 years to inform them that their ad system was completely fucked. As a graphic designer I needed to access the Design Guideline and other specs. While doing so I discovered that none of the links for ad placement and info went anywhere. There was virtually no way to get any info regarding the ads or specs. Did they fix these issues? Of course not. They just sent me abuse back.
You know what? They deserved it. They brought it on themselves with mismanagement and customer service which would make even Telstra cringe.
As a graphic designer myself, I suggest you quietly get fucked.