Q Magazine has announced it is closing its doors after 34 years. The final issue will be hit the shelves on Tuesday 28th July. In his final editor letter, Ted Kessler explained; “This is the final issue of Q, an eventuality that nobody could’ve predicted as recently as March. We’ve been a lean operation for all of my tenure, employing a variety of ways to help keep our head above water in an extremely challenging print market. Covid19 wiped all that out.” He follows this by profusely apologising for the closure of the magazine.
I have some bad news about @QMagazine. The issue that comes out on July 28 will be our last. The pandemic did for us and there was nothing more to it than that. I have attached our final cover and my editor’s letter for context.
On the plus side, we’re all available for work. pic.twitter.com/rm8qOcUBtB— Ted Kessler (@TedKessler1) July 20, 2020
The parent company of the legendary magazine, Bauer Media listed the magazine for sale in May because of ‘pandemic restructuring’ but sadly, it did not sell. Chris Duncan, the chief executive of UK Publishing at Bauer said in a statement; “The pandemic and lockdown has further accelerated the trends already affecting the publishing industry.”
“Bauer publishes nearly 100 magazines in the UK, and some titles that were already challenged, unfortunately, are not expected to be sustainable after the crisis. We must protect the long-term health of our business and ability to invest in future growth by re-shaping our portfolio.”
The final issues will be made up of iconic interviews from the past 34 years, with music legends like David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, and Prince. The final issues are an homage to Q, with writers past and present reminiscing about their favourite moments over their time there.
View this post on InstagramThe final issue of Q. On sale Tuesday 28 July.
A post shared by Q Magazine (@qmagazineuk) on
U2 legend, Bono, also appeared in the issue, sharing his love for the magazine saying; “I’m gonna miss it if it goes, because it had everything I want from a music mag, all the serious and all the silly… The scholarship deftly done.”
Many fans shared their grief, replying to the announcement Kessler made of Twitter. One fan tweeted saying “I’m truly gutted, been reading and collecting since 1991, not missed an issue in that time. Only just got around to taking out a subscription too ffs. Going to miss you, hope everyone involved can find some new work, a real shame, a quality publication for real fans. Audios.”
I still have the first ever issue I was given… pic.twitter.com/rUt3WbFflG
— Two Flags OFFICIAL (@twoflagsmusic) July 20, 2020
Q Magazine was founded in 1986 by Smash Hits writers, Mark Ellen and David Hepworth. Tom Kessler took over as editor in 2017. The final issue will be on sale on Tuesday 28th of July.
