The future of metal journalism was in danger after TeamRock went into administration due to “financial barricades.” However metal heads no longer need to panic, Bath’s largest publishing firm, Future Publishing has resurrected magazines Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Prog.This £800,000 deal also includes TeamRock’s website and award shows (Metal Hammer‘s ‘Golden Gods‘ and Classic Rock‘s ‘Classic Rock Awards.)
In 2013 former GMG radio chief, John Myers bought the title from Future for £10.2m. However, the company went into liquidation in December as well as putting 73 members of their staff out of work (with no severance pay.) The news of this urged England’s heavy metal band Orange Goblin, to start a campaign to raise money for the former employees. The band ultimately raised more than £70,000.
For 30 years, Metal Hammer magazine has been the worlds biggest metal magazine. The news of the magazines liquidation shocked fans and bands like Avenged Sevenfold. In post on the bands Facebook page they address the potential loss of their favorite rock magazines. “Metal Hammer, Classic Rock magazine and Prog Magazine will no longer exist. This may not seem like a big deal to some of you but if you have ever traveled in the UK (which has one of, if not the best metal scenes in the world) you would notice that on every magazine stand heavy metal was prominently featured by these three magazines next to all of the other print that is acceptable in the mainstream. Now that it’s gone it pushes metal and rock even further away from the average consciousness. Some believe in keeping heavy music underground, we don’t. This music means so much to so many including us. Our music should be inclusive and losing Metal Hammer is a major blow to all of us.”
However, no need to fear the future of Metal Hammer, Classic Rock, and Prog Magazine are safe for now.
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