Rock bible establishes a foothold in NZ

AUCKLAND, Today: Australian publisher Brag Media is printing an “official “Australia-New Zealand Rolling Stone edition, reports Chris Schulz, a senior writer for indie NZ news site The Spinoff.

In the latest edition of The Spinoff e-newsletter, Schultz writes: “Born during the ‘Summer of Love’ of 1967 Rolling Stone is undoubtedly the most famous music magazine in the world.

“Now, starting with its September-November issue, the magazine is officially including Aotearoa artists.

“It’s also in local stores, although when I went to purchase one at Ponsonby specialist shop Mag Nation, the owner didn’t seem to know anything about it, shaking her head while telling me, ‘I haven’t heard of it’. I found one of two copies tucked into a shelf behind a pillar.

“The Brag in partnership with Rolling Stone’s owners, American media giant PMC, decided to extend the magazine’s reach into Aotearoa.”

“Aside from the trade freebie NZ Musician, Aotearoa hasn’t had a dedicated music print publication since Rip It Up folded for good back in 2015.”

Rolling Stone is published in 15 countries. The AUNZ cover price is $ 16.99 (presumably $ AU), and the first issue came out earlier this month, featuring The Wiggles on the cover.

The editor-in-chief is Poppy Reid, and executive editor Jake Challenor – both based in Sydney. Reid is a New Zealander of Ngāi Takoto and Ngāpuhi descent who has lived in Australia since the age of 15.

“We looked at the data and saw that we reached 20% of New Zealand anyway,” Reid told Schultz. ‘We thought, let’s make it legit.”

Aside from the trade and industry freebie NZ Musician, Aotearoa hasn’t had a dedicated music print publication since Rip It Up folded for good back in 2015.

• Read the Chris Schulz story in full here
• thespinoff.co.nz
• au.rollingstone.com
• thebrag.com