With sales way below 7000 a week, this cannot be profitable any more.
It used to be bought by retail - no longer needed.
It tried to get into talent - and failed.

Is there any room for it now? I think it's dead in the water and due to close soon.

Which leaves an enormous gap in the market for a regular weekly print industry publication.

One that is interesting, entertaining, informed - that does things online magazines cannot...

Or has that entire era ended?

MW's from an era of mutual backslapping and whether you were 'in' with Brian Mulligan and his White Horse barflies. 'Record Business' couldn't survive because the diminutive UK industry wouldn't support 2 mags.

Todays networkers don't need a hardcopy publication.

Of course, a millionaire entrepreneur could dip into his fortune and attempt a new model industry weekly couldn't they?

Just what I was wondering NotCyril.

I think a publication combining paper and internet could be incredibly valuable.
The Tipsheet saved the industry for almost ten years, daring to criticise even the top executives, picking up on and promoting talent, praising good jobs and clever work.

We revived sales with our Record of the Year shows, forcing executives to attend and support by giving massive prime time support for music which multiplied demand in the crucial pre Xmas period.

We praised and boosted good workers. We spotted and championed people like Simon Cowell when few others wanted to support them.

Not only great music but retailers who cared, DJ's who loved sounds, juniors who deserved to become seniors in publishing, promotion, gigs, everywhere.

And most of all we were entertaining and passed along good gossip and hot rumours.

I've watched the "dry and dustys" take over since we folded. The dull drones who have clung onto livings in the business without providing a flicker of enthusiasm. Oh, they talk the talk (because they know they have to) but their hollow energy has no real spark or imagination or colour to it. It's like zombies mimicking life.

There is indeed a spot for a magazine that cares and knows and dares.

MP3 bloggers have replaced a lot of music gossip papers, more than most realise at this stage, but just wait until next year. I , for one, am fed up with buying a music paper and reading yesterdays news. I also am fed up with throwing literature into a recycling bag.

Yes there is a place for a magazine that cares, but I believe, not really in a print format anymore.

In the future, (and it`s close) nobody will want the clutter.

Interesting discussion over on the Velvet Rope where I asked a similar question about trade magazine Billboard and replies said they think all music magazines are dying.

It should go monthly and increase its features - so that it becomes a "music industry monthly Q or MOJO" Then advertisers would get more income.

A weekly chart report could be e mailed to all subscribers of the Monthly.

Cant see why they have not thought about this - most mags have seen circulation dips - but when you look in W H Smiths you see more shelves than ever before for magazines so they are still popular.

Too early to say they will die. People still like the feel of them and laptops and PDAs are no good for feature reading on the tube - trains - planes - bus -beach etc.

JK should do a monthly column for them as well - now that would be nicely controversial and drive up subscriptions !! Would gurantee coverage by the NotW as well ...........

Wasn't this idea done brilliantly already by Music Business International? And it folded as well, regrettably.