Mainstay U.K.-based dance music magazine Mixmag paused publication of its print edition in April, with owner Wasted Talent laying off all magazine editors several days ago. The shuttering comes in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed over 506,000 people and pushed the world into a global recession.
Mixmag, which launched in 1982, derives most of its advertising and sponsorship revenue from clubs and festivals, both of which have been closed due to government-enforced lockdowns intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
For the foreseeable future, Mixmag will operate as a digital-only publication.
Former staffers have taken to social media to express their sadness over the magazine’s closure.
Sad to announce that after nine years, I’m no longer part of the team at @Mixmag. Due to the difficulties of operating during the Covid-crisis, the print edition is on an indefinite hiatus with myself, along with the rest of the magazine team, no longer at the company…
— Sean Griffiths (@SeanKGriffiths) June 29, 2020
So @mixmag‘s print edition is on an indefinite pause, which means all the magazine’s staff are now out of a job.
Please, please make sure you give them as much support as you can. Over the last couple of years Mixmag has really come into its own, editorially and aesthetically.
— Marcus Barnes (@mgoldenbarnes) June 29, 2020
Sad to announce that after nearly two years at the publication, I will no longer part of the freelance team at @Mixmag (1/3)
— Aurbs // Cam Mussell (@itsAurbs) June 29, 2020
Germany’s Groove is also struggling to stay afloat. Last week the 31-year-old publication launched the urgent #savegroovemag initiative as their ad income went do zero due to the pandemic. Fortunately, the publication was able to raise money via a flurry of new subscribers but still faces headwinds among economic uncertainty.
Disclosure: I was the founding editor of Mixmag US (later Mixer) from 1996-2003 when it was published by DMC Ltd.