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November 27, 2003updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Bullit targets readers turned off by ‘young’ Q

By Press Gazette

Editor Janes, right, says new monthly Bullit will make a big impact

 

A music magazine launched this week which hopes to capture readers disenchanted with Q’s younger approach.

Bullit, the debut launch from independent venture New Standard Publishing, will cover all types of music, including rock, indie, hip hop and dance, and will champion new bands from the UK and abroad.

The 124-page monthly will have 12 pages of news on current and upcoming bands, a 16-page dedicated DVD section and five pages of live reviews.

The first issue has exclusive interviews with The Strokes and Suede – just before they announced their split – and features bands such as The Darkness, Jane’s Addiction and U2.

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Editor Steve Janes – former editor of Get Rhythm – said there was a gap in the market for a title aimed at music fans aged 25 to 40 who had stopped buying magazines such as Q because they were put off by cover stars such as Britney Spears.

He told Press Gazette: “I’ve nothing personal against Britney, but it seems like Q is dumbing down. Q has gone too young for its own good and I’ve heard grumbles from people using the terminology, ‘I used to buy Q’. There are also a lot of ex-NME readers and it doesn’t always follow that they go to Mojo, because Mojo is quite roots based.” He said the record buyers were looking for an alternative to NME.

“What’s the point in spending time and effort trying to create scenes, when simply reporting on them is enough. Bullit is going to make a big impact and, off the back of that, hopefully attract some heavyweight writers,” he said.

The magazine, which takes its name from the Steve McQueen movie and has been in research for over a year, has a print run of 35,000 and a cover price of £3.50. Janes is hoping for sales of around 20,000. In contrast, Q currently sells 172,557 and NME 72,443.

Bullit has an office in Sunderland and one in London and Janes said the company planned to launch three to four more titles in the next five years.

Bullit has eight staff in Sunderland and three in London, including assistant editor Becky Ross, a former news reporter on Melody Maker, film and DVD editor John Paul Green, book editor Martin Herron and consultant writer Sarah Foote. Contributors include Simon Price, Independent on Sunday rock critic and former features editor on Bang, ex-Melody Maker journalist John Robb and LAWeekly editor Mike Farren.

By Ruth Addicott

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