Smash Hits
Smash Hits was a British music magazine aimed at young adults, originally published by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006,[1] and, after initially appearing monthly, was issued fortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand for a spin-off digital television channel, which was later renamed Box Hits, and website. A digital radio station was also available but closed on 5 August 2013.
For other uses, see Smash Hits (disambiguation).Categories
A4-size music magazine
Initially monthly, then fortnightly
September 1978;
July 2009 (one-off specials)
13 February 2006 (final regular issue);
April 2022 (final one-off special)
EMAP Metro (original)
Bauer Media Group (one-off specials)
United Kingdom
English
Final years of publishing[edit]
In the 1990s, the magazine's circulation slumped and it was overtaken by the BBC's spin-off magazine Top of the Pops. Emap's other biweekly teen magazine of the period Big! (which featured more celebrities and stars of TV series including Australian show Home and Away and United States import Beverly Hills, 90210) was closed and this celebrity focus was shifted over to Smash Hits, which became less focused on teen pop and more of an entertainment magazine. The magazine also shifted size a number of times in subsequent relaunches, including one format that was as big as an album with songwords to be clipped out on the card cover. Television presenter and journalist Kate Thornton was editor for a short time.
In February 2006, it was announced that the magazine would cease publication after the February 13 edition due to declining sales.[6]
In July 2009, a one-off commemorative issue of the magazine was published as a tribute to singer Michael Jackson.[7] Further one-off specials were released in November 2009 (Take That), December 2010 (Lady Gaga)[8] and November 2019 (Max Martin), the latter was a free magazine at certain London Underground stations to mark the debut of Martin's West End musical & Juliet.[9] In April 2022, another free special issue was released to promote the third series of Derry Girls.[10]
Compilation albums[edit]
EMAP licensed the brand for a number of compilation albums, including a tie-in with the Now That's What I Call Music brand for Now Smash Hits, a retrospective of the early 1980s (80 - 87).
Australian edition[edit]
The Australian edition of Smash Hits magazine began in November 1984 as a fortnightly. The magazine blended some content from the parent publication with locally-generated material. Australian Smash Hits was originally published by Fairfax Magazines and was later purchased by Mason Stewart Publications. Over the years it became a monthly and then a bi-monthly. In 2007 the magazine retailed for A$5.95 Inc. GST and NZ$6.50. On 30 March 2007 it was announced that the Australian edition would cease publication due to low readership.[11] The editor at that time was Emma Bradshaw. The issue that was scheduled to be released on 9 May 2007 was cancelled.