X-Press Magazine

Last updated

X-Press Magazine
EditorBrayden Edwards (current)
Categories Music, Arts
FrequencyFormerly weekly/fortnightly, now monthly print guide and online
FormatPrint (formerly), Digital
Circulation Formerly ~40,000 (weekly print)
PublisherVanguard Media Group
First issue21 June 1985
Final issue18 May 2016 (print edition ceased, moved digital); print revived 2024 (monthly guide)
CompanyX-Press Magazine
CountryAustralia
Based inPerth, Western Australia
LanguageEnglish
Website xpressmag.com.au

X-Press Magazine is an Australian music and entertainment publication based in Perth, Western Australia. Founded in 1985, it has been a prominent street press publication, primarily focusing on local and international music news, gig guides, reviews, and arts and lifestyle content within Perth.

Contents

Historically, X-Press Magazine was a free, weekly print publication widely distributed across Perth, becoming a significant fixture in the local music scene. It was known for its comprehensive listings of live music events, band interviews, and reviews of albums and performances.

History

X-Press Magazine was established in 1985, [1] with the first issue published 21 June 1985 and then weekly each Thursday. [2] For decades, it served as a key source of information for Perth's music and entertainment landscape, often distributed weekly with a circulation that reached over 40,000 copies distributed to 1,000 outlets each week by July 2000. [3]

Their main competitor was The Drum (later The Music), which launched in 2006 and was run by national network Street Press Australia. [4]

In 1995, Rural Press acquired had 50% of X-Press. [5] Later, in 2009, X-Press joined the National Street Press banner alongside other prominent Australian street press titles, though the companies remained separate. [6] X-Press then merged with The Music in 2015, with The Music's print edition ending in Perth while X-Press continued being published. [4]

Facing the challenges of the changing media landscape, X-Press Magazine ceased its weekly print edition in May 2016 after 30 years, transitioning to a digital-only publication. [7] [8] Managing editor Bob Gordon, who had been with X-Press for 25 years, noted the impact of social media on entertainment advertising and printing costs as key factors in the shift. [7]

At the time of its print cessation in 2016, its publisher Joe Cipriani had also announced plans to sell the publication. [7] In October 2023, Vanguard Media Group acquired X-Press Magazine from founder Joe Cipriani, who had retired from the business in 2017. Brayden Edwards, who had been running X-Press under a licensing agreement since 2017, continued to head the operation under Vanguard. The acquisition marked a new chapter for the publication, with plans to roll out a monthly print Gig Guide in 2024, alongside its continued digital presence. [9]

Zebrahype magazine

Zebrahype was a short-lived but influential supplement published by X-Press Magazine during the late 2000s. [10] Targeted at a younger demographic, the magazine focused on street culture, fashion, indie music, and emerging trends within Perth’s creative scene. It was distributed as an insert within X-Press as well as at select retail and music outlets. Zebrahype gained a following for its bold design, photography, and its promotion of up-and-coming local artists and designers. Despite its niche popularity, the publication was eventually discontinued due to shifting editorial priorities and financial pressures in the print media landscape.


Impact and legacy

X-Press Magazine played a crucial role in documenting and supporting the Perth music and arts scene for over three decades. It provided a platform for local bands to gain exposure through reviews and listings, serving as a "what-to-do bible" for music fans. Its longevity made it one of Perth's most iconic and longest-running independent media organisations.[ citation needed ]

It was often collected by readers and is remembered[ who? ] for its distinct presence in the city's cultural life, especially during a time when print media was the primary source of entertainment information.[ citation needed ]

References

  1. ↑ Foster, Brendan (14 August 2014). "Perth's oldest street mag X-Press goes monthly". WAtoday. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  2. ↑ "The X press". State Library of Western Australia. 1985. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  3. ↑ "ADVERTISING". X-Press Magazine. July 2000. Archived from the original on 10 June 2001. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  4. 1 2 Ballico, Christina (17 December 2015). "Liner notes: An exploration of local print music journalism in Perth's indie pop/rock music industry" . Perfect Beat. 16 (1–2): 71–86. doi:10.1558/prbt.v16i1-2.23973. ISSN   1836-0343.
  5. ↑ Lecky, Sue (30 August 1995). "Rural up 13.6pc despite drought". The Sydney Morning Herald . p. 48.
  6. ↑ "22 Feb 2011 - NationalStreetPress - Archived Website". Trove. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. 1 2 3 "Last print X-Press Magazine hits the streets". The West Australian. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  8. ↑ "Presses stopped for last time at Perth's oldest music mag". ABC News. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "Vanguard Media Group acquires X-Press Magazine". X-Press Magazine - Entertainment in Perth. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "X press magazine : Western Australia | Catalogue | National Library of Australia". catalogue.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
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