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Metal Hammer
Cover of the July 2024 issue (UK)
EditorEleanor Goodman
CategoriesMusic magazine
FrequencyMonthly
Total circulation
(ABC Jan – Dec 2015[1])		20,961
Founder
  • Wilfried F. Rimensberger
  • Jürgen Wigginghaus
Founded1983
Company
CountryUnited Kingdom
Based inLondon
LanguageEnglish
Websitewww.loudersound.com/metal-hammer
ISSN0955-1190

Metal Hammer is a heavy metal music magazine and website founded in 1983, published in the United Kingdom by Future, with other language editions published by different companies available in numerous other countries. Metal Hammer features news, reviews and long-form articles covering both major and underground bands in heavy metal, as well as covering rock, punk, grunge and other alternative music genres.

Publication history

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Wilfried F. Rimensberger conceived Metal Hammer in 1983,[2] taking the idea of a rock magazine publishing in different languages to Jürgen Wigginghaus, publisher of the German magazine MusikSzene, where Rimensberger was chief editor. Wigginghaus helped launch the German edition of Metal Hammer soon after, while Rimensberger launched the flagship, English language version from London in November 1986, installing Harry Doherty, formerly of Melody Maker, as editor. The magazine would grow to be published in 11 different languages around the world, including local language editions in Israel, Japan, Serbia, Spain, The Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Hungary and France, also becoming the first Western youth publication in the Soviet Union.

Metal Hammer UK changed owners several times between the early 90s and late 2010s. It was bought by Dennis Publishing in 1994, where it remained for six years before being sold to Future in 2000. In 2013, start-up publisher TeamRock bought the magazine alongside sister titles Classic Rock and Prog, before Future bought all three brands back following the collapse of TeamRock in December 2016.[3][4][5]

In 2018, Future renamed the Teamrock.com website as Louder, a continuation of the 'parent brand' model for Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Prog that would house all three magazines' respective websites.[6]

Metal Hammer Germany was sold separately to Axel Springer SE in 1999.

Brand extensions

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Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards

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Main article: Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards

The Golden Gods Awards were established in 2003 by then-editor Chris Ingham, designed to commemorate the biggest and most exciting names in heavy metal. The annual ceremony, featuring band performances in front of a live crowd, took place from 2003-2018.[7][8][9] Over the course of 15 years, the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Slipknot, Tony Iommi, Brian May, Dave Mustaine, Rob Zombie, Bill Bailey, Chris Jericho and more either performed or appeared at the awards.[10][11][12][13]

Podcasts and radio shows

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The Metal Hammer Podcast was launched in 2009, originally presented by Metal Hammer staff members James Gill and Terry Bezer and covering weekly news and events from the world of metal, as well as reviews of new albums from prominent artists. It'd go on to be presented by Merlin Alderslade, Stephen Hill and Amit Sharma, before being put on hold in 2013 as Metal Hammer launched The Metal Hammer Radio Show on TeamRock's newly founded digital radio station.[14] The radio show continued until 2018, when it was taken off air.

In 2016, Metal Hammer launched a limited ...In Residence series in partnership with Spotify, presented by Alderslade, Luke Morton and then-Metal Hammer editor-in-chief, Alexander Milas. The show produced six episodes featuring exclusive interviews with major metal artists, including Iron Maiden and Bring Me The Horizon.[15]

After a five-year hiatus, The Metal Hammer Podcast returned in 2018, hosted by Alderslade, Morton and Eleanor Goodman, staying on air for four more years before going back on hiatus in 2022.[16][17]

Magazines in other territories

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There remain independently owned Greek[18] and Italian[19] Metal Hammer publications, while Portuguese and Japanese (licensed from the Metal Hammer UK/Future)[20] editions of the publication were launched in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

In Germany, Metal Hammer is still published by Axel Springer SE.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ponsford, Dominic (11 February 2016). "2015 Magazine circulation". Press Gazette. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  2. ^ Story in Metal Hammer Germany special edition 2009, celebrating the publication's 25th anniversary
  3. ^ "Jobs lost as rock music media firm Team Rock collapses". BBC Business. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  4. ^ Mayhew, Freddy (2017-01-09). "Future buys back Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog magazines for £800k after collapse of Team Rock". Press Gazette. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
  5. ^ Mayhew, Freddy (2016-12-22). "The inside story of Team Rock's sudden closure – 'my boss phoned and said it's all f****d'". Press Gazette. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  6. ^ "About Louder". loudersound. 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  7. ^ "Metal Gods Arise!". Metal Hammer. 26 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Marilyn Manson, Lemmy, Murder Dolls Attend Metal Hammer Awards: Photos Available". Blabbermouth.net. 5 June 2003. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  9. ^ "ESP Bands Dominate Golden Gods Nominations". ESP Guitars. 25 March 2015. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Ozzy Osbourne wins Golden God award". The Argus. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
  11. ^ "Motorhead win at Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards". prsformusic.com. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
  12. ^ "UK: Black Sabbath crowned Golden Gods at Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards". BMG. 2017-06-13. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
  13. ^ "Brian May interview: Metal Hammer Golden God Awards 2015". brianmay.com. 2015-06-15. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
  14. ^ "Classic Rock and Metal Hammer's new owner to launch digital station". the Guardian. 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
  15. ^ "TeamRock to produce programmes for Spotify | Brands | Music Week". musicweek.com. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
  16. ^ "Lockdown listening 6: The Metal Hammer podcast". musicweek.com. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
  17. ^ "The Metal Hammer Podcast is Back". TeamRock. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Metal Hammer Greece homepage". Metal Hammer Greece.
  19. ^ "Metal Hammer Italy homepage". Metal Hammer Italy.
  20. ^ "Future announces launch of Metal Hammer Japan". inpublishing.co.uk. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
  21. ^ "Metal Hammer Germany". Metal Hammer (in German). Retrieved 31 March 2021.
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