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In this article we show you the 30 best music magazines in Germany. This includes well-known music blogs that—like music magazines—focus on editorial content about musicians & bands, movies and books. Music blogs that deal exclusively with topics about learning musical instruments or function more as guides are not part of this list.
In order to rank the existing magazines in a top list without being subjective, we follow the Sistrix Visibility Index (SI) on the web (this resource is available only in German). The visibility index measures the success of a domain. Here, more than 100 million data points are queried and thus a ranking of all domains is determined. This value is considered the gold standard for SEO success measurements for over 10 years and is used by many respected media and journalists.
A music magazine is considered a publisher for content around Reviews, News, Bands, Artists, and Concerts. The editorial teams (consisting of music journalists and bloggers) write music reviews and report about current music videos, movies and books. They also talk to artists and visit concerts and festivals for exciting insights and reviews.
Did you know? Many of the above-mentioned music magazines also offer their own music festivals, online portals, or radio shows in addition to the online & print magazine.
Music has been a source of comfort, inspiration and joy for many people for centuries. It's no surprise that music lovers around the world seek authoritative sources of information about their favorite music genres and artists. As the digital age takes over our lives and streaming services dominate the music industry, the relevance of music magazines has been questioned. Nevertheless, the value of music magazines remains an important issue that is not limited to a specific age group or demographic.
Over the years, music magazines have been reliable sources of information about music history, trends and new releases. While the Internet is an excellent source of music-related content and news, music magazines offer listeners and readers a completely different perspective, providing in-depth features and interviews with artists, reviews of concerts & albums, and the opportunity to look behind the scenes. Music magazines continue to be authoritative and provide readers with trustworthy information. As the saying goes, "Don't believe everything you read online." Therefore, music magazines remain reliable sources of music-related information.
Behind the major music magazines from Germany are often huge corporations such as Axel Springer SE or Musikhaus Thomann. Although mainstream music magazines offer reliable coverage, it is the independent music magazines that are becoming increasingly important for music reporting. They are often run by passionate authors & writers or independent publishers, which is why they are sometimes called "fanzines." These magazines have all the freedom to cover music and also tend to focus on lesser-known or more experimental artists. Some of the most popular independent music magazines are:
Independent music magazines in particular offer a great contact point for newer artists & bands. The best thing to do is to look for the appropriate email of the editorial office and get in touch.
Did you know? The Corona crisis brought rap.de's huge online music magazine to its knees. Operations had to be shut down. This means the door is open for newcomer magazines from the hip-hop & rap sector.
The rapidly changing digital landscape has led many people to question the future of print journalism, including music magazines. Yet print magazines still have a place in the world of music journalism. There is something special about flipping through the pages of a print magazine, reading articles and seeing photos and artwork in physical form. However, digital music magazines have become more prevalent over time. They offer the ability to easily access magazines on the go and are environmentally friendly. The reality is that music magazines, like many other print magazines, must adapt to the digital age to remain relevant. Music magazines that are not equally accessible in the future and do not map themselves optimally in the digital cosmos will not last. This is also the rising trend in the listing of the top music magazines in Germany in the table above.
If we have forgotten an important act in the table, feel free to email us at redaktion@mukken.com. If you are also interested in music-related topics and are a passionate writer, feel free to get in touch. To get in touch with other musicians or to make new contacts, please visit our musician search. Here you will find like-minded people and a lot of great newcomers.
Originally published on March 17, 2023, updated on March 17, 2023