The Best Indie Rock Music Magazines

If you’re looking for the best in indie rock music, you need to check out these magazines. From the latest news to in-depth reviews, they’ve got everything you need to stay up-to-date on the best indie rock around.

What is Indie Rock?

Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United States and the United Kingdom in the 1980s. Indie rock developed from the underground music scene of the 1980s and became widely known in the 1990s. The term “indie rock” is sometimes used to describe a musical genre, and sometimes used as an umbrella term for various genres including pop, punk, garage rock, lo-fi music, psychobilly, and emo.

The genre encompasses a wide range of styles, from the multi-platinum albums of R.E.M. to the lo-fi aesthetic of Beck. Indie rock is notoriously hard to define, but there are a few common elements that often appear in indie rock music:

-A focus on independent record labels over major labels
-A do-it-yourself or DIY ethic
-A focus on organic or “real” sounds over electronic or synthetic sounds
-An experimental or nonconformist approach to music

Indie rock has been described as “a style of alternative rock that tries to break with traditionalrock conventions.”

The Best Indie Rock Music Magazines

If you are looking for the best indie rock music magazines, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will be discussing the top three magazines that are dedicated to covering indie rock music. Make sure to check them out if you are a fan of this genre of music.

Spin

Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by Bob Guccione, Jr. The magazine closed in print in 2012 and currently operates as a digital-only publication. Spin was unique among music magazines for its broad scope and dedication to underground and indie music at a time when the mainstream industry was focused on more established acts.

In its early years, the magazine was known for its eclectic taste, championing artists from a wide range of genres including punk, hip hop, dance music, and metal. Over time, Spin developed a reputation for being accepting of all types of music, but with a particular focus on underground and independent artists. This made it an important taste-maker for the alt-rock and indie-rock scenes in the 1990s and 2000s.

Today, Spin continues to be an important voice in the indie rock community, with coverage that spans both up-and-coming acts and established veterans. The magazine also offers extensive reviews of new albums, as well as regular features on live shows and festivals.

Pitchfork

Pitchfork is an American online magazine launched in Chicago in 1995 by Ryan Schreiber. It was acquired by Condé Nast in 2015. The site generally concentrates on new music, but Pitchfork journalists have also reviewed reissues and box sets. Since the magazine has a considerable focus on independent music, many unsigned and DIY artists have been featured at the site.

NME

NME is one of the most popular indie rock music magazines. It was founded in 1952 and has been covering the latest in rock music ever since. NME is known for its cutting edge reviews and features, as well as its iconic covers.

How to Get Your Music Featured in an Indie Rock Music Magazine

As an unsigned or independent artist, it can be difficult to get your music noticed by the right people. One way to get your music out there is to submit it to indie rock music magazines. This can be a great way to get your music in front of new listeners. But how do you go about getting your music featured in an indie rock music magazine?

Research

The best way to get your music featured in an indie rock music magazine is to do your research and find the right publication for your style of music. There are many different types of indie rock music magazines, so it’s important to find one that caters to the type of music you make. Once you’ve found a few magazines that you think would be a good fit, reach out to their editorial team and introduce yourself. Be professional and polite, and be sure to include a link to your music so they can check it out. If they like what they hear, they’ll be more likely to feature you in their magazine!

Create a Press Kit

An electronic press kit (EPK) is an online version of a press kit, and usually includes a website or blog featuring an artist. An EPK typically contains a music player, photos, videos, tour dates, and biographical information. EPKs are commonly used by musicians to showcase their work to promoters, booking agents, and record labels.

To create an EPK, you’ll need to gather the following materials:

-A bio that tells the story of your band in third person
-High-resolution photos (at least 300 dpi)
-A list of tour dates
-Video footage or links to music videos
-Press coverage (links to online articles, etc.)
-Contact information (e-mail, phone number, etc.)

Once you have all of the materials gathered, you can create a website or blog to house your EPK. Be sure to make it easy for people to find your music and contact information.

Submit Your Music

Here are some general tips:

-Research the publication you’re submitting to and make sure your music is a good fit. There’s no point in sending your music to a death metal magazine if you make pop music.

-Follow the submission guidelines. Most magazines will have specific guidelines on how they want you to submit your music. Make sure you follow these to the letter, as deviating from them will likely result in your submission being ignored.

-Include all the required materials. Again, each publication will have their own requirements, but common materials include a press kit, high-quality photos, and streaming links to your music.

-Submit early. Many publications have deadlines for submissions, so make sure you submit your music well in advance of these deadlines to give them time to listen to and consider your music.