Iconic Rock Magazine Creem to Relaunch in Print and Online

The rock magazine Creem launched in 1969 as a local publication covering the Detroit music scene. Renowned for its long-form journalism, it went national two years later and eventually became synonymous with its iconic editor, the eccentric critic Lester Bangs.

After Bangs died in 1982, the magazine floundered and ceased operations in 1988. It tried a comeback as a printed publication in 1990 but failed, and in 2001 went to an online-only format. Now it’s reinventing itself yet again.

Creem has announced it’s becoming a quarterly print and online publication as part of a music network that includes mobile apps and streaming music videos. “We just feel the timing is now,” said Jason Turner, board chairman of Creem Enterprises Inc. “There’s so much amazing music happening today but there’s no filter, no curation happening. We think Creem is a great brand to do this under.”

The print magazine will be limited to about 200,000 copies and aimed at Creem’s “built-in audience.” The online version is meant “to bring that demographic down and bring it back to that music culture we feel is missing or diluted,” he said.

The enterprise will be based in Los Angeles, New York, and Creem’s original hometown of Detroit.

[Buzzfeed]