MIXMAG JULY 2008 FRONT COVER
Mixmag began life on February 1st 1983 as a 16-page black and white magazine with Shalamar (remember them? Nope, us neither) on the front cover. Originally the magazine was an accompaniment to cassette megamixes, the forerunner of today's mix CDs. The magazine was owned by DMC, the first editor was Tony Prince, and the first advertiser was a company called Technics Panasonic.
By 1984, Mixmag had gone colour and had a readership of 2000, pretty much every DJ in the UK at the time.
1984 also saw Mixmag launch the world's first DJ conference. In 1987, the mag introduces a new record by a DJ from Chicago called Farley Jackmaster Funk, 'Love Cant' Turn Around', the first major house record.
In 1988, the first cover devoted to a DJ is printed, featuring a fresh-faced Paul Oakenfold. The next year, Dave Seaman takes over as editor and begins the process of turning the magazine from a newsletter for DJs to a magazine representing the entirety of dance music and club culture. This is also the year that Mixmag turns the spotlight on another Chicago DJ, Kevin Saunderson, and the word techno started appearing in the magazine.
The next year, Mixmag comes out against heavy handed police clampdowns on warehouse parties. The word ecstasy is first mentioned in Mixmag. Raves feature for the first time in Mixmag.
In December 1991, Mixmag releases the world's first legal DJ mixtape, Mixmag Live, featuring Carl Cox and David Seaman. In 1992, the Prodigy threaten to come around to the Mixmag office with baseball bats after a Mixmag cover asks Did Charly Kill Rave? In July 1994, Mixmag assistant editor Andy Pemberton coins the phrase trip hop.
Over the next twelve years Mixmag is there for the rise of the superclub, the advent of the celebrity DJ, the rise and fall of progressive house, the dawn of trance and every major development in the most important single musical and cultural movement since the 1960s.
Mixmag has become globally recognised as the single most influential voice in dance music and club culture, constantly unearthing new talent, encouraging and supporting innovation and covering the people that matter.
Now, having moved to new publishers Development Hell (having been sold to EMAP in the mid 90s), Mixmag was relaunched in May 2006, bigger, better and more influential than ever before.
Keep your eyes on our bulletins or subscribe to our blog for exclusive news and previews of what's coming up in the magazine.
