Beat (magazine)

{{Infobox magazine | logo = Beat Magazine logo.svg | title = Beat | image_file = Beat_Magazine_Nov_2023_small.jpg | image_caption = Beat Magazine's November 2023 Cover | editor_title = | editor = Lucas Radbourne | category = [[Arts]] | frequency = Monthly | circulation = | publisher = [[Furst Media]] | firstdate = 30 July 1986 | finaldate = | company = | country = Australia | based = [[Melbourne]] | language = English | website = {{URL|https://beat.com.au/}} | issn = }}

'''''Beat''''' is a free monthly [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]]-sized music, arts and culture magazine ([[Music Street Press of Australia|street press]]), website and social media network published and distributed in [[Melbourne]], Australia. It's Melbourne's longest running street press, and one of the earliest street press magazines after [[TAGG – The Alternative Gig Guide|TAGG]].

''Beat'' paused its print edition between March 2020-May 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged [[COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria|Victorian lockdowns]], but has since resumed publishing.

== History == The magazine was founded as a weekly street press by Rob Furst and was printed by his company Furst Media. Between 1994 and 1998 a Sydney edition was printed, known as ''Beat : Sydney Listings Bible''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Beat : Sydney listings bible.|url=https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/74VK7DNl7JAl|access-date=4 January 2022|website=Collection - State Library of NSW|language=en}}</ref> The magazines and their online component were published each Wednesday, with the printed magazines distributed to nearly 1,000 locations in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 April 1997 |title=Beat Magazine |url=http://www.ozonline.com.au:80/beat/ |access-date=4 January 2022 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970420053634/http://www.ozonline.com.au:80/beat/ |archive-date=20 April 1997 |url-status=dead}}</ref> By 2020 the Melbourne edition was distributed to over 3,200 locations.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Advertise |url=https://beat.com.au/advertise/ |access-date=4 January 2022 |website=Beat Magazine |language=en-AU}}</ref> They're currently printed and distributed towards the end of each month, covering a range of events happening in the proceeding month.

The magazine has shifted between calling itself ''Beat'' and ''Beat Magazine'' periodically throughout its history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beat (Melbourne, Vic. : 1986) |url=http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=SLV_VOYAGER996855&vid=MAIN&search_scope=Everything&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US&context=L |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104100912/http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=SLV_VOYAGER996855&vid=MAIN&search_scope=Everything&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US&context=L |archive-date=4 January 2022 |access-date=4 January 2022 |website=search.slv.vic.gov.au |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Beat magazine (Melbourne, Vic.) |url=http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=SLV_VOYAGER996851&vid=MAIN&search_scope=Everything&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US&context=L |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104100915/http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=SLV_VOYAGER996851&vid=MAIN&search_scope=Everything&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US&context=L |archive-date=4 January 2022 |access-date=4 January 2022 |website=search.slv.vic.gov.au |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Beat (Melbourne, Vic. : 2000) |url=http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=SLV_VOYAGER1038040&vid=MAIN&search_scope=Everything&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US&context=L |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104100911/http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=SLV_VOYAGER1038040&vid=MAIN&search_scope=Everything&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US&context=L |archive-date=4 January 2022 |access-date=4 January 2022 |website=search.slv.vic.gov.au |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> ''Beat''<nowiki/>'s main competitor was ''[[Inpress]]'', a Melbourne-based street press which was co-created by Rowena Sladdin in 1988 after she had left ''Beat''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Watt|first=Andrew|date=12 June 2019|title=Rowena Sladdin: sassy, funny, determined, indefatigable and tough|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/rowena-sladdin-sassy-funny-determined-indefatigable-and-tough-20190609-h1f7f1.html|url-status=live|access-date=4 January 2022|website=[[The Age]]|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612024507/https://www.theage.com.au/national/rowena-sladdin-sassy-funny-determined-indefatigable-and-tough-20190609-h1f7f1.html |archive-date=12 June 2019 }}</ref>

In May 2012, 35,000 of the magazine copies were printed and distributed with a cartoon drawing of a naked man on its cover. The text "Sayonara, Bitches! It's been real" were written above the man's genitalia and many feared this would be ''Beat''{{'s}} final issue. ''Beat'' explained on their website that the cover was meant to feature English band [[Kaiser Chiefs]], but the cover had been swapped out by their typesetter on his last day of work as a prank.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cooper|first=Mex|date=3 May 2012|title=No, it's not a cock-up, it's Luke leaving|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/no-its-not-a-cockup-its-luke-leaving-20120503-1y1bg.html|url-status=live|access-date=4 January 2022|website=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104065710/http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/no-its-not-a-cockup-its-luke-leaving-20120503-1y1bg.html |archive-date=4 November 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2 May 2012|title=Beat magazine caught with pants down: 'Sayonara, Bitches'|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2012/05/02/beat-that-beat-magazines-sayona-bitches/|access-date=4 January 2022|website=Crikey|language=en-US}}</ref>

''Beat'' announced in 2019 they would begin publishing fortnightly, starting with issue #1673. Both the magazine and Beat's website were also redesigned at this time.<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 April 2019|title=How 33 years of ambition frames Beat Magazine's next step|url=https://beat.com.au/the-beat-magazine-evolution/|access-date=4 January 2022|website=Beat Magazine|language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=26 August 2019|title=Beat Magazine undergoes facelift, revamps gig guide|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/beat-magazine-facelift/|access-date=4 January 2022|website=The Music Network}}</ref> The subject of the magazine also expanded beyond music, and now included video games, film, and television.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Blackiston|first=Hannah|date=28 August 2019|title=Beat Magazine unveils gig guide and website with brand new look|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/beat-magazine-unveils-gig-guide-and-website-with-brand-new-look-595662|access-date=4 January 2022|website=Mumbrella|language=en-US}}</ref>

The print issue of ''Beat'' was temporarily suspended after issue #1695, published on 11 March 2020, due to the inability to distribute street press magazines during the COVID-19 pandemic and Victorian lockdowns.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Beat Issue 1695 by Furst Media - Issuu|url=https://issuu.com/furstmedia/docs/beat1695_lowres|url-status=live|access-date=14 December 2021|website=[[Issuu]]|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315233410/https://issuu.com/furstmedia/docs/beat1695_lowres |archive-date=15 March 2020 }}</ref> The magazine shifted its focus temporarily to its website, social media accounts and email newsletters, which it continues to send out regularly to subscribers. In May 2022, its editor Lucas Radbourne announced that the print issue had returned, and was available freely again as a monthly magazine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Radbourne |first=Lucas |date=May 2022 |title=1696 |url=https://beat.com.au/magazine/1696/ |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=Beat Magazine |language=en-AU}}</ref>

=== Online ===

In addition to its monthly print magazine, which focuses entirely on cultural events happening in Melbourne and across Victoria each month, ''Beat's'' website contains a long-running online Gig Guide allowing venues and event promoters across Melbourne to upload events for free. Originally starting as a gig guide in print before the internet, the online gig guide is arguably the best-known aspect of ''Beat's'' online coverage.<ref>Only Melbourne, Beat Magazine Profile, https://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/beat-melbourne-gig-guide</ref>

All of the magazine's print editions since its 1600th issue are also freely available to read on its website while issues dating back to January, 2012 - issue 1,303 - are available to read for free via the publication's [[Issuu]] page.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beat Magazine by furstmedia Stack |url=https://issuu.com/furstmedia/stacks/1a81e191ee0742bf829c02051b0ea620/9 |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Issuu |language=en}}</ref>

=== Notable former covers ===

While ''Beat'' has primarily featured Australian artists and has often spotlighted small-profile, alternative acts, the magazine has featured a range of high-profile international artists on its cover. These are some of the notable cover stars since 2012.<ref>Issuu, Beat Magazine, Furst Media Stacks, https://issuu.com/furstmedia/stacks/1a81e191ee0742bf829c02051b0ea620</ref>

* 17 January 2012 - Soundgarden * 28 February 2012 - Marilyn Manson * 16 January 2013 - The Killers * 12 February 2013 - Rodriguez * 27 February 2013 - Slayer * 20 March 2013 - Jimmy Cliff * 10 December 2013 - Nile Rodgers * 17 December 2013 - [[Snoop Dogg]] * 10 June 2014 - [[Lily Allen]] * 24 June 2014 - Jack White * 19 August 2014 - Nick Cave * 19 November 2014 and 20 September 2017 - Foo Fighters * 17 February 2015 - Slipknot * 15 April 2015 - Gang of Youths * 3 May 2016 - Iron Maiden * 12 July 2017 - HAIM * 25 October 2017 - Yothu Yindi * 4 July 2018 - Yungblud * 26 December 2018 - Action Bronson * 16 January 2019 - Bring Me The Horizon * 2 October 2019 - KISS * 15 January 2020 - [[Fatboy Slim]] * 5 July 2023 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs * 1 June 2025 - Suki Waterhouse

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://beat.com.au/ Official website] * [https://beat.com.au/gig-guide/ Beat Gig Guide] * [https://beat.com.au/directory/ Beat online directories] * [https://issuu.com/furstmedia/stacks/1a81e191ee0742bf829c02051b0ea620 Digital archive of issues] (2012-2020) {{Authority control}}

[[Category:Visual arts magazines]] [[Category:Music magazines published in Australia]] [[Category:1986 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Magazines established in 1986]] [[Category:Magazines published in Melbourne]] [[Category:Free magazines]]