Championing new artists and albums while continuing to celebrate the epoch-making music of the past, says Time Inc UK, the new editorial approach is reflected with the new strapline: The Past, Present and Future of Great Music.
Following extensive qualitative research conducted with the brand’s audience, the magazine now features an expanded reviews section catering to a boosted interest in the latest music releases and offers more pages of expert critique than previously. This popular section also moves to the front of the magazine, making Uncut the only monthly title in the sector to lead on reviews, say the publishers.
Bringing together the old with the new, Uncut will now have a greater focus on new music. It will aim to set the agenda on the best music of today while continuing to assert its authority on rock history, drawing on the brand’s archive material to create nostalgic features that celebrate all that is great in music.
Time Inc says that the new editorial approach is supported by a dynamic new-look. Introducing a brighter and more simplistic aesthetic, new design elements include a stronger masthead, a bold reviews panel to emphasise the reviews section, along with sophisticated typefaces. A more graphic-looking, sharper cover image contributes to the striking, contemporary look.
The refreshed Uncut launches with an in-depth feature on the late David Bowie’s lost album, The Gouster, interviewing producer Tony Visconti and delving into the rock legend’s archives to tell the story of this new release, accompanied by striking photography. Paying homage to the brand’s heritage, the issue will come with a Sounds of New West CD, sharing the name of one of the very first covermounted CDs from Uncut 18 years ago.
John Mulvey, editor of Uncut, says: “Uncut and its sister titles, the Ultimate Music Guides and The History Of Rock, have continued to thrive through these challenging times, and the enduring loyalty of our readers has meant we’ve rarely felt the need to mess with our formula over the past 19 years. It does, though, feel like a good time to update our look, and to assert the core values of our magazine: our huge, informative and passionate reviews section; and our voracious appetite for new and unheard music, both old and new.”
Reinforcing the brand’s commitment to the current music scene, Uncut will be sponsoring the main stage at this year’s End of the Road festival.
The new-look Uncut will hit newsstands on 23 August, with an unchanged cover price of £5.25.
