These 6 Berlin Music Magazines Will Make You Instantly Cooler
Germany has a rich publishing history, and Berlin’s open, counter-cultural ethos has contributed to the increasing number of quality independent publications. The city has great magazine shops and a thriving musical scene, which means the best magazines are here to stay.
Groove
Founded in 1989, Groove is your go-to magazine for all things electronic music, which is basically what Berliners care about most. There comprehensive website follows the latest news in club culture, who’s hogging the top spots of the DJ charts, and provides album and track reviews and information on events. They also create podcasts for readers to listen to from some of the forerunners in the industry, for both their Groove episodes and On the Decks sessions. Groove is also a print magazine, and the latest edition is packed with interesting music content, from a discussion on the impact of computer games in music to an interview between the XX and Pantha du Prince, complete with beautiful portraits of the band. Groove is now considered the most important German-language media source for electronic music news and culture, working closely with DJs and producers to bring the most cutting-edge industry news to its readership.
Berlin Beat
Berlin Beat, founded in 2011, is an online music magazine, composed entirely in English and completely independent. In fact, we love this online music magazine because of its all-women editorial team! The site is dedicated to giving its readers an up-close and personal look at the scene in Berlin, through in-depth features and coverage of local and visiting artists.
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Kaltblut
Kaltblut is one of Germany’s leading independent print and online magazines, based in Berlin. Run by Marcel Schlutt and Nicolas Simoneau, it covers a variety of culture, art and fashion, including the hottest, hippest and most avant-garde in the music scene right now. The whole aim of the magazine in to be at the forefront of Berlin’s cultural happenings, presented in creative and unconventional formats. You can also find much of their work in digital form on their website. Each issue is released quarterly, and it functions as a more raw and direct way for artists to communicate with readers all over the world. Their music section covers anything from album releases, reviews to mix tapes by their favourite artists.
Riddim
Riddim magazine is dedicated to reggae and dancehall music cultures, which has a long history and influence on modern club music. Since 2001, Riddim has played a significant role in the established and growing German scene. The print magazine covers up-and-coming, established and forgotten artists, sheds light on current developments, takes trips down memory lane, sparks off debates, and looks behind the scenes. Authentic coverage, detailed interviews, exciting reports, critical clashes, stylish photo and video sequences and an in-depth service section make for thorough, exciting reading for any lover of rhythm.
Indie Berlin
This online blog dedicated to Berlin features the best in independent music. This digital magazine, which hit the inter-web in 2006, compiles interviews with a range of Berlin-based artists, reviews events and concerts, and creates weekly playlists of their favourite songs. It’s also a great place for readers to win tickets to see their favourite band in town.
Spex
This one is for the pop culture swoons, a print and online publication that’s been covering all the latest in popular culture since 1980. Yep, even before the Wall came down, Germany had a culture-oriented and trend-conscious readership. Expect to find expressive editorials, entertaining interviews and epic photography. The German-language print magazine comes out every two months, and their latest cover features pianists Javier Cocker and Chilly Gonzales.