Q magazine ceases publication after 34 years

The popular music publication Q magazine is set to fold after 34 years due to losses suffered because of coronavirus.

The magazine's editor Ted Kessler posted on Twitter on Monday: "I have some bad news about @QMagazine.

"The issue that comes out on July 28 will be our last. The pandemic did (it) for us and there was nothing more to it than that.

"I have attached our final cover and my editor's letter for context. On the plus side, we're all available for work."

Mr Kessler has also said he would like to apologise "profusely" for the magazine's closure.

He added: "We've been a lean operation for all of my tenure, employing a variety of ways to help keep our head about water in an extremely challenging print market.

"COVID-19 wiped all that out."

Over the years, Q magazine has featured interviews with some of the biggest names in music. The publication has also featured an extensive reviews section which looked at new releases, reissues, and live concerts.

David Bowie, Sting, Liam Gallagher, Madonna and Lady Gaga are some of the stars to feature on the magazine's cover.

The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess said on Twitter that it is "sad news" that the publication is closing.

He said: "Q was good to us over the years, I learned much from its pages, ever since I bought the very first copy."

Indie band The Vaccines also lamented the closure on social media.

A post from their official Twitter account said: "I still love reading Q Magazine. Dark times."

The final issue's cover features a stack of magazines and reads: "Adventures with legends 1986 to 2020."

Mr Kessler has said the magazine's staff originally thought their previous issue would be their last, however after they were told there was interest in buying the publication they produced another edition.

He added that because of the time pressures they were under the final issue is a celebration of their "greatest hits" and features re-runs of old articles.

Mr Kessler said that when he became the magazine's editor there was one thing that scared him: "I didn't want to be the last editor of Q."