Select (magazine)

Select (magazine)
Title	Select
Frequency	Monthly
Category	Music magazine
Firstdate	1990
Finaldate	2001
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Select (magazine) was a British monthly music magazine launched in 1990 that documented and influenced alternative rock, Britpop, indie pop, and electronic music scenes across the 1990s. It published interviews, reviews, and photo features that engaged with major acts and emerging artists during the era of Oasis (band), Blur (band), Radiohead, Pulp (band), and Suede (band). The title operated alongside contemporaries such as NME, Melody Maker, Q (magazine), and Kerrang! and became a platform for both mainstream stars and underground performers.

History

Select was founded in 1990 in the United Kingdom amid a landscape shaped by the aftermath of Madchester, the rise of House music, and the breakout of Grunge. Early issues covered tours by acts associated with The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, and transatlantic movements connected to Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Throughout the 1990s Select chronicled the emergence of Britpop rivalry epitomized by episodes involving Oasis (band), Blur (band), and the media spectacle surrounding the 1995 single charts. The magazine navigated shifts in media ownership seen in mergers and acquisitions involving publishing houses linked to titles like IPC Media and the consolidation trends that affected EMAP. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, changing readerships and market pressures from digital entrants such as Pitchfork and online forums contributed to its decline and eventual cessation in 2001.

Editorial Content and Features

Select combined long-form journalism with visual features, commissioning photographers and stylists who worked with personalities from David Bowie, Madonna, and Kurt Cobain to contemporaries like Eminem, Beck (musician), and Tricky (musician). Regular sections included album reviews, single reviews, live reviews, and trend pieces spotlighting scenes in cities such as Manchester, London, and New York City. The magazine published cover interviews with figures including Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, The Chemical Brothers, and Massive Attack and ran retrospective features on movements tied to Post-punk, New Wave, and the second British Invasion exemplified by acts like Suede (band). Special issues focused on festivals like Glastonbury Festival and Reading Festival, and on movements associated with labels such as Creation Records, 4AD, and Warp Records.

Music Coverage and Influence

Select was influential in amplifying acts tied to the Britpop canon—Pulp (band), Suede (band), Oasis (band), and Blur (band)—while also giving space to American and electronic artists such as Beck (musician), Radiohead, The Prodigy, and Daft Punk. The magazine’s coverage intersected with chart moments involving Madonna, U2, and R.E.M. and with underground trends linked to Trip hop, Drum and Bass, and Electronica. Select’s features and end-of-year lists shaped tastemakers’ perceptions alongside BBC platforms like BBC Radio 1 and television outlets such as MTV (American TV channel). Its cultural commentary referenced film and fashion figures from Quentin Tarantino to designers associated with Vivienne Westwood, illustrating music’s crossover with broader popular culture.

Contributors and Editorial Staff

Writers and photographers who contributed to Select included critics and journalists who also wrote for NME, The Guardian, The Independent, and The Times. Contributors later worked on books and projects concerning artists like John Peel, Tony Wilson, and labels such as Factory Records. Editors and staff had intersections with industry personalities and events including the BRIT Awards, tours organized by agencies representing Live Nation, and A&R executives connected to Sony Music and Universal Music Group. Guest columns and exclusive interviews featured managers and producers associated with George Martin, Daniel Lanois, Flood (producer), and mixing engineers who worked with Brian Eno.

Circulation and Distribution

Select circulated primarily in the United Kingdom with international readership in markets such as United States, Australia, and parts of Europe. Distribution channels included independent record shops, newsagents like WHSmith, and subscription services used by readers who also bought competing titles such as Q (magazine) and Mojo (magazine). Advertising partnerships appeared with labels big and small, from Sony Music and Island Records to indie imprints such as Rough Trade Records and Mute Records. Changes in retailing, the rise of online classifieds and the growth of digital music platforms associated with companies like Apple Inc. reshaped consumption patterns during the magazine’s run.

Reception and Legacy

Critics and readers regarded Select as a spirited voice of 1990s pop culture, praised for championing bands like Oasis (band), Pulp (band), Radiohead, and The Prodigy while critiqued at times for perceived alignment with commodity-driven aspects of the music industry. The title is referenced in oral histories and documentaries concerning the decade alongside subjects such as Britpop, the Madchester scene, and the careers of figures like Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher. Former contributors went on to shape coverage at outlets including The Guardian, The Independent, Pitchfork, and broadcast media such as BBC Radio 6 Music. Select’s photographic archives and feature writing remain resources for researchers and cultural historians studying 1990s popular music and media.

Category:Music magazines published in the United Kingdom