X-Press Magazine

X-Press Magazine is an Australian music and entertainment publication based in Perth, Western Australia. Founded in 1985, it has been a prominent street press publication, primarily focusing on local and international music news, gig guides, reviews, and arts and lifestyle content within Perth.

X-Press Magazine

Editor	Brayden Edwards (current)
Categories	Music, Arts
Frequency	Formerly weekly/fortnightly, now monthly print guide and online
Format	Print (formerly), Digital
Circulation	Formerly ~40,000 (weekly print)
Publisher	Vanguard Media Group
First issue	21 June 1985
Final issue	18 May 2016 (print edition ceased, moved digital); print revived 2024 (monthly guide)
Company	X-Press Magazine
Country	Australia
Based in	Perth, Western Australia
Language	English
Website	xpressmag.com.au

Historically, X-Press Magazine was a free, weekly print publication widely distributed across Perth, becoming a significant fixture in the local music scene. It was known for its comprehensive listings of live music events, band interviews, and reviews of albums and performances.

History

X-Press Magazine was established in 1985,^[1] with the first issue published 21 June 1985 and then weekly each Thursday.^[2] For decades, it served as a key source of information for Perth's music and entertainment landscape, often distributed weekly with a circulation that reached over 40,000 copies distributed to 1,000 outlets each week by July 2000.^[3]

Their main competitor was The Drum (later The Music), which launched in 2006 and was run by national network Street Press Australia.^[4]

In 1995, Rural Press acquired had 50% of X-Press.^[5] Later, in 2009, X-Press joined the National Street Press banner alongside other prominent Australian street press titles, though the companies remained separate.^[6] X-Press then merged with The Music in 2015, with The Music's print edition ending in Perth while X-Press continued being published.^[4]

Facing the challenges of the changing media landscape, X-Press Magazine ceased its weekly print edition in May 2016 after 30 years, transitioning to a digital-only publication.^[7][8]Managing editor Bob Gordon, who had been with X-Press for 25 years, noted the impact of social media on entertainment advertising and printing costs as key factors in the shift.^[7]

At the time of its print cessation in 2016, its publisher Joe Cipriani had also announced plans to sell the publication.^[7] In October 2023, Vanguard Media Group acquired X-Press Magazine from founder Joe Cipriani, who had retired from the business in 2017. Brayden Edwards, who had been running X-Press under a licensing agreement since 2017, continued to head the operation under Vanguard. The acquisition marked a new chapter for the publication, with plans to roll out a monthly print Gig Guide in 2024, alongside its continued digital presence.^[9]

Zebrahype magazine

Zebrahype was a short-lived but influential supplement published by X-Press Magazine during the late 2000s.^[10] Targeted at a younger demographic, the magazine focused on street culture, fashion, indie music, and emerging trends within Perth’s creative scene. It was distributed as an insert within X-Press as well as at select retail and music outlets. Zebrahype gained a following for its bold design, photography, and its promotion of up-and-coming local artists and designers. Despite its niche popularity, the publication was eventually discontinued due to shifting editorial priorities and financial pressures in the print media landscape.

Impact and legacy

X-Press Magazine played a crucial role in documenting and supporting the Perth music and arts scene for over three decades. It provided a platform for local bands to gain exposure through reviews and listings, serving as a "what-to-do bible" for music fans. Its longevity made it one of Perth's most iconic and longest-running independent media organisations.^{[citation needed]}

It was often collected by readers and is remembered^[who?] for its distinct presence in the city's cultural life, especially during a time when print media was the primary source of entertainment information.^{[citation needed]}