View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Publishers
  2. Magazines
April 2, 2013

Future’s Classic Rock and Metal Hammer bought for £10.2m by former GMG Radio execs

By Press Gazette

Specialist magazine publisher Future PUblishing has sold Classic Rock and Metal Hammer to a new company called Team Rock for £10.2m.

The sale includes all brand extensions including: The Golden Gods and The Classic Rock Roll of Honour.
Two former executives for regional radio group GMG Radio are behind the deal. GMG Radio was sold to Global Radio in a reported £70m deal last year.
Team Rock describes itself as a new company formed "to provide and create premium content to rock music fans across the world via digital platforms and through the Classic Rock and Metal Hammer titles". It said that it "brings together a team of leading executives to create a worldwide platform for this large but under-served community".
Team Rock is has been founded by former Regional Director of GMG Radio Billy Anderson and is chaired by former chief executive of GMG Radio John Myers.
It describes itself as a new "content, creation and distribution business for rock fans around the world" and says that it will add to its "portfolio of assets in the next few days" and also be "announcing the development of its brand on a range of different platforms".
Anderson said: “We are delighted to acquire these wonderful brands that will play a significant part in the development of our larger business. They come with a great team led by Chris Ingham and we look forward to investing further in their development.”
Myers said: “This is a great business and is the first building block of our wider ambitions. We expect to announce further developments within the next day or so.”
Future chief executive Mark Wood said: "Classic Rock and Metal Hammer are highly successful and well-managed parts of Future, but they have not been centre stage in our current growth strategy. They are great brands with a great team and I am confident they will continue to flourish under new investment from Team Rock.”
The deal has been financed by Harwood Private Equity.
Monthly sales of Classic Rock dropped 9 per cent year on year to 56,714 in the second half of 2012. Sales of Metal Hammer, also a monthly, fell 14.8 per cent year on year to 30,029.

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly dose of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network