Crack Magazine
2 known investors
Crack Magazine is a music and culture publication that sells print editions covering artists, electronic music, and related exhibitions. This page offers Issue 179 featuring Donato Dozzy and Batu, alongside coverage of other musicians and a music venue exhibition.
Also known as Crack · Crack Industries
Investors · 2
Also in the syndicate · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Crack Magazine is an independent publication covering contemporary culture with a primary focus on music across electronic, club, hip-hop, jazz, pop, rock and experimental genres. It publishes online editorial in formats including cover stories, profiles, long reads, album and live reviews, lists, news, festival guides and curated playlists, alongside mixes and shows such as Crack Mix, Specialist Mix and Sunday Mix, plus video and podcast output. A monthly print issue is produced in parallel with a digital edition; the August issue referenced on the site features Alewya, Dr Louisa Toxværd Munch, This Is Lorelei, Evilgiane and Charanjit Singh, among others [0][2][3].
The magazine is operated by Crack Industries, a Bristol-based media platform founded as a bedroom project in 2009. The site lists related brands and ventures under a "Family" heading, including CC co, Ground Work, Simple Things, Plinth, Good Measure and The Christmas Steps, and offers studio booking, advertising sales, a shop and a ticketing section [0][7]. On Issuu, where it has published more than 120 issues, the title describes itself as a free international publication for contemporary culture [4][7].
Founding story
Crack Industries, the company behind Crack Magazine, began as a bedroom project in 2009 and was founded by Jake Applebee and Tom Frost [7]. The magazine's Issuu publisher profile also dates its activity to 2009 [4].
Business model
Revenue is drawn from multiple lines: paid Supporter memberships that bundle print and digital magazine delivery with benefits, advertising sales, an online shop selling current and back issues and merchandise, ticketing, studio hire, and brand partnerships and curated event line-ups (for example, curating a Casa BACARDÍ line-up at All Points East) [0][3][7]. The publication has historically been distributed free through a worldwide network of stockists [4][7].
Subscriptions/memberships are sold at £9 per month for the Supporter tier with print, available on monthly or annual terms and with UK, EU and rest-of-world shipping options, folded or unfolded. Benefits include a monthly print magazine, a monthly digital magazine, access to a Supporter Hub archive, essays, playlists, giveaways, partner offers, annual gifts and 20% off the store. One-off donations are also accepted, and single issues can be bought from the online shop [3].
Traction
Reported reach of 4 million people a month across web, social and stockists as of November 2023; more than 120 publications and around 350 followers on its Issuu profile; a monthly print issue and an ongoing Supporter subscription programme [3][4][7].
Latest developments
In November 2023 Creative UK's Creative Growth Finance fund invested £280,000 in Crack Industries, with proceeds earmarked for B2C sales and e-commerce, merchandising and membership schemes, hiring commercial expertise and developing brand partnerships [7]. The site continues to publish daily editorial and monthly issues, with articles dated through August 2026 [2].
▸Full profile — market position, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Described by Creative UK as an internationally renowned, award-winning destination for content and experiences in music and culture, with an audience reported at 4 million people a month across web, social and its stockist network [7].
Go-to-market
Distribution is through the website, a weekly newsletter and mailing list, social channels, print issues delivered to subscribers and stocked internationally, digital issues via Issuu, and audience touchpoints such as events, festival guides, curated line-ups and a bookable studio [0][3][4][7].
Readers and fans of music and contemporary culture, particularly electronic, club and underground scenes, both in the UK and internationally; and, on the commercial side, advertisers and brand partners in music and culture [0][3][7].
Geography
Headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, with print subscriptions shipped to the UK, EU and rest of the world and editorial coverage of events and scenes across the UK, Europe and North America [3][4][7].
History
Since starting in 2009, the publication has issued a numbered monthly magazine, with back issues from at least Issue 82 (2017) through Issue 110 (2020) archived publicly, and further issues uploaded in 2022 [4]. Alongside the print title it built out an online platform with news, long reads, reviews, mixes and video, a shop, ticketing and a Supporter membership programme. In November 2023 the business received a £280,000 investment from Creative UK's Creative Growth Finance fund, described by the company as an investment loan, intended to develop B2C sales and e-commerce, merchandising and membership, staffing and brand partnerships [7].
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 1
launches, deals, and filingsCreative UK invested £280,000 into Crack Industries, the media platform behind Crack Magazine, via its Creative Growth Finance fund. Founders Jake Applebee and Tom Frost said the investment loan would fund B2C sales and e-commerce, merchandising and membership schemes, staff investment and brand partnerships.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Crack Magazinecrackmagazine.net · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Crack Magazine do?
- Bristol-based independent music and contemporary culture publication spanning print, digital, events, mixes and commerce.
- Who are Crack Magazine's investors?
- Crack Magazine's investors include Creative UK.