Since 2017, the magazine has been published by Wasted Talent Ltd (the same company that owns electronic music publication Mixmag).
Initially devoted to the new wave of British heavy metal and the rise of hard rock acts,[3] Kerrang!
[4] The editor of the weekly music magazine Sounds, Alan Lewis, suggested that Geoff Barton edit a one-off special edition focusing on the new wave of British heavy metal phenomenon and on the rise of other hard rock acts.
According to Alan Lewis, the first issue reportedly sold out within days of its publication, and the magazine began being published on a monthly basis.
had an average weekly circulation of 58,685 by this point and was making profits of £1 million a year,[14][15] the publication had been faced with significant competition from RAW magazine, also owned by EMAP.
Although her tenure as editor was brief, Doreian would balance the magazine's focus between heavy metal and the growing alternative music scene, following the unexpected success of grunge acts such as Nirvana.
[18] Alexander felt that the magazine was lagging behind RAW in terms of its coverage of newer bands, and Kerrang!
[18] During the Britpop era, the magazine would largely focus on heavier "Britrock" acts such as The Wildhearts, Manic Street Preachers, Terrorvision and Therapy?.
began covering the nu metal genre after one of the magazine's journalists, Mörat, was introduced to Korn by Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn.
[21] During the late 1990s, the magazine would end up covering the likes of Limp Bizkit, System of a Down, Deftones and Slipknot, and various other punk rock, hip-hop and hardcore acts.
overtook NME as the biggest selling music weekly in the United Kingdom, bolstered by its coverage of nu metal.
shifted once more, with a new emphasis on emo, post-hardcore, pop-punk and metalcore music, coinciding with the decline of nu metal.
[29][30][31] Furthermore, the magazine continued to occasionally feature more established bands such as Iron Maiden and Metallica on the cover.
On 29 July 2020, the magazine debuted its first weekly digital 'cover story' long-form article, announcing Corey Taylor's first solo album CMFT (2020).
Unlike its weekly counterpart in the UK, the Australian edition was published monthly due to stiff competition from free local music publications.
's online shop, podcasts, message board, TV and radio segments ensuring more opportunities to sell associated merchandise and products.
According to Alexa www.kerrang.com is ranked 83,545th globally, and 33,532nd in the U.S.[52] Since 1993, the magazine has held an annual awards ceremony to mark the most successful bands in the interests of their readers.
The awards became one of Britain's most recognised events by the now defunct Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums, often listing some of the winners in their annual round-up of the previous year.
[53] After a year hiatus, the Awards were relaunched in 2018, with notable guests that included Johnny Depp, Joe Perry, Tony Iommi, Corey Taylor, and Dave Grohl, among others.
[54] After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony returned in June 2022, with the reader nominations period beginning in April 2022.
105.2 was launched as a regional radio station in Birmingham with an advertising campaign by London-based creative agency ODD.
The radio output included interviews with those affecting popular culture and society as well as those involved with music.
It stopped broadcasting on FM as of 14 June 2013 and once again became a digital station, with listeners able to tune in on DAB or the Kerrang!
As with the radio station, the television channel covers the more mainstream side of the rock music as well as classic rock bands including Aerosmith, AC/DC and Guns N' Roses and classic heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Metallica.
Pit", where the magazine promotes a free gig for a popular band in a tiny London venue.
Fans gain access by applying for tickets online and being randomly selected in a competition-style draw.
Artists featured so far include Parkway Drive, Mastodon, Fever 333, and Neck Deep, the latter performance coinciding with the 2018 Kerrang!
[66] The brand has since also launched the series in Brooklyn, New York, featuring artists such as Sum 41, Baroness, Knocked Loose, Daughters, and Fit For An Autopsy.
As of 2020, the chart continues to be printed in the magazine every week, contains 20 tracks, and often features accompanying facts or artist quotes.
The official Kerrang Spotify profile also features a playlist of the tracks on the chart and is updated every Wednesday.