Music magazines with a similar focus in the 1990s era included Option, Ray Gun, and Alternative Press.
Examples of cover stars over the years include Yo La Tengo (1993, 2000), The Afghan Whigs (1994), Spacemen 3 (1997), Shudder To Think (1997), Tortoise/ Swervedriver (1998), Sonic Youth (1998), Sunny Day Real Estate (1998), Ween (2000), Ride (2002), Interpol (2003), Hüsker Dü (2005), and Cat Power (2007).
Record labels pay the magazine to have songs put on the CDs, meaning that inclusion signified no endorsement from the staff of Magnet, although bands would claim otherwise, leading to moderate controversy over the years[citation needed].
The photographic style of subjects has also evolved from inventive avant-garde settings to stark, no-frills closeups of band members.
The magazine stopped being offered in print form after the 80th edition in 2008, but continued to use the Magnet brand name on their website.