[3] In its first year Musical Opinion critically reviewed Brahms' new Second Symphony, and in 1879 his Violin Concerto.
Regular contributors included Gerald Abraham, Eric Blom, Dmitri Calvocoressi, Eaglefield Hull, Alfred Kalmus, Basil Maine and Percy Scholes.
[9] From the time of its first issue (September 1877), Musical Opinion appeared monthly;[3] but in the 1990s increasing production and postal costs threatened the magazine's survival.
In 1994 Musical Opinion became a quarterly publication[3]—with regular subscribers being kept up to date with information and reviews in the intervening months by means of 'Supplements' posted to them.
In 2003, Musical Opinion abandoned the idea of posted 'Supplements' and once more became a straightforward 'newsstand' publication appearing quarterly.