Later versions were created, specifically covering Leeds, Kingston upon Hull, York, Nottingham and Manchester before all five editions were amalgamated into one compendium edition which also covered Manchester, Bradford, Derby and Leicester making Sandman the largest independent publication of its kind in the UK.
Sandman's aims were simply to cover and support the local music scenes of the cities in which it was published.
At its highest the readership was around 50,000 across Yorkshire, Lancashire and the East Midlands A number of now nationally famous acts were covered early on in their careers by Sandman, most notably The Kaiser Chiefs in Leeds and Arctic Monkeys and Reverend & The Makers in Sheffield.
Sandman gained recognition and praise from figures such as the radio DJ Steve Lamacq and Simon Williams of Fierce Panda Records.
From 2005 Sandman Magazine worked with the Mean Fiddler organisation helping pick unsigned bands to play at the Leeds Festival.