The printed magazine (1986-1998)

Release Music Magazine was the printed version of this web magazine – one of the leading Swedish magazines for our music since 1986! The magazine was written in Swedish and contained features, reviews, news, classified ads, tour guide, letters, playlists and more. We printed 10 000 copies and had distribution all over Sweden. Release could be found in newspaper stands, supermarkets, gas stations, libraries, record shops and so forth. A substantial amount of our readers were subscribers.

The magazine was born in Umeå, northern Sweden, in 1986. The first years it was run by Britta Näsman as an A5 small fanzine, just for fun. When she moved to Belgium, Mikael Kahrle and Lotta Kahrle (then Jansson) took over the business gradually. They wanted to slowly convert Release to a real magazine, which they did.

Issue 1/91 was the first A4 glossy Release made with computer design. When 1/92 came out the company was born. With 1/94 the layout was upgraded. The circulation grew steadily. 1/95 was the first issue with distribution to around 1 000 shops through Interpress and the circulation was suddenly raised to 10 000 copies. Release had become one of the major music magazines in Sweden.

Unfortunately no issue has been released since 1/98 (August 1998). We have focused on the large, international, free, always accessible version of Release, with more readers and better potential.

Actually the one you’re reading right now – the web magazine Release born 1997.

The company – Release Musik & Media

Release Musik & Media i Göteborg HB is the company behind Release Music Magazine. Release also produces texts for among others Metro – a daily newspaper with over one million readers – and design adverts etc.

Throughout the years has also been working with:

- Release Merchandising – mailorder with store for CD:s, band merchandise etc.
- Concerts in Gothenburg (Die Krupps, And One, S.P.O.C.K, Leather Strip, Dance or Die, Elegant Machinery, Cat Rapes Dog etc).
- Clubs (Electric Café and official Depeche Mode after-party).
- Bus trips (to Arvika Festival, Virtual X-Mas etc).
- Compilations (“Sounds from the Electric Café” etc).
- Release Distribution (the printed magazine, records etc).
- SAMA – Swedish Alternative Music Awards (co-organiser the first years).

Release Musik & Media i Göteborg HB is owned by Mikael Kahrle and Lotta Kahrle (ex-Jansson) and the office is placed in Gothenburg (Göteborg).