Future Bolsters Music Mags With US Acquisition

Niche magazine publisher Future has bolstered its music portfolio with the acquisition of American heavy metal magazine, Revolver.

Announcing the purchase to the City this morning, Future revealed a price of £2.3 million had been paid for the title, along with its related website at revolvermag.com.

The purchase of the title from Harris Publications sees six year old Revolver join Future’s other properties in the music sector, including Classic Rock and Metal Hammer magazines.

Revolver recorded a turnover of $3.7 million in 2005, with gross profits of $0.5 million. Future anticipates a post-tax return on its investment in 2007.

Announcing the acquisition, Greg Ingham, chief executive of Future, said: “Revolver is a natural fit with our US music titles and will benefit from being part of a larger music portfolio.

“In fact it is something of a homecoming for Revolver, which was launched under the management of Brad Tolinski, who joined Future in 2003 when we acquired Guitar World, also from Harris. There is also strong editorial crossover with our UK music titles Metal Hammer and Classic Rock, both of which are seeing good circulation growth at present.”

Earlier this year Future revealed trading in its first quarter had been “satisfactory,” with the company expecting to end the year as a whole in a positive position.

Future: 01225 442 244 www.futurenet.com