Another magazine has decided to stop production on their print magazine and go strictly digitally, this time it’s Skyscraper Magazine. I don’t blame the magazine for doing this since websites can churn out quicker news, reviews, etc. and cost about 90 percent less than what it would to make a print magazine. Unless you’re Rolling Stone, you can afford to print a music magazine but I’m sure even they are hurting a little…

Peter Bottomley, co-Publisher of the magazine sent out a newsletter about this:

We regret to inform you that Skyscraper Magazine will be suspending publication of the print magazine with the #30/Spring 2009 issue. Skyscraper will be going online exclusively as we plan to move forward with an expansion of the website (www.skyscrapermagazine.com). The transition from print to web will allow Skyscraper to update content weekly, with a soft launch of this format taking place in the next month followed by a full re-launch of the magazine’s website later this year.

Although changes in both the music industry and print publishing, as well as rising printing and postage costs and the general economic climate, have contributed to this decision, ultimately it was a personal one of myself and co-publisher Andrew Bottomley. We have published Skyscraper as a labor of love since day one, so the profitability (or lack thereof) of the magazine was never a deciding factor in our existence. But as we move forward with our personal lives and careers it has been increasingly difficult to dedicate the time necessary to continue publishing Skyscraper as a quarterly print publication.

We’re proud of what Skyscraper has accomplished, and we feel the magazine established a much-needed niche in a media landscape that was interested more in style than substance. The support of our contributors, advertisers and readers allowed us to print 30 issues over the last 11 years, so we’re extremely grateful to have received that opportunity.

Skyscraper #30 hit newsstands which includes features on Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, The Thermals, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Comet Gain, Chain and the Gang, Obits, From Monuments to Masses, Mi Ami, Pterodactyl, Mika Miko, Ocean, Zu, The Residents, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Propagandhi, and lots more!