Netherlands Rock Publications – Latest Music News

Other than those who strum careless chords for entertainment, there are many people in the Netherlands who are struggling for their life in the rock music scene. What is encouraging is these people don’t suffer in silence, but try to express themselves through sharing mediums. The available publications both in print and digital formats help faculty and students map the growth of rock music in the Netherlands and help them understand the country’s and international bands, concerts and reviews, interviews and much more. In this paper, we present some of the important, well-known Dutch publications on rock music, their histories and contributions, as well as the places they occupy in the more general journalism of music to which these editors are journalists.

RockZine.nl: The Dutch Rock Without Borders Now Has Its Home on the Internet

RockZine.nl is the newest online magazine covering all aspects of the Dutch rock music industry. Besides having the latest Dutch rock news, the website also features blog posts with reviews of concerts and albums, as well as interviews with both popular and upcoming performers. Recently, the hottest news was the announcement of Anneke van Giersbergen’s club tour in spring 2025 with new music. The tour starts on March 16 at Mezz, a new club in Breda. RockZine.nl is sure to attend all important events of rock in bushes and report them for their readers.

Boppin’ Around: A Tribute to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Era 

Bopping’ Around started out in 1993 as a print publication on rock ‘n’ roll, swing and rockabilly from the 1950s. It has transformed over time into one of the leading Dutch magazines in that field and now has an online presence where its audience can remain updated on the rocking’ scene. The website has a section called ‘Big News’ where people can find news, ‘Recensions’ that has all the reviews, and ‘Rocking’ Lifestyle’ where the readers are provided with reports of the concerts. Even though work is now done online, Bopping’ Around is still passionate about the different aspects of rock and roll and tries to keep its relevance alive in the Dutch show business.

Rock Tribune: Centre of Rock and Metal Information

Apart from other publications, Rock Tribune is the one that gives the widest coverage to metal and rock music. In the magazine, you can find new and re-released albums from performing bands, concerts and festivals, as well as interviews with important figures. The last issue has an interview with Dream Theater, who are well known for their reunion with drummer Mike Portnoy and new album ‘Parasomnia’ that’s coming out soon. Moreover, the magazine updates the readers on concert dates and festivals, which is useful for those who want to stay informed about the latest news and events.

Counter Culture: Exploring the Periphery of Music

Counter Culture acts as an e-magazine dedicated to the world of alternative music – including genres of rock and its sub-genres. The platform promotes a plethora of content such as regular tracks series, concert reviews, interviews, and even fest previews. Counter Culture also offers ‘shorts’ which are capsule album and performance reviews that are perfect for readers who want information without the bulk. The magazine’s willingness to accommodate both popular and underground artists makes it a flexible tool for music lovers.

Block Magazine: Landmark in Blues and Rock Journalism

Originally started in 1975 by Rein and Marion Wises in Almelo, Block Magazine has gradually become a household name in Dutch blues and rock music, or as some may say, a staple in the culture. Throughout the years the magazine has grown to become one of the most important in the region publishing over 200 interviews of blues artists with greats like Solomon Burke and Bo Diddley. The founders’ passion is also showcased by their saturating collection of an estimated 30,000 images of blues. As a mark of this contribution, Block Magazine was given the Keeping the Blues Alive award by the Blues Foundation in 2010, concretizing its impact in music journalism.

3voor12: VPRO’s Multimedia Platform for Alternative Music

3voor12 is an initiative of the Dutch public broadcaster VPRO that functions as a multimedia alternative pop and rock platform. It includes digital television channels, radio and television programmed on NPO 3FM, a complete website, and a live event – Club 3voor12 – that takes place every week. There are also several radio stations that broadcast from the Netherlands, covering more extreme forms of music, such as punk, heavy metal, and jazz. Aside from these broadcast media, 3voor12 is also active on the internet and at some major festivals in the Netherlands, like Noorderslag and Lowlands. This illustrates the importance of 3voor12 in the documentation and promotion of alternative music in the Netherlands.

March & Rock Magazine A Unique Visual Perspective on Music

March & Rock Magazine is a magazine with perhaps the most unique approach to rock music, combining photography and words to encapsulate the very existence of the rock genre. Every edition serves as a visual journey and in the latest #’s edition – “Solstitial” – the magazine captured the summer solstice with a 24 hour photographic tour of Düsseldorf. Through this methodology, the magazine allows its audience not only to appreciate the art of visual representation, but combines it with the narrative of musical discovery.

The Impact of Dutch Rock Journalism on the Music Industry

Dutch rock publications are important for the recording and reporting of diverse aspects of rock music, which continues to flourish in the Netherlands. They act as avenues for artists to market their works, provide critiques of the compositions, and give fans detailed information about their favorite genres and performers. These publications, encompassing a large number of rock sub-genres and other auxiliary styles of music, help in nurturing and safeguarding the rich musical heritage of the Netherlands.

The Business Model of Dutch Rock Publications

Economically, Dutch rock magazines are distinctly caught between old-fashioned print models and new, digital-based media. While the Block Magazine continues to offer its print version, it is also clear that many former magazines have simply shifted to online ones, such as RockZine.nl and Counter Culture. This change aligns with the dominant trend for such publications where they have to keep up with the pace of technology as well as the customers’ needs. Different ways of earning revenue include paid subscriptions, display adverts, sponsored articles, and merchandising. In a highly competitive media market, these publications need to switch to digital platforms, but be assured that the content stays of high value in order to survive.

The Final Takeaway: Protecting the Musical Heritage Through Committed Journalism

The field of Dutch rock magazines shows us the lasting value of committed journalism in.