3D World to close down

17 May 2011

by Nathan Jolly

Sydney dance publication 3D World is set to close its doors, going to print for the final time next week. The move came after dwindling advertising support and the amalgamation of dance music into the wider music scene made a genre-focused street press unsustainable.

Street Press Australia Managing Director Craig Treweek said of the magazine’s closure; “3D World has served the dance community well for over 20 years but as the clubbing community is now part of the wider music scene it can no longer be sustained as a standalone publication.”

Street Press Australia took over ownership of the magazine in 2009, when 3D World's parent company Destra entered receivership. In the past two years, SPA had toyed with the magazine’s format numerous times, before the announcement that it would cease to publish the title.

Rob Furst, Director of Furst Media, who currently publishes seven titles, including Sydney street press The Brag, is happy his publication is the last remaining voice for dance music fans.

“3D has had a long history in the Sydney market, which is now at an end. Since its inception in 1997 as Revolver and through its evolution to become The Brag, for 14 years we have relentlessly captured and covered dance culture on the streets of Sydney, as well as rock and arts. The Brag’s hybrid format is now the lone, established, historical voice in print, for lovers of dance, hip hop, urban music and club culture in Sydney.

"The Brag will continue to expand and grow content dedicated to the dance and urban music markets, tours, events and nightclubs through its weekly fix of features, club snaps, dance news, tour dates and comprehensive club listings.”

The Brag Editor, Steph Harmon isn’t surprised that a genre-focused street press in Sydney wasn’t able to remain feasible.

“The dance scene has been becoming more and more intertwined with other genres for a while now: bands are collaborating with DJs; rappers are guesting on rock tracks; dubstep is pretty much everywhere. A streetpress especially won’t survive unless it adapts to the ever-changing tastes of its readers – a Sydney title dedicated to dance and club music just wasn’t viable.”