The news that Radge Media CIC is closing down, taking with it The Skinny, Gnaw and Fest, is a sad day for Scottish arts and culture. It’s also a major dent to arts journalism in this country and terrible for those who have lost their jobs. We may have had different perspectives and aesthetics from those three publications, but our endgame was the same: to promote the great artistic endeavours happening in Scotland all year round and to highlight the chaos and creativity in Edinburgh every July and August. Losing these publications doesn’t just hurt the people who made them happen; it also damages the artists, venues, organisations and audiences they supported and celebrated.

Over the past 20 years, the success of The Skinny, Gnaw and Fest, as well as the more recent rise of Snack magazine, has been impressive to observe. A strong, diverse publishing landscape is good for audiences, for artists and for journalists: the more voices championing Scotland’s arts and culture, the better. The post-covid landscape of paper mill strikes, the cost-of-living crisis, cuts across the board, and wider geo-political issues, have made an already challenging environment even harder. But through all of that, one thing hasn’t diminished: the extraordinary ambition and creativity within Scotland’s arts and cultural scene. We believe it’s more important than ever that arts publications can give that vibrant scene a platform.

The Skinny's statement in full

After 20 years of independent cultural journalism and with a very heavy heart, we have to tell you that September’s edition of The Skinny is our final issue as Radge Media CIC, the company which publishes The Skinny as well as Fest and GNAW magazines, has ceased operations.

Firstly, we would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who has been involved with The Skinny over these two decades. The dedication, skill and care of every writer, editor, photographer, illustrator, proofreader, designer, salesperson and member of the team has made this magazine what it is. Thank you all for everything you’ve done to create an incredible legacy.

We have always drawn motivation from the energy and talent of Scotland’s creative community, even when the work has been hard and we have faced struggles, difficulties and real challenges. To Scotland’s artists, musicians, authors, theatremakers, actors, DJs, filmmakers, party-throwers and creatives, thank you all for sharing your work with us and for letting us share it with the world.

We are devastated that our work has come to such a sudden end. We have not been immune to the economic difficulties in the Scottish arts and despite our very best efforts, funding pressures across the sector, rising costs and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis have contributed to an increasingly challenging situation. 

The Skinny is a key asset to Scottish cultural life, but it was produced by a small team with all the challenges that entails. We did the best we could with the resources at our disposal, and we can only apologise to our readers, colleagues and advertisers for making such a sudden exit, but we have been unable to find a way to continue the work at this time. 

This may be the end for The Skinny, but it’s not the end of what we believe in: the power of independent journalism, the value of art and creativity, and the importance of print media.

The Skinny has offered something very important and valuable to Scotland’s cultural scene and none of us wanted or expected things to end this way. The closure of this business does nothing to change our belief in the need for a vibrant Scottish media that connects with our communities, and our faith in print as a vehicle to share new stories with audiences.

Finally, thank you to all of our readers, whether you have been here from the start or are seeing our work for the very first time. If you have ever picked up a copy in a bar or read it on the bus, pored over our reviews, found a new favourite night out in the listings, shared our work online or fired up our newsletter, we really do appreciate it.

Even in dark times, there is still a wealth of vibrant, creative and exciting art being created across Scotland, and dozens of scenes and movements worth championing. That drive and spirit has inspired and invigorated us at The Skinny so many times over the years – let’s all do what we can to help that continue.