Blunt isn’t one site. It’s a network of publications, communities and specialist culture platforms operating under a shared vision: Culture Without Permission.
We believe readers deserve to know who owns the publications they read. Every title in the Blunt network is listed below, with its own editorial focus, audience and identity.
Publications
Blunt Magazine — Australia’s alternative music and culture publication. Covering the stories, scenes and movements the mainstream often ignores since 1999.
Blunt US — US music and culture coverage spanning punk, rock, heavy music and the communities that surround them.
Communities
Melbourne Live Music — Australia’s largest dedicated live music community on Facebook. Where shows get discovered, lineups get debated and the scene lives between gigs.
Sydney Gig Guide — Sydney’s live music network. Tour announcements, ticket alerts and post-show discussion.
Brisbane Live Music — Brisbane’s home for live music news and community conversation.
Together, these communities connect hundreds of thousands of fans, artists, venues, promoters and crew. Editorial sits alongside them. Many of the people who read Blunt are the same people shaping Australia’s live music culture — and these communities are where those conversations happen every day.
Coming Soon
Specialist sites focused on film, photography, gaming and emerging culture are currently in development.
We launch when they’re real, not when the domain is registered.
Ownership & Editorial Independence
Blunt Magazine was originally established in 1999 and became one of Australia’s most recognised alternative music and culture brands under the ownership of Nextmedia.
In 2019, ownership of the brand transferred to The Complaints Department, which continued operating Blunt as a digital publication.
Joel King acquired the Blunt intellectual property and brand assets in 2024 and led the redevelopment and relaunch of the publication in 2025, expanding its focus across music, film, gaming, internet culture and community-driven media.
In November 2025, Blunt Australia Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 691 613 831) was established as the long-term operating company for the growing Blunt network.
In January 2026, Toby Smith joined Blunt Australia Holdings as Founding Partner and Technical Director. A long-term collaborator of Joel King and an early member of the Music Feeds team, Smith leads the company’s technology, infrastructure and platform development.
Today, all Blunt properties are owned and operated by Blunt Australia Holdings Pty Ltd.
The titles share corporate ownership while maintaining distinct editorial voices, mastheads and audiences. Editorial decisions are made independently of advertisers, sponsors and commercial partners.
Our full approach to editorial independence is outlined in our Editorial Standards.
For press, partnership or ownership enquiries: