Sounds was a music newspaper, published weekly in the UK between 10 October 1970 and 6 April 1991. Its parent company, Spotlight Publications, was set up by former Melody Maker employees Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson. Sounds was the first publication from Spotlight, intended as a rival to Melody Maker and New Musical Express (NME). Its focus was initially on progressive rock. It later covered heavy metal through its supplement Kerrang!, and was one of the first music papers to cover punk.

Journalist Mick Middles reported on the Manchester music scene for Sounds from 1978 to 1982, writing about new bands including Buzzcocks, Slaughter & The Dogs, The Fall and Joy Division.

Manchester journalist and musician John Robb joined Sounds in 1987 and coined the term "Britpop" in his coverage of bands such as Oasis and Blur. Robb also carried out the first interview with Seattle grunge band Nirvana.

Spotlight Publications was part of the Morgan-Grampian group. United News and Media, later United Newspapers, bought Morgan-Grampian in 1987. United Newspapers sold its music titles to EMAP Metro in 1991 and Sounds ceased publication in April 1991.