Record Collector

British music magazine Record Collector was established in 1979 by publisher Sean O’Mahoney, also known as Johnny Dean. Its first issue was published in March 1980. Its origins are in the record collecting supplement to O’Mahoney’s “The Beatles Book”.

The magazine’s target audience is the collector’s market. Early issues focused on the music of collectible artists from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, featuring prose pieces on the history of the artist, alongside detailed discographies of their UK releases and a valuation of each release. Collectors and fans wrote many of the features, drawing on their expert knowledge.

It was the only British monthly music magazine until the launch of Q in 1986.

Record Collector became a full colour magazine in 2003, edited by Alan Lewis, formerly of Sounds and NME, and founding editor of Kerrang!