State.ie (formerly ''State Magazine'') was an Irish website and, before, a monthly music magazine. It launched in April 2008 and switched to online-only distribution in January 2009 after having published a total of ten issues. The magazine continued online until 2020, when that year's edition of its ''Faces'' series prominently mentioned the website having seized publication. It enjoyed a good run and was voted Best Music Site in 2008 and Best Web Publication in 2010 in the Irish Web Awards. Originally, the concept of the magazine involved a hard copy of which there was a charge to purchase. However after six issues it was decided to make the magazine's content free both online and in print. The first issue, April 2008, appeared on Irish shelves on 6 March 2008 and featured Michael Stipe of

R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the first alternative ...

on the cover. This immediately garnered comparisons between the new magazine's similarities with '' Hot Press'' who featured Stipe on their cover at the same time, a move widely thought to be an attempt by Hot Press to stifle State's status as a serious 'alternative' to the more established local magazine. At a price of €5.50, ''State'' charged €2 more than ''Hot Press''. ''State'' was published by Roger Woolman and edited by ''Hot Press'' alumni Phil Udell. Contributors included '' Evening Herald'' columnist, ''

The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...

'' reviewer and blogger

Sinéad Gleeson Sinéad Gleeson is an Irish writer, editor and freelance broadcaster. She has won the Irish Book Award. Career Having edited the work of others, in 2016's ''The Long Gaze Back'' and 2017's ''The Glass Shore'', she released her first book ''Const ...

, Rolling Stone writer Kara Manning, award-winning blogger Niall Byrne (a.k.a. Nialler9), ''Event Guide'' writer David O'Mahony and ''

The Star ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' feature writer Tanya Sweeney. The magazine's art director, Simon Roche, was named designer of the year by the Periodical Publishers Association of Ireland in December 2008. From October 2008 until January 2009 the magazine was made available for free of charge from a number of venues around Ireland's major cities and online from the magazine's website, following a number of other magazines such as Mongrel, Connected and Analogue Magazine in providing their print content free of charge. The first freely distributed issue of ''State'' featured Kings of Leon on the cover. After January 2009, the magazine was only available online from its website.

Issues

The first six issues were available for a fee.

Cross-border collaborations

State.ie linked up with '' AU'' magazine of

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...

in 2009 to co-host what was described as "a series of cross-border gigs" designed to promote Northern Irish musicians in Ireland.

Alphastates Alphastates were an Irish electro band from Dublin. The band consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist Catherine Dowling, guitarist Gerry Horan, bass guitarist Stevie Kavanagh and drummer Graham Gilligan. Former member and drummer Mike O'Dowd de ...

, And So I Watch You From Afar and Conor O'Brien of Villagers and

The Immediate The Immediate were an avant-garde Irish rock quartet, based in Malahide. They made a considerable impact on the Irish music scene despite releasing only one album during the span of their association together. The album was '' In Towers and Clou ...

all featured.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official ''State'' website

Roger Woolman's website

Statement of discontinuity
2008 establishments in Ireland Defunct magazines published in Ireland Music magazines published in Ireland Irish music websites Magazines established in 2008 Monthly magazines published in Ireland Online magazines with defunct print editions Free magazines