Founded in May 1997 in Venice Beach, California, No Cover Magazine began as a free monthly entertainment publication dedicated to promoting independent music, local culture, nightlife, and emerging artists.
Starting with just 10,000 copies per month, No Cover was distributed throughout Venice, Los Angeles, Hollywood, and surrounding Southern California communities. Created during a time when independent artists had limited opportunities for exposure, the publication quickly became a trusted source for music discovery and entertainment news.
Built from humble beginnings, No Cover’s mission was simple:
Support artists. Connect communities. Help fans discover great music.
From Venice to the West Coast.
As readership grew, No Cover expanded beyond its Venice roots and relocated its operations to San Diego, California. The publication experienced rapid growth throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, becoming one of the largest independent entertainment publications on the West Coast.
At its peak, No Cover distributed over 100,000 free copies monthly, reaching audiences across:
- California
- Arizona
- Nevada
- Hawaii
Available in music stores, record shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, coffee houses, colleges, military bases, hotels, and entertainment venues, No Cover became a valuable resource for both music fans and advertisers seeking to reach active lifestyle consumers.
The publication featured artist interviews, concert previews and reviews, entertainment calendars, festival guides, venue spotlights, lifestyle features, music industry news, and local scene coverage. For thousands of independent artists, appearing in No Cover represented an important milestone and opportunity to reach new audiences.
Before the internet, there was print.
From 1997 through 2009, No Cover maintained a strong physical presence through extensive free distribution networks and newsstands throughout major entertainment markets worldwide in the U.S., UK, Ireland, and Japan. Long before social media and streaming services transformed music discovery, No Cover served as a primary connection point between artists, venues, promoters, and fans.
The publication helped readers discover emerging acts while providing affordable marketing opportunities for venues, festivals, record labels, sponsors, and entertainment brands.
As the brand evolved, No Cover expanded beyond traditional publishing to create regional entertainment guides and event-focused publications in multiple cities, each promoting local music, nightlife, festivals, restaurants, venues, and community events while maintaining the No Cover commitment to grassroots entertainment coverage.
- Phoenix, AZ
- Tulsa, OK
- Houston, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Ventura, CA
- Cleveland, OH
Recognizing the growing influence of Latin music and culture, No Cover launched No Cover Español, expanding coverage to reach Spanish-speaking audiences and celebrate the artists, venues, and communities contributing to the entertainment industry. This initiative further strengthened No Cover’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural representation.
Throughout its history, No Cover partnered with some of the most recognized tours and festivals in North America, producing official guides, publications, marketing materials, and promotional campaigns.
- Jägermeister Music Tour
- Vans Warped Tour
- Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival
- Reggae in the Hills
These partnerships connected No Cover with millions of music fans while providing artists, sponsors, and promoters with powerful promotional platforms.
As media consumption shifted from print to digital, No Cover expanded into live event production, experiential marketing, sponsorship activation, and entertainment promotion. The company developed numerous branded events and community experiences designed to connect fans, bands, venues, festivals, sponsors, and local businesses.
This evolution allowed No Cover to continue serving as a bridge between artists and audiences while creating new revenue opportunities for industry partners.
The next chapter of a 30-year journey.
Today, No Cover Media represents the next chapter. Leveraging decades of experience in music, media, publishing, events, and community building, the company is launching the No Cover App, a technology platform focused on music and event discovery.
The platform helps users discover live music, find local venues, explore festivals and events, connect with artists, purchase merchandise, follow favorite bands, access entertainment content, and network within music communities.
The vision remains the same as it was in 1997: helping people discover great music and supporting the local entertainment ecosystem.
Thirty years after printing its first issue in Venice Beach, No Cover continues to evolve while staying true to its roots. From a free 10,000-copy monthly publication to a 100,000-copy regional entertainment magazine, from festival partnerships and city guides to digital media and mobile technology, No Cover’s story has always been about discovery.
Discover Music. Discover Events. Discover Community.
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