Spin (magazine)

File:Spin Magazine Cover.png, Courtney Love, and their daughter Frances on Spin, December 1992]]

Spin was established in 1985 by Bob Guccione, Jr.{{cite news|last=Zara|first=Christopher|title=In Memoriam: Magazines We Lost In 2012|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/memoriam-magazines-we-lost-2012-956388|access-date=November 8, 2014|work=International Business Times|date=December 22, 2012}}{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Rob|date=January 17, 2020|title=Media Publisher Sells Off 'Spin,' 'Stereogum'|url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/345843/media-publisher-sells-off-spin-stereogum.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126200136/https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/345843/media-publisher-sells-off-spin-stereogum.html|archive-date=January 26, 2021|access-date=February 1, 2022|website=MediaPost|language=en|url-status=live}} In August 1987, the publisher announced it would stop publishing Spin,{{Cite news|last=Dougherty|first=Philip H.|date=November 23, 1987|title=Advertising; Spin Magazine Finds Investor and Chairman|language=en-US|page=D9|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/23/business/advertising-spin-magazine-finds-investor-and-chairman.html|access-date=February 1, 2022|issn=0362-4331}} but Guccione Jr. retained control of the magazine{{Cite news|date=June 5, 1997|title=Publisher of Vibe Buys Spin Magazine|language=en-US|page=D9|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/05/business/publisher-of-vibe-buys-spin-magazine.html|access-date=February 1, 2022|issn=0362-4331}} and partnered with former MTV president David H. Horowitz to quickly revive the magazine. During this time, it was published by Camouflage Publishing with Guccione Jr. serving as president and chief executive and Horowitz as investor and chairman.

In its early years, Spin was known for its narrow music coverage, with an emphasis on college rock, grunge, indie rock, and the ongoing emergence of hip-hop, while virtually ignoring other genres, such as country and metal. It also pointedly provided a national alternative to Rolling Stone's more establishment-oriented style.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}} Spin prominently placed rising acts such as R.E.M.,{{Cite news|last=Walters|first=Barry|date=October 1986|title=Visions of Glory|work=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ym2SY9Ha5AIC|access-date=February 5, 2022}} Prince,{{Cite news|last=Bull|first=Bart|date=July 1986|title=Black Narcissus|page=45|work=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DFgfrF29bfgC|access-date=February 5, 2022}} Run-D.M.C.,{{Cite news|last1=Mehno|first1=Scott|last2=Leland|first2=John|title=The Years of Living Dangerously|page=41|work=Spin|date=May 1988|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e7GU2Uztk1UC|access-date=February 4, 2022}} Beastie Boys,{{Cite news|last=Cohen|first=Scott|date=March 1987|title=Crude Stories|page=40|work=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tc58B-2vU3AC|access-date=February 5, 2022}} and Talking Heads on its covers{{Cite news|date=June 1985|title=Talking Heads cover|work=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=16jp_aFRHdgC|access-date=February 5, 2022}} and did lengthy features on established figures such as Duran Duran,{{Cite news|last=Coehn|first=Scott|date=February 1987|title=All Dressed Up and Everywhere To Go|page=41|work=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gcCEwpvxozAC&pg=PA41|access-date=February 5, 2022}} Keith Richards,{{Cite news|last=German|first=Bill|date=October 1985|title=Keith Richards: A Stone Unturned|page=44|work=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W-XEpPcqekMC&pg=PA44|access-date=February 5, 2022}} Miles Davis,{{Cite news|last=Zwerin|first=Mike|date=November 1989|title=Straight No Chaser|page=91|work=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EFy_OzhWq-EC&pg=PA91|access-date=February 5, 2022}} Aerosmith,{{Cite news|last=Cohen|first=Scott|date=January 1988|title=Talk This Way|page=54|work=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w-1-NqaOaKsC&pg=PA53|access-date=February 4, 2022}} Tom Waits,{{Cite news|last=Bull|first=Bart|date=September 1987|title=Boho Blues|page=57|work=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-eDfuEXUHp8C&pg=PA57|access-date=February 5, 2022}} and John Lee Hooker.{{cite news|last=Bull|first=Bart|date=April 2006|title=Messin' with the Hook|page=50|newspaper=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xdLsQBjl0-IC&pg=PA50|access-date=May 29, 2012}}

On a cultural level, the magazine devoted significant coverage to punk, alternative country, electronica, reggae and world music, experimental rock, jazz of the most adventurous sort, burgeoning underground music scenes, and a variety of fringe styles. Artists such as the Ramones, Patti Smith, Blondie, X, Black Flag, and the former members of the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and the early punk and New Wave movements were heavily featured in Spin{{'}}s editorial mix. Spin{{'}}s extensive coverage of hip-hop music and culture, especially that of contributing editor John Leland, was notable at the time.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

Editorial contributions by musical and cultural figures included Lydia Lunch, Henry Rollins, David Lee Roth and Dwight Yoakam. The magazine also reported on cities such as Austin, Texas, and Glasgow, Scotland, as cultural incubators in the independent music scene. A 1990 article on the contemporary country blues scene brought R. L. Burnside to national attention for the first time.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}} Coverage of American cartoonists, manga, monster trucks, the AIDS crisis, outsider artists, Twin Peaks, and other non-mainstream cultural phenomena distinguished the magazine's early years.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}} In July 1986, Spin published an exposé by Robert Keating on how the funds raised at the Live Aid concert might have been inappropriately used.{{Cite web|last=Heine|first=Christopher|date=February 24, 2021|title=Spin is back: here's how it plans to rock a new generation of fans|url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2021/02/24/spin-back-here-s-how-it-plans-rock-new-generation-fans|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=The Drum}}{{Cite web|last=Keating|first=Robert|date=July 13, 2015|orig-date=July 1986|title=Live Aid: The Terrible Truth|url=https://www.spin.com/2015/07/live-aid-the-terrible-truth-ethiopia-bob-geldof-feature/|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=Spin|language=en-US}} Beginning in January 1988, Spin published a monthly series of articles about the AIDS epidemic titled "Words from the Front".{{Cite book|last=Finnegan|first=Jim|title=GenXegesis: Essays on Alternative Youth (sub)culture|publisher=Popular Press|year=2003|isbn=9780879728625|editor-last=Ulrich|editor-first=John McAllister|pages=136–137|chapter=Theoretical Tailspins: Reading 'Alternative' Performance in Spin Magazine|editor-last2=Harris|editor-first2=Andrea L.|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v10ZUR_Ca3EC&pg=PA135}}

In 1990, Spin hired John Skipper in the new position of publishing director and president while Guccione, Jr. continued to serve as editor and publisher.{{Cite news|last=Rothenberg|first=Randall|date=March 6, 1990|title=Spin Magazine Names A Publishing Director|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/06/business/the-media-business-advertising-spin-magazine-names-a-publishing-director.html|access-date=February 5, 2022|issn=0362-4331}} In the early 1990s, Spin played an influential role on the grunge era, featuring alternative rock artists such as "Nirvana and PJ Harvey on its covers when more mainstream magazines often failed to acknowledge them".{{Cite web|last=Austin|first=Christina|date=January 3, 2013|title=Spin Magazine Stops Printing: These Were Its 20 Best Covers|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-spin-covers-of-all-time-2013-1|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}

In 1994, two journalists working for the magazine were killed by a landmine while reporting on the Bosnian War in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A third, William T. Vollmann, was injured.{{Cite web|date=May 2, 1994|title=Landmine Kills Two Photographers, Wounds Writer With PM-Yugoslavia|url=https://apnews.com/article/6cfab08d0c92b8c0f3df24bcb82f8b00|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=AP News|language=en}}

In 1997, Guccione Jr. left the magazine after selling Spin to Miller Publishing for $43.3 million. The new owner appointed Michael Hirschorn as editor-in-chief.{{Cite news|date=June 5, 1997|title=Miller Publishing to Buy Spin From Guccione Jr.|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB86546779069294500|access-date=February 5, 2022|issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite news|date=June 5, 1997|title=Publisher of Vibe Buys Spin Magazine|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/05/business/publisher-of-vibe-buys-spin-magazine.html|access-date=February 5, 2022|issn=0362-4331}} A partnership made up of Robert Miller, David Salzman, and Quincy Jones, Miller Publishing also owned Vibe,{{Cite web|last=Peers|first=Martin|date=June 5, 1997|title=Jones' Vibe takes Spin|url=https://variety.com/1997/biz/news/jones-vibe-takes-spin-1116679915/|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=Variety|language=en-US}} which together made up Vibe/Spin Ventures. In 1999, Alan Light, who previously served as editor of Vibe succeeded Hirschorn at Spin.{{Cite news|last=Wartofsky|first=Alona|date=January 22, 1999|title=Turnover at the Top of Spin Magazine|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1999/01/22/turnover-at-the-top-of-spin-magazine/646ec2f4-40e2-4d79-9fac-28674266887b/|access-date=February 5, 2022|issn=0190-8286}}

Sia Michel was appointed editor-in-chief in early 2002 to succeed Light.{{Cite news|date=February 6, 2002|title=Spin Magazine's Editor Alan Light To Resign, Plans New Music Project|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1012945011336907120|access-date=February 5, 2022|issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite web|last=Block|first=Valerie|date=October 12, 2006|title=Blender stirs up music magazines|url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20020513/SUB/205130710/blender-stirs-up-music-magazines|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=Crain's New York Business|language=en}} With Michel as editor, according to Evan Sawdey of PopMatters, "Spin was one of the most funny, engaging music publications out there, capable of writing about everyone from the Used to Kanye West with an enthusiasm and deep-seated knowledge in genre archetypes that made for page-turning reading".{{Cite web|last=Sawdey|first=Evan|date=March 20, 2014|title=Jody Rosen vs. Ted Gioia, and the Advent of New Fogeyism, PopMatters|url=https://www.popmatters.com/jody-rosen-vs-ted-gioia-and-the-advent-of-new-fogeyism-2495675136.html|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=PopMatters|language=en-US}} In 2003, Spin sent Chuck Klosterman, a senior writer who joined the magazine in the 1990s, on a trip to visit the death sites of famous artists in rock music, which became the basis of his 2005 book, Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story.{{Cite news|last=Kelley|first=Frannie|date=April 20, 2011|title=Everything You Know About This Band Is Wrong|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2011/04/21/135568766/everything-you-know-about-this-band-is-wrong|access-date=February 5, 2022}}{{Cite news|last=Zacharek|first=Stephanie|date=July 24, 2005|title='Killing Yourself to Live': The Dead|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/24/books/review/killing-yourself-to-live-the-dead.html|access-date=February 5, 2022|issn=0362-4331}} Klosterman wrote for Spin until 2006.{{Cite web|last=Joffe|first=Justin|date=January 4, 2017|title=Why We're Still Committed to Music Journalism (Even If It's Gone to Shit)|url=https://observer.com/2017/01/why-were-committed-to-music-journalism/|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=Observer|language=en-US}}

In February 2006, Miller Publishing sold the magazine to a San Francisco-based company called the McEvoy Group LLC, which was also the owner of Chronicle Books. The purchase price was reported to be "less than $5 million".{{cite news|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 17, 2007|title=S.F. group buys 20-year-old rock music magazine Spin|last= Raine|first=George|date=March 1, 2006|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/03/01/BUG8VHGCI11.DTL}}{{Cite web|last=Young|first=Eric|date=February 28, 2006|title=Spin Magazine bought by S.F. publisher|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2006/02/27/daily33.html|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=San Francisco Business Times}} That company formed Spin Media LLC as a holding company.{{Cite web|last=Raine|first=George|date=March 1, 2006|title=S.F. group buys 20-year-old rock music magazine Spin / Nion McEvoy leads company created for the acquisition|url=https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/S-F-group-buys-20-year-old-rock-music-magazine-2502979.php|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=San Francisco Chronicle|language=en-US}} The new owners appointed Andy Pemberton, a former editor at Blender, to succeed Michel as editor-in-chief.{{Cite web|last=Gross|first=Jason|date=March 2, 2006|title=Spin and the FCC- It's a Kids', Kids' Kids' world…, PopMatters|url=https://www.popmatters.com/spin_and_the_fcc_its_a_kids_kids_kids_world-2495678498.html|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=PopMatters|language=en-US}} The first and only issue to be published under Pemberton's editorship was the July 2006 issue which featured Beyoncé on the cover.{{Cite news|date=Jul 2006|title=Beyoncé cover|work=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s5jfV6kXmTEC|access-date=February 5, 2022}}{{Cite web|last=Ives|first=Nat|date=August 31, 2006|title=Like Rival 'Time,' 'Newsweek' Set for Changes at the Top|url=https://adage.com/article/media/rival-time-newsweek-set-top/111590|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=Ad Age|language=en}} Pemberton resigned from Spin in June 2006 and was succeeded by Doug Brod, who was executive editor during Michel's tenure.{{Cite web|last=Dylan|date=June 22, 2006|title=Spin Editor Andy Pemberton Resigns|url=https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/spin-editor-andy-pemberton-resigns/|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=AdWeek|language=en-US}}

In 2008, the magazine began publishing a complete digital edition of each issue.{{Cite web|last=Sisario|first=Ben|date=June 20, 2011|title=Spin Magazine Fires Publisher and Editor|url=https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/editor-and-publisher-fired-from-spin-magazine/|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=The New York Times|language=en-US}} For the 25th anniversary of Prince's Purple Rain, in 2009, Spin released "a comprehensive oral history of the film and album and a free downloadable tribute that features nine bands doing song-for-song covers of the record".{{Cite news|last=Prince|first=David J.|date=June 11, 2009|title=Spin goes crazy with "Purple Rain" tribute album|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-prince-idUSTRE55A5HY20090611|access-date=February 5, 2022}}

In March 2010, the entire collection of Spin magazine back issues became freely readable on Google Books.{{Cite web|last=Matson|first=Andrew|date=March 9, 2010|title=Every issue of Spin Magazine is on Google books|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/every-issue-of-spin-magazine-is-on-google-books/|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US}} Brod remained editor until June 2011 when he was replaced by Steve Kandell who previously served as deputy editor. In July 2011, for the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's 1991 album, Nevermind, the magazine released a tribute album including all 13 songs with each covered by a different artist. The album released for free on Facebook included covers by Butch Walker, Amanda Palmer and Titus Andronicus.{{Cite web|last=Herbert|first=Geoff|date=July 20, 2011|title=Spin magazine's free Nirvana covers album celebrates 20th anniversary of 'Nevermind'|url=https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2011/07/free_nirvana_covers_album_download_spin_magazine.html|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=The Post-Standard|language=en}}

With the March 2012 issue, Spin relaunched the magazine in a larger, bi-monthly format and, at the same time, expanded its online presence under digital general manager Jeff Rogers.{{Cite web|last=Schonfeld|first=Erick|date=February 21, 2012|title=Exclusive First Look At Spin's New Music-Playing Website|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/02/21/spin-music-playing-website/|access-date=January 3, 2023|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Video|first=TC|date=February 22, 2012|title=SPIN.Com's Redesign|url=https://techcrunch.com/unified-video/spin-coms-redesign/|access-date=April 12, 2024|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Erin|first=Carlson|date=February 6, 2012|title=Spin Media to Launch Streaming Music Player|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/spin-media-streaming-music-player-287236/|access-date=April 12, 2024|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Sisario|first=Ben|date=October 5, 2011|title=A New Schedule and New Feel for Spin Magazine|url=https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/05/a-new-schedule-and-new-feel-for-spin-magazine/|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=The New York Times|language=en-US}} In July 2012, Spin was sold to Buzzmedia, which eventually renamed itself SpinMedia,{{cite news|last=Sisario|first=Ben|date=July 10, 2012|title=Spin Magazine Is Sold to Buzzmedia, With Plans to Expand Online Reach|work=The New York Times|url=https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/spin-magazine-being-sold-to-buzzmedia-with-plans-to-expand-online-reach/|access-date=February 5, 2022}} which was founded in 1999 by Anthony Batt and Marc Brown.{{cite web |title= Interview with Anthony Batt, Co-Founder, Buzznet |work= SoCal Tech" High Tech News and Information for Southern California |date= May 10, 2006 |author= Ben Kuo |url= http://www.socaltech.com/interview_with_anthony_batt__co-founder__buzznet/s-0003953.html |access-date= October 23, 2013 }} The September/October 2012 issue was the magazine's last print edition.{{cite web|title=The Daily Swarm|url=http://www.thedailyswarm.com/headlines/spin-dead-long-live-car-and-driver/|access-date=May 7, 2016|archive-date=March 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329220738/http://thedailyswarm.com/headlines/spin-dead-long-live-car-and-driver/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=Sisario|first=Ben|date=July 29, 2012|title=Spin Announces Layoffs and Drops Nov./Dec. Issue|url=https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/spin-announces-layoffs-and-drops-nov-dec-issue/|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=The New York Times|language=en-US}} It continued to publish entirely online with Caryn Ganz as its editor-in-chief. In June 2013, Ganz was succeeded by Jem Aswad,{{Cite web|last=Sebastian|first=Michael|date=June 6, 2013|title=Spin Names New Editor-in-Chief|url=https://adage.com/article/media/spin-names-editor-chief/241941|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=Ad Age|language=en}} who was replaced by Craig Marks in June of the following year.{{Cite web|last=Sebastian|first=Michael|date=June 12, 2014|title=Craig Marks, Veteran of Music Journalism, Named Editor in Chief of Spin.com|url=https://adage.com/article/media/craig-marks-named-editor-chief-spin/293699|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=Ad Age|language=en}}

In 2016, Puja Patel was appointed editor{{Cite web|last=Holmes|first=Helen|date=September 17, 2018|title=Puja Patel Named New Editor in Chief of Pitchfork|url=https://observer.com/2018/09/puja-patel-named-new-editor-in-chief-pitchfork/|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=Observer|language=en-US}} and Eldridge Industries acquired SpinMedia via the Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group for an undisclosed amount.{{cite web|last=Ariens|first=Chris|date=December 22, 2016|title=Billboard Buys Spin and Vibe in a Quest to 'Own the Topic of Music Online'|url=http://www.adweek.com/digital/billboard-buys-spin-and-vibe-quest-own-topic-music-online-175229/|access-date=March 10, 2017|website=Adweek}} Matt Medved became editor in December 2018.{{Cite magazine|date=December 20, 2018|title=Matt Medved Named Editor-in-Chief of Spin|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/spin-matt-medved-editor-in-chief-8491158/|access-date=February 5, 2022|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}

Spin was acquired in 2020 by Next Management Partners. Jimmy Hutcheson serves as chief executive officer{{Cite web|last=Guaglione|first=Sara|date=June 5, 2020|title='Spin' Founder Bob Guccione Jr. Returns As Creative Advisor|url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/352202/spin-founder-bob-guccione-jr-returns-as-creativ.html|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=MediaPost|language=en}} with Daniel Kohn as editorial director{{Cite web|last=Lentini|first=Liza|date=July 5, 2021|title=5 Albums I Can't Live Without: Daniel Kohn, SPIN's Editorial Director|url=https://www.spin.com/2021/07/daniel-kohn-5-albums-i-cant-live-without/|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=SPIN|language=en-US}} and Spin{{'}}s founder, Guccione Jr., who rejoined the magazine as creative advisor.

In late 2023, the publication received backlash for Guccione Jr.'s article defending former Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner after the latter made racist and sexist comments that got him ousted from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame board of directors as well as for "Stand Together Music", an initiative used "to launder the reputation of Koch Industries".{{Cite web|last=Dembicki|first=Geoff|date=December 7, 2023|title=Revealed: how top pop stars are used to 'launder the reputation' of Koch family|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/07/koch-family-stand-together-music|access-date=February 6, 2024|website=Guardian|language=en}} In 2024 its week-long activation at the South by Southwest conference was sponsored by the United States Army,{{Cite web |author=((SPIN Contributor)) |date=March 22, 2024 |title=SPIN, U.S. Army Team For Week-Long Austin Takeover |url=https://www.spin.com/2024/03/spin-u-s-army-team-for-week-long-austin-takeover/ |access-date=February 6, 2024|website=Guardian}} one of the factors that led to over 100 bands dropping off the festival in protest.

In May 2024, the magazine announced it would relaunch its print edition and publish quarterly starting in August.{{Cite web |last=Flynn |first=Kerry |date=May 28, 2024 |title=Exclusive: Spin magazine returns to print |url=https://www.axios.com/pro/media-deals/2024/05/28/spin-magazine-print-music |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 28, 2024 |website=Axios}}{{Cite news |date=May 28, 202 |title=SPIN Returns To Print |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240528954518/en/SPIN-Returns-To-Print |access-date=2024-05-28 |work=Business Wire |language=en}}

In 1995, Spin produced its first book, entitled Spin Alternative Record Guide.{{cite web|last=Johnston|first=Maura|author-link=Maura Johnston|year=2007|title=Never Mind The Anglophilia, Here's The Queens Brothers|url=http://www.idolator.com/272749/never-mind-the-anglophilia-heres-the-queens-brothers|access-date=July 29, 2015|publisher=Idolator}} It compiled writings by 64 music critics on recording artists and bands relevant to the alternative music movement, with each artist's entry featuring their discography and albums reviewed and rated a score between one and ten.{{cite book|author=Anon.|title=Alternative, Country, Hip-Hop, Rap, and More: Music from the 1980s to Today|publisher=Britannica Educational Publishing|year=2012|isbn=978-1615309108|editor-last=Ray|editor-first=Michael|chapter=Bibliography}}{{cite book|last=Mazmanian|first=Adam|title=Buyer's Guide|publisher=Bowker|year=1995|editor-last=White|editor-first=William|chapter=Library Journal}} According to Pitchfork Media's Matthew Perpetua, the book featured "the best and brightest writers of the 80s and 90s, many of whom started off in zines but have since become major figures in music criticism," including Rob Sheffield, Byron Coley, Ann Powers, Simon Reynolds, and Alex Ross. Although the book was not a sales success, "it inspired a disproportionate number of young readers to pursue music criticism."{{cite web|last=Perpetua|first=Matthew|year=2011|title=The SPIN Alternative Record Guide|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/words-and-music-our-60-favorite-music-books/?page=3|access-date=July 29, 2015|website=Pitchfork Media|at=Staff Lists: Words and Music: Our 60 Favorite Music Books}} After the book was published, its entry on 1960s folk artist John Fahey, written by Byron Coley, helped renew interest in Fahey's music, leading to interest from record labels and the alternative music scene.{{cite news|last=Ratliff|first=Ben|year=1997|title=A 60's Original With a New Life on the Fringe|newspaper=The New York Times|issue=January 19|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/19/arts/a-60-s-original-with-a-new-life-on-the-fringe.html|access-date=July 29, 2015}}

For Spin{{'}}s 20th anniversary in 2005, it published a book, Spin: 20 Years of Alternative Music, chronicling the prior two decades in music.{{Cite book|last1=Hermes|first1=Will|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5_eNngEACAAJ|title=Spin: 20 Years of Alternative Music : Original Writing on Rock, Hip-hop, Techno, and Beyond|last2=Michel|first2=Sia|date=2005|publisher=Three Rivers Press|isbn=978-0-307-23662-3|language=en}} The book has essays on grunge, Britpop, and emo, among other genres of music, as well as pieces on musical acts including Marilyn Manson, Tupac Shakur, R.E.M., Nirvana, Weezer, Nine Inch Nails, Limp Bizkit, and the Smashing Pumpkins.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

SPIN began compiling year-end lists in 1990.

Note: The 2000 album of the year was awarded to "your hard drive", acknowledging the impact that filesharing had on the music listening experience in 2000. Kid A was listed as number 2, the highest ranking given to an actual album.

Additionally, the following albums were selected by the magazine as the best albums of their respective years in retrospective lists published decades later for years prior to the magazine's 1990 introduction of year-end album lists:

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|http://www.spin.com}}
• [https://books.google.com/books/serial/ISSN:08863032 Spin], for full view on Google Books

{{Prometheus Global Media}}

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