SLUG Magazine
SLUG - an acronym for SaltLakeUnderGround, is a free monthly magazine based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. SLUG Magazine features music, lifestyle, arts and events with interviews, reviews, and articles.
Established in 1989, SLUG Magazine has remained in print for over 25 years, making it one of Utah’s longest-running independent magazines. They distribute over 32,000 issues monthly across Utah and Idaho, including every University campus in Utah except for BYU. Angela H. Brown took ownership of SLUG Magazine in 2000, and is the current owner of the publication. Under her ownership, SLUG launched SLUGMag.com, which publishes online exclusive content not found in the print issues.
The magazine’s current tagline is “Causing A Scene Since 1989,” a reference to the magazine’s important role in documenting and promoting Salt Lake City’s local music scene since its inception.
History
SLUG Magazine was founded in 1989 by JR Ruppel in Salt Lake City, Utah. Created in the back room of Salt Lake City Weekly (then The Private Eye) with the help of John Saltas, the first issue of SLUG was only four pages long, had a print run of less than 100 issues, and was printed using a photocopier. Early issues of SLUG were distributed in Salt Lake City and surrounding areas. In 1994, Ruppel sold the magazine to Gianni Ellefsen, who distributed SLUG nationally, as well as locally.