Tangible Media have announced that Real Groove and Groove Guide will merge.

Many commentators, including past editor Duncan Grieve and writer Gary Steel, are of the opinion that this spells the end of Real Groove rather than a merger.

Press Release:

Tangible Media merges Real Groove with The Groove Guide to expand nationwide street press

Tangible Media is proud to announce the merger of Real Groove with The Groove Guide to form an expanded national, entertainment weekly. The merger makes The Groove Guide the largest (and only nationwide) street periodical.

The newly merged publication, called The Groove Guide, will be larger in format and expanded editorially to cover all aspects of pop culture – from its heartland territory of gigs and live music, to recorded music, movies, DVDs, games, fashion and entertainment.

At the same time, the website  The GrooveGuide.co.nz will carry more blogs, more gigs, more news, more video and a wider range of topics than any other Kiwi entertainment site.

Vincent Heeringa, publisher of The Groove Guide says the investment in The Groove Guide shows the power of street press to compete in a crowded market.

“In the age of downloads and always-on internet it’s all about instant gratification: ‘What shall we listen to now? What shall we watch tonight? What shall I do this weekend?’

“The immediacy of street press means that the new Groove Guide is perfectly positioned to meet those needs in print, online and on mobile. Advertisers and readers are telling us they want to get much closer to that moment of decision.”

The re-launched Groove Guide is due to hit the streets mid-November.