Smash Hits launched in 1978, created by British journalist Nick Logan. The idea came from his sister’s song lyric magazines — Logan wanted a glossier, more exciting version. It originally carried the name Disco Fever before the rebrand. Publisher EMAP, a small company at the time, backed it from the start.
The magazine began as a monthly, then quickly shifted to a fortnightly schedule to keep up with the fast pace of pop music. Its biggest draw was printing full song lyrics, giving readers the exact words to their favorite hits — something no other mainstream music magazine offered.
Smash Hits was aimed squarely at teenagers. Its interview style was playful and often outright silly, with writers asking ridiculous questions and poking fun at major stars rather than treating them with reverence. This set it apart from every other music publication of the era.
The covers were bold and instantly recognizable. Vibrant colors, large playful fonts, and a prominent logo made each issue leap off the newsstand. The biggest pop acts of the decade — Madonna, Michael Jackson, Duran Duran — regularly graced the front page.
Cover layouts weren’t always simple portrait shots. Designers used creative compositions and illustrated elements to keep things fresh and eye-catching, reflecting the magazine’s fun, irreverent personality.
