are there magazine wars these days? i only used to get Melody Maker when the shop ran out of NME and very very occasionally I'd get Sounds if Morrissey was on the cover or wanted to look cool and different at school - in the current climate who is DiS's rival - Pitchfork? Playlouder@ Is Hot The Deputy? - or does the digital age make brand loyalty something less to fight over with your mates.

PROLEFACT: I once ignored a friend for a week because as a Melody Maker reader he found out the tracklisting of Trompe Le Monde before me and wouldn't let me look as I was an 'NME reader' - oh dear