Publishing group bought out in Blaze of glory

A WARWICKSHIRE publishing group which specialises in country sports and music has been bought by international media group Future.

Blaze is based in Leamington Spa, where it employs 35 people, and focuses on the shooting and music sectors through a combination of events, consumer magazines, trade publications and contract publishing.

It is to become part of Future, a 500-strong stock market-listed group which publishes more than 200 magazines.

Zillah Byng-Thorne, chief executive of Future, said: “Blaze adds another complementary vertical as well as strengthens our events capabilities.

“The acquisition is part of our strategy to diversify our revenues, increase our scale and improve operational efficiency by acquiring complementary brands in our Magazine division.”

The acquisition adds shooting as a new content vertical and broadens Future’s music events and publishing portfolio.

Blaze owns the established music events The London Drum Show and The London Bass Guitar Show in addition to music magazines Acoustic, Bass Guitar, Drummer and iDrum.

The value of the deal has not been disclosed.