The Insider: Clash magazine.

Since its launch in February 2004, Clash magazine has evolved into one of the UK's most trusted sources for discovering new and emerging musical talent. As it approaches its third birthday issue on January 11, founder Simon Harper is looking to the future with an online relaunch and expanding live presence set to take the brand well beyondthe "paper page".

Originally launched to provide a monthly alternative to the "opinionated and lazy journalism" on offer, Clash magazine's reach has since grown to more than 30 countries, and Harper says there are now plans underway to take that further, with a view to licensing the brand to more territories.

Clash is 100% independent, which is its greatest strength despite the challenges it presents, says Harper. "The lack of a Big Brother-type publisher means we have absolute free rein to present our readers with the widest range of musical choices, with absolutely no regard for political restraints or censorship," he says. "I'd say that as we grow in reputation, retaining our independence and our focus on representing our own musical values - and not those of powerful industry forces - is an honest challenge that we have to face."

In March this year, Clash launched the first of its now-regular club nights at the Luminaire in Kilburn. It was, says Harper, a brand exercise that further enforced what was being supported and championed editorially. In the tradition of the magazine, the monthly nights are not genre-exclusive, with past months featuring the likes of The View, The ...