Side-line was started in 1989 by two university students David Noiret and Seba Dolimont, who noticed that there was a distinctive lack of media interest in the independent music scene, and especially a lack of coverage in the darkwave, dark electro, endzeit, gothic, gothic metal and electro-industrial genres. Initially, Side-Line was written in French, but, aware of the lack of information and communication in the independent music scene, Dolimont decided to change the magazine’s language format to being published entirely in English.In 1990, the German label Celtic Circle Productions offered to become the magazine’s publisher. The magazine also took on the added feature of moving to a glossy format with an attached CD compilation. After weeks of negotiations, Side-Line N°17 was released with a circulation of 7,000 copies. Side-Line was immediately recognized as the leading English-written magazine on the underground genre and received support from the record companies and media throughout the scene. After 6 issues, Claus Müller, chief editor of Germany’s popular music magazine Orkus, approached the magazine to start collaborating; however, it was short-lived and Side-Line became a fully independent magazine again.