Muse Magazine

What Muse Magazine does

Muse Magazine is a student-run publication operating at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, producing editorial content across arts, music, fashion, lifestyle, entertainment, editorials, videography, and podcasting. Founded in 2012, it functions as a recognized student organization under Queen's University — not a separately incorporated entity — with no external investors, no parent corporation, and no VC or PE ownership. Its content is generated entirely by Queen's students, supported by a structured student leadership team (Editor in Chief, Creative Director, Online Director, Print Director, Marketing Director, Business Director, and a range of department heads covering photography, videography, music, events, layout, editorials, publishing, podcasting, and illustration).

The core technology stack is minimal: a Squarespace-hosted website (muse-magazine.com) serving as the primary digital platform, accompanied by organic social profiles on Instagram (8.1k+ followers), Facebook (3.1k+ followers), and TikTok (500+ followers, 12.5k likes). There is no mobile app, no public API, no SDK, and no proprietary technology or patents. Distribution spans the global web, regional print (700+ copies per issue distributed at Queen's and within Kingston), and event-driven content production including photo shoots and partnership-driven coverage. Recent format expansions include a podcast channel and dedicated videography section.

MUSE's revenue model is multi-stream but operationally light: (1) donations from supporters via a donations page, (2) sponsorships sold through a media kit to brands targeting the Queen's creative community, and (3) print magazine sales (subscription/recurring format for an audience of 700+ per issue). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and no fixed subscription tiers were identified. Customer segments are essentially two: Queen's University students (the primary supply side as contributors and primary demand side as readers) and a secondary general-reader/supporter segment reached through donations, events, and online readership. Geographic scope is anchored in Kingston, Ontario, with digital reach extending globally but no commercial sales infrastructure outside the local market.

Name

Muse Magazine

Legal name

MUSE Magazine

Website

https://muse-magazine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Muse Magazine is a student-run publication at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, producing arts, music, fashion, lifestyle, entertainment, and editorial content entirely through student contributors and distributed via a Squarespace website, social channels, and a 700+ copy print issue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Lifestyle Magazine

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines (MPAJAEAN)

Keywords

• Student magazine
• Arts and culture
• Fashion editorial
• Lifestyle publication
• Creative content

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations: MUSE accepts donations from supporters through their donations page to support the publication's operations and creative initiatives.
2. Sponsorships: The magazine offers sponsorship opportunities to brands and businesses, with a media kit available for potential sponsors.
3. Print Magazine Sales: Approximately 700+ print copies distributed per issue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Muse Magazine is a student-run publication at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, that produces and distributes editorial content across arts, music, fashion, lifestyle, entertainment, editorials, and videography. It publishes both a print magazine (700+ copies per issue) and online articles, videos, and podcasts, with all content created entirely by Queen's University students.

Product overview

Muse Magazine is a student publication at Queen's University that produces both print and online content across multiple editorial categories including Arts, Music, Fashion, Lifestyle, Entertainment, Editorials, Videography, and Muse'ings. The publication operates as a single unified magazine with content distributed through their website (muse-magazine.com) and print issues (700+ copies per issue). No distinct product modules, platform architecture, or separate branded offerings were identified in the source data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Muse Print Magazine A print magazine featuring editorial content on arts, music, fashion, lifestyle, entertainment, and editorials, created by and for Queen's University students. Distributed free to approximately 700+ readers per issue on campus and in the local Kingston community.
• Muse Online Magazine The digital edition of Muse Magazine published at muse-magazine.com, with categorized content sections including Muse'ings, Arts, Music, Fashion, Lifestyle, Entertainment, Editorials, and Videography. Accessible globally with 10k+ monthly website visits.
• Muse Videography Content Video content produced by student videographers covering editorial themes in arts, music, fashion, and lifestyle, distributed online through the Muse Magazine website.
• Muse Podcast Audio podcast content produced by students covering editorial themes, operated under a dedicated Head of Podcast Production.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• No.9 GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMUSE has partnered with No.9 Gardens (outdoor educational facility of No.9 Contemporary Art & the Environment, a Toronto-based charity) for multiple years. The partnership includes editorial coverage of the Cloud 9 festival and collaborative content creation at the Gardens location.
• Cloud 9 FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMUSE has partnered with Cloud 9 festival for multiple years, featuring coverage of the electronic music and eco-art festival held at No.9 Gardens. Both organizations work to uplift arts in Kingston, showcasing creativity and the importance of art in society.
• CARED (Committee Against Racial and Ethnic Discrimination)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on creating a Black History Month zine celebrating Black creativity and experiences at Queen's University.
• QBAS (Queen's Black Academic Society)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with QBAS to create a Black History Month zine celebrating Black excellence and experiences.
• Various SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMUSE offers sponsorship opportunities to brands and businesses, with a media kit available for potential sponsors interested in reaching the Queen's University creative community.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Tab: A student-led digital news and culture publication operating across multiple universities with content verticals covering arts, lifestyle, music, and entertainment. Directly comparable to MUSE's student-generated editorial model and campus-based distribution.
• College Fashionista: A student-generated fashion and lifestyle publication with campus style editors across universities. Comparable to MUSE's fashion vertical, student-creator model, and sponsorship-driven monetization around a youth audience.
• Her Campus Media: A college-focused digital media platform with chapters at universities producing lifestyle, fashion, and culture content for student audiences. Closely comparable to MUSE's student-led, multi-campus magazine model targeting similar 18-24 demographics.
• The Boar (University of Warwick): A long-running student-run newspaper and magazine at the University of Warwick producing print and digital content including arts, music, and lifestyle coverage. Directly comparable to MUSE as a campus-anchored, student-led publication with print + online distribution.

Broad incumbents

• NYLON: An established digital and print magazine covering fashion, music, art, and pop culture aimed at a young, style-conscious audience. Comparable to MUSE in editorial verticals but operates at national/international scale with professional staff rather than student contributors.
• Dazed: An independent digital and print magazine covering fashion, art, music, film, and youth culture. Comparable to MUSE's editorial scope across arts/fashion/music and its emphasis on emerging creative voices.
• i-D Magazine: A global fashion, music, and arts publication with deep roots in youth and street culture. Comparable to MUSE in editorial mix (arts, music, fashion, emerging talent) but operates as an established, professionally produced brand rather than a student publication.

Others

• Squarespace: The website-building platform that hosts MUSE's digital presence (per CDN references). Comparable as the enabling infrastructure provider for MUSE's digital publishing operations rather than as a direct competitor.

Regional players

• The McGill Daily: An independent student publication at McGill University in Montreal covering arts, culture, and campus life. Comparable to MUSE as a Canadian student-run publication with print + digital distribution, though with a stronger news/political orientation.
• The Golden Ratio (UWaterloo): A Canadian university magazine covering lifestyle, fashion, arts, and entertainment. Comparable to MUSE's editorial verticals and Canadian student-publication footprint, though serving a different university community.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MuseMagazine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Muse Magazine