Independent publisher Development Hell made the announcement on Friday citing "dramatic changes" in the media world.

The August issue of the magazine, published this week, will be the last issue.

In an announcement on the magazine’s homepage Development Hell co-founder David Hepworth said: "In the nine years since the magazine launched there have been dramatic changes in the media and the music business.

"These changes have made it more difficult for a small independent magazine to survive and provide its staff with a living. This hasn't been made any easier by the economic climate of the wider world."

The publisher said The Word’s website would remain open for the immediate future "as a point of contact" and that it would write to all subscribers with their copy of the August issue.