: It is credited with coining the term Britpop and was the first to interview Nirvana. It also birthed the heavy metal magazine Kerrang! , which started as a pull-out supplement.

One of the key features of Sounds magazine was its use of innovative and experimental approaches to journalism. The magazine's writers were encouraged to push the boundaries of traditional music criticism, and many of its articles and reviews were written in a highly creative and expressive style. This approach helped to establish Sounds as a leader in the music press, and its influence can still be seen in many modern music publications.