Blog Magazine

The Week Changes Cover Design

For its June 26 issue The Week debuted a new cover design. The change was made to promote more single-copy sales; the magazine, at least in the U.S., is mostly a subscription-driven publication, with a circulation of 516,000.

Vibe Magazine Shuttered, Quincy Jones May Take it Back

Yesterday, popular music magazine Vibe announced it was closing immediately.  The R&B and hip-hop focused magazine had reported financial struggles earlier this year, which it tried to remedy with salary cuts and a four-day work week. Today Folio magazine reports that legendary music producer Quincy Jones, who started Vibe with Time Warner in 1992, is working to get the magazine back.

OK! Magazine's Jackson Cover Not Okay

Though we haven't seen a copy of the issue yet, we're betting OK! Magazine's cover of the "last photo of Michael Jackson alive" crosses the line of decency that even the shock-and-awe celebrity magazine should have backed away from. Of course, crossing the line could be the magazine's subtitle. When you see the issue, let us know what you think.

Michael Jackson Commemorative Issues Hit Stands

Time magazine with its commemorative issue out today is the winner in the race to get a Michael Jackson tribute issue on the newsstands after the news broke Thursday of the King of Pop's death.

Time's tribute issue includes memories of the performer from friends and admirers like Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner. The Time magazine Michael Jackson special issue was published in addition to the magazine's regular issue--not in place of it.

In the past, magazine commemorative issues including People magazine, have been top-sellers for the magazine industry including past issues honoring Princess Diana, John F. Kennedy, Jr. and the September 11, 2001 attacks.

As for Michael Jackson tribute issues, TV Guide's Michael Jackson/Farrah Fawcett commemorative issue will hit stands Thursday; we expect People magazine and Ebony/Jet who featured what is now Jackson's last interview as a collector's edition in December 2007, and others to follow suit. In addition, The New York Times reports that Rolling Stone magazine and Life will publish book-style commemorative issues.

What do you think? Will you be buying one or more Michael Jackson commemorative issues?

Michael Jackson Magazine Covers

It’s unavoidable that Michael Jackson's successes, most notably the career-defining, music-history-changing "Thriller" album, which sold more than 50 million copies, produced seven Top 10 hits, won eight Grammy awards and set the unbelievably high standard for the then new medium of music videos—are overshadowed by his bizarre personal life and sexual abuse allegations.  Still, his influence on a generation of musicians and fans is unforgettable.

Tribute: Farrah Fawcett Magazine Covers

Even though she left the lovably corny crime-fighting cast of TV's "Charlie's Angels" after only one year, Farrah Fawcett with her feathered hair and sexy poster became a sex symbol of the 1970s and over the years a pop culture icon that also garnered much critical acclaim for many performances. Throughout her career she appeared on many magazines including Cosmopolitan, Time, Harper's Bazaar and several People magazine covers.

Jonas Brothers Featured on Rolling Stone, Good Housekeeping Covers

The Jonas Brothers now hold the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart with “Lines, Vines and Trying Times," which had first-week sales of 247,000. We noticed they are also simultaneously appear on the covers of Rolling Stone and Good Housekeeping, perhaps a unique achievement.

More Magazines Partner with App Developer for iPhone

Esquire, Harvard Business Review and Bon Appetit are some of the magazines that will launch iPhone applications soon through a partnership with the developer ScrollMotion, which created an app for People magazine.

Magazine Publishers Continue to Turn to Social Media

Mediaweek reports the trend of magazine publishers partnering with social networks will continue this summer with Meredith Publishing launching two social networks for parents on its Parents and Family Circle magazine sites. Conde Nast, publisher of Vogue, has had a successful partnership with Facebook for about two years, while Rodale's Women's Health magazine has also found success with a social media presence.

Reader's Digest Magazine Trims Down

The publisher of the usually-monthly Reader's Digest magazine announced today it will publish the flagship magazine only 10 times a year beginning with the February 2010 issue. It will also decrease its rate base (circulation guaranteed to advertisers) from 8 million to 5.5 million. Sometime this summer Reader's Digest will also launch a multimedia content campaign.