Mr. Magazine

People keep asking me how are you sure that the numbers you report about the new magazines are accurate. My simple answer is that I don’t. I only report the numbers, only and only if, I have an actual physical issue of the new magazine. I do not depend on announcements, other web sites, or even the Magazine Publishers of America (MPA). Last week the MPA said that 262 magazine launches were announced in 2006 up 2% from the previous year…They say they include only magazines with frequency of four times or more. Yet, I see Vogue Living is listed as a new magazine. I count all magazines including the special one shots like Vogue Living in all my counts. They don’t, except maybe in the case of Vogue Living. But, even if I go by the MPA definitions of what a magazine is, my final count for 2006 stands at 332 new titles published four times or more from a total of 901 titles. In either case the numbers of 2006 are down from 2005 and not up. In 2005 there were 350 new titles published four times or more from a total of 1013 new titles. As I mentioned earlier, all of the numbers mentioned in all my stats and books are based on actual physical first editions and you can see each and every one of them on my web site and in my new book Samir Husni’s Guide to New Magazines, Vol. 22.

In the April issue of Best Life magazine, the cover subject Chris Rock is asked about his Best List…here is what he said in his Reading Best List: “I’m not a big reader, but I’ve read My Native Son, Invisible Man, and Catcher in the Rye, and I read Clinton’s autobiography. But put 500 magazines in front of me and I could knock them all out. I always read magazines. All this information, right there!” (The emphasis is mine)

I am looking for answers for a simple question: What is a magazine? I have my own idea and definition, but I would like to hear from others on how they define a magazine. I know it is a wide open ended question, but it will help to get feed back from the audience at large. Is the magazine a printed product? Does it have to publish at least four times a year to be considered a magazine? Does it have to be sold separate from, say, a newspaper? Is 60 minutes on CBS a magazine? Are sheets of paper inside a box a magazine? Is content packaged on the internet considered a magazine? I am hoping for a healthy debate…thanks

I hope you that you’ve noticed the changes taking place on my web site mrmagazine.com. With the addition of the blog and the regular updates of all the new launches you will be able to keep up with the latest happenings in the magazine world we love and enjoy. When in comes to new magazine launches, you will see every single title with its cover picture and frequency. The magazines will be posted only, and only if we have the actual physical copy of the first issue. If we miss your new magazine, please feel free to send it to us and we will make sure it will be added to the list. Remember, change is the only constant in our business. We already listed the Jan. and Feb. titles from this year’s new crop of titles. I was able to find 58 new titles in Jan. with 21 titles published four times or more. In Feb. I was able to find 37 new titles with 18 published four times or more. See how that compares to last year’s numbers for the same two months. Let me know what you think of the renovated web site and hope to continue the conversation…all the best and many thanks to my fellow workers Garreth, Noah, Barrett and Fred.

I just came back from Luxembourg where I attended the first independent magazine conference. More than 500 editors, pubishers and art directors from all over the world were in attendance. The passion to our industry was second to none. I have been to many conferences before, but I have never seen as much love and passion for the magazine industry. You could feel the love in the air…and in the pages of the newly released book We Love Magazines. It is amazing, that as the only university professor in the crowd, I was the only one pushing the commercial role of magazines rather than only the emotional role. It was good enough for a laugh. Take a look at some of what took place at Colophon 2007, March 9 – 11. www.colophon2007.com. For info on the book We Love Magazines, check here for info.