While I have certainly come to love the August and January issues over the last eleven years, I am happy with this news. It is essentially a return to the magazine's roots. During the 1990s, the magazine published ten issues annually and they are among the best years in the magazine's catalog. I've reflected on the January and August issues before on this blog. For the sake of nostalgia, click the highlighted links below to read more about their histories:
2.28.2013
Living Goes From Twelve to Ten
Beginning this year, Martha Stewart Living magazine will publish ten issues instead of twelve. MSLO announced the change on the company's most recent investor-relations conference call. This year, the July and August issues will be combined into one summer issue. It is likely that the December and January issues will also be sandwiched into one issue, or perhaps the January and February issues. The August and January issues were new additions to the magazine in 2001 when it began to publish monthly. Due to increasing publishing costs and a decline in ad revenue, the magazine has opted to return to the 10-issue format by cutting its distribution by two.
While I have certainly come to love the August and January issues over the last eleven years, I am happy with this news. It is essentially a return to the magazine's roots. During the 1990s, the magazine published ten issues annually and they are among the best years in the magazine's catalog. I've reflected on the January and August issues before on this blog. For the sake of nostalgia, click the highlighted links below to read more about their histories:
While I have certainly come to love the August and January issues over the last eleven years, I am happy with this news. It is essentially a return to the magazine's roots. During the 1990s, the magazine published ten issues annually and they are among the best years in the magazine's catalog. I've reflected on the January and August issues before on this blog. For the sake of nostalgia, click the highlighted links below to read more about their histories:
Beginning of the end....
ReplyDeleteIs it a valid assumption that ten issues necessarily mean a return to better content? Oh how I wish that were true!! I just read the March issue cover-to-cover and found myself searching for the captivating content I used to love. . . .
ReplyDeleteMaybe not, but I'm an eternal optimist. Hope for the best, expect the worst.
ReplyDeleteI agree with anonymous--I was shocked by the lack of content with stories. One page, short essay is hardly up to the standards set in previous years. Would also agree with Jamie--looks like the beginning of the end.....
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's time for y'all to read something else?
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Andrew. It's a relief to know that the magazine lives on - 10 issues is fine by me.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what these people are complaining about - for me MSL has been THE source of beautiful, inspiring ideas for more than 20 years!
Just look to Pinterest to see how what MSL started has come to bloom in people's lives. We can't expect MSL to come up with EVERY idea.
Stop yer complainin' and be grateful!
I don't deny that there is something missing from these current issues (read my first post of 2013) but at the same time everything grows and evolves and changes. To hope for something to stay the same way forever is a guarantee for disappointment. At this stage, I'm just enjoying every (Martha) moment we are given, accepting things as they are and just going with the flow.
ReplyDeleteThey begun with the announcement of going from 12 to 11 issues recently, followed by now down to 10. I personally see it going down to 6 issues a year (2 months per magazine) but NOT as far as down to 4 issues (one per season).
ReplyDeleteI love Martha Stewart, however unfortunately, I have to agree (and not complaining) that the content isn't the way it used to be (not to mention the excessive amount of ads in it), so I didn't renew my subscription, HOWEVER I still am a big fan of those special issues we find on Newsstands, most recently "The Best of Martha Stewart Living Cakes & Cupcakes" as well as Martha Stewart Halloween and Martha Stewart Holiday we normally see. Although those special magazines are double in price, I find them to be perfect! Great content with much originality in them AND NO ads in them! Love them. I will continue to get those at the store. Those are collectables in my view. And on a side note, I would LOVE to see The Best of Martha Stewart Thanksgiving special magazine this year. Hope it would happen!
I have been going back through my old issues of the mid and late 90's, and I think my favorite year of issues is 1999. This year had such a huge influence on me, as I was 22/23 at the time and just beginning to learn what it meant to make your own house your home. In the 14 (fourteen?!?) years since, I can see my own appreciation of the aesthetic has been traded in for the busy-ness of life, and this post was such a great jumping off point to remembering what I truly love having in my life and home.
ReplyDeleteI am with you Andrew; I am hoping this return to ten issues is MSLO's jumping off point to return the magazine (and the brand) to it's previous quality, although I will continue to love and draw inspiration from MSLO no matter the form.