Music Mag Blender To Go Online-Only; Maxim Merges Print And Digital Edit Teams
This story was written by David Kaplan.
Hardly a surprise at this point, but music reviews mag Blender will cease print publication with its April issue. The mag, which initially gave the more established rival Rolling Stone quite a run when it was brought to the U.S. from the U.K. in 2001, will go online only, its parent Alpha Media Group announced. In a sense, Blender is going back to its electronic roots, in a sense. It was originally conceived as a CD-ROM magazine when it was created in 1994 by Dennis Publishing, which sold off Blender and Maxim to Alpha about two years ago.
In addition to Blender's shuttering, Maxim's print and digital editorial operations have been combined. Blender's EIC and erstwhile Rolling Stone editor Joe Levy will take his title over to Maxim. In turn, Jay Woodruff, will go from EIC of Maxim Digital to become chief content officer of the integrated web and print male entertainment mag. In addition to the general troubles depressing the media industry, Quadrangle Group-owned Alpha has had its own particular financial difficulties the past few months. Back in November, the media unit faced being turned over to its creditors, after it violated debt covenants.
By David Kaplan