The US film magazine Premiere is to close. Variety reports:
Hachette Filipacchi pulled the plug on Premiere on Monday, confirming widespread rumors that the embattled movie mag would be shuttered.
Many of the company’s editorial staffers will leave the company, including editor-in-chief Peter Herbst.
The April issue, which features Will Ferrell on the cover for “Blades of Glory,” will be mag’s last. Staffers put the issue to bed about 10 days ago.
Premiere publisher Paul Turcotte could be named to another post within Hachette, though there was no official confirmation of a new role.
Magazine, published 10 times per year, will continue to exist online.
It is sad news but as Advertising Age point out, perhaps inevitable in this day and age:
Premiere’s paid circulation has declined slowly over the years, from an average of 616,089 in 1995 to 492,498 in the second half of last year, according to Harrington Associates and the Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Even more ominous, Premiere sold 24.7% fewer ad pages in 2006 than it did the year before, according to the Publishers Information Bureau. Titles and websites focused on celebrity gossip, meanwhile, have continued to gain circulation, making it difficult for older entertainment brands.
It does beg the question – can a monthly movie magazine like Premiere survive in this day and age?
> Original story in Variety
> Wikipedia on Premiere magazine