LIL' BUDDY'S BLOG - For Men's Magazine Playboy, Major Changes in Store!
THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!
How you doin', you dogs? I hope you're enjoying the nice Chicago spring weather!
Just read in the Business Pages the other day - another noted Chicago institution is making significant changes to its product.
Venerable Chicago Men's Magazine Playboy, a long-time staple for adolescent male humans, is planning significant changes to its marketing and circulation plan. Facing large fall-offs in readership and advertising revenue, the adult magazine plans to cut circulation and reduce its publishing frequency.
According to an article by Julie Johnsson in the May 11th edition of the Chicago Tribune, the magazine has already shed its New York City office.
Playboy has lost 600,000 monthly readers between 2002 and 2008, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulation. The firm estimates the magazine's Average Total Circulation fell to only 2.5 Million over the last 6 months of 2008.
Revenues at Playboy Magazine have dropped 16% during the First Quarter, 2009, down to $8.7MM, on average, each month.
At parent company Playboy Enterprises, the print and digital entertainment businesses have fallen 26%, to $26.1 Million for the First Quarter, 2009. In addition, TV Revenues for the Adult Entertainment Company fell 20% last quarter.
In addition, Playboy has re-designed its cover in advance of the June issue, to give it a "younger and fresher" look. The goal is to bring in younger and more affluent Chicago Neighborhoods. It's July and August Issue would be combined this summer to save money, and regular ad rates would be slashed.
You have to admit, you dogs, that we are at a loss to explain the appeal of a magazine containing scantily-clad humans. But it is clear the magazine-publishing world has turned the page in today's weak economy, with print publications losing readership and circulation month after month, as online vehicles and video continue to show the greatest potential for long-term growth.
Enjoy the weekend!
YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS,
BUDDY HOLLY MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
