Death Watch Begins for the Incredibly Shrinking "Next Magazine"
Back in 2012 I wrote a post discussing how Next Magazine's smaller pages and tiny typeface made it more difficult to read, especially in the dim lights of a bar/club setting. (New Next, shown above, old Next, below.) Now, in the past few months (early 2013), I've noticed that the number of pages is declining, reducing its usual thickness and giving the publication a somewhat bulimic look. Since the entertainment guide is still publishing all of its regular editorial features, it must be running fewer advertising pages. This is a bit surprising considering that Next no longer has HX to compete with (Next bought it in 2009).
There may be a number of reasons for this decline in ad pages: 1) like readers, advertisers continue to gravitate to online sources (something the entire magazine publishing industry, even the vaunted publications of Time, Inc., are struggling mightily with); 2) a more compelling sales story is being pitched by Metro Source's ad sales staff; 3) less revenue is being generated by back-of-the-book ads offering the services of escorts and "body workers". Whatever the reasons are, I believe the Next death watch has begun.
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