Rolling Stone shrinks to smaller size to boost newsstand sales

by Staff, Brand Republic 11-Aug-08, 11:00

NEW YORK - Rolling Stone, the iconic music magazine, is to be published in a smaller format starting with its October 30 issue.

The 41-year-old title is published fortnightly and currently appears in an unusually large format -- especially at a time when "handbag" and travel-sized editions are all the rage. At the same time as downsizing, it will switch to being perfect bound and printed on better paper stock.

According to a report in the New York Times, the new format is designed to increase single copy sales of the magazine, making it easier for retailers to put on shelves.

Publisher Jann Wenner admitted that he was torn over making the switch, but said: "All you're getting from that large size is nostalgia."

Rolling Stone has been a breeding ground for talented journalists such as PJ O'Rourke, Greil Marcus, Hunter S Thompson, and photographer Annie Leibovitz, who contributed famous covers such as the last photoshoot with John Lennon before he was murdered in 1980.

Rolling Stone is also known for publishing endless lists of "bests", designed to raise the hackles of music lovers around the world. It has deemed Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" to be the best song of all time, and of the top 10 albums, four were recorded by The Beatles and eight were recorded in the 1960s. The other two are from the 1970s.

The October 30 issue will be on sale in the US on October 17.