Emap Denies U-Turn On New Launches
Magazine giant Emap has refuted allegations made by the Media Guardian that two high-profile magazine launches have been scrapped as part of cost cutting measures across the publishing group.
In a report published by the newspaper’s website this morning, Marcus Rich, Emap Performance’s managing director, was named as the man behind the pulling of two forthcoming titles, a men’s entertainment magazine and a glossy women’s monthly, as part of a continuing drive to reduce the company’s outgoings.
The report also stated that funds destined for the new projects were being redirected to Zoo Weekly in its continued battle against IPC’s Nuts.
However, a spokeswoman for Emap denied the claims, stating: “It’s not true. This is a pulling together of lots of things across the business and making out that we are consequently halting magazine launches.”
She added: “There are two separate divisions being talked about here, Emap Performance and Emap Consumer Media. It is true to say that Emap Performance probably won’t be launching any new music magazines for the foreseeable future, but we never planned to anyway and we never announced that we would be.”
On the subject of the women’s magazine mooted to be in development, the spokeswoman was less candid, stating: “We are always looking at new launches, we have a lot in the pipeline but we have not indicated in any way shape or form that we have halted those launches. Our strategy is to launch magazines, that is how we will grow the business and there is no way that we would be halting that.”
Emap recently announced the closure of veteran teenage magazine J-17 and suspended publication of style bible The Face which now looks increasingly likely to be sold (see The Face Attracts Attention From Potential Buyers).
Last month Emap Performance announced plans to cut a number of jobs across its radio and music magazine business as part of an ongoing strategy to increase profit margins. The cuts are expected to affect all departments at Emap Performance including its magazine publishing arm, which houses a range of titles including Q, Smash Hits, Kerrang! and Mixmag (see Emap Performance Restructures To Cut Costs).
Emap: 01733 568 900 www.emap.co.uk
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