Jann Wenner

Yesterday, we told you that Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner was considering a major redesign of his magazine. He sent out a test copy to subscribers and asked them to participate in a survey to tell him what they thought.

Media Mob hit the streets of Manhattan to do a survey of its own. Judging by the responses of eight people, Mr. Wenner’s proposed change might be akin to passing a kidney stone in the minds of Rolling Stone's old-school fan base.

"You cannot go—you can’t—you cannot move away from this format," said David Peebler, a 46-year-old options strategist and trader at Park Ave and 22nd Street.  read more »

"We are considering a major change in the format of Rolling Stone from its current look to one more like the enclosed test issue," wrote Jann Wenner, founder of Rolling Stone in a note to select subscribers.

Enclosed in a manila envelope from Rolling Stone, which Media Mob has acquired, is Mr. Wenner's letter with a tighter, smaller, glossier version of the current issue of Rolling Stone featuring Barack Obama on the cover. (A larger version is currently on newsstands). The test issue is the same size as your Vanity Fair, your Gourmet, your Lucky. It's glossy and perfect-bound (goodbye, staples!), and the spine has all sorts of type on it making it perfect for your bookshelf: the dates, the issue number (RS 1056/1057), and a peek of what's inside: BARACK OBAMA/BONNAROO/ AMY WINEHOUSE / RUSH / GREENLAND.  read more »

In today's New York Post, Keith Kelly reports that Jann Wenner may be trying to sell US Weekly to Condé Nast for $750 million.

That's a lot of scratch for pictures of Katherine Heigl getting Starbucks, but according to Kelly, the magazine is not only "lucrative" (he uses the term twice), but profitable as well:

With weekly paid circulation of more than 1.8 million—and the lucrative newsstand accounting for 1 million of that total—Us Weekly is highly profitable, with an operating profit last year estimated to be around $75 million.

"Us Weekly is one of the more remarkable success stories in recent publishing history," Mr. Kelly writes.  read more »

Syndicate Public Relations, Dec. 20, La Esquina, 203 Lafayette Street  read more »

Syndicate Public Relations, Dec. 20, La Esquina, 203 Lafayette Street    read more »

The current Rolling Stone offers an image of Heath Ledger, barefoot, floating Jesus-like on water--and a cover line touting "Famous Failures Back in the Real World." The magazine isn't referring to Ledger's Oscar loss for best actor or Brokeback Mountain's best-picture defeat, but to an inside piece on American Idol.

According to a Wenner Media source, the magazine was scheduled to put the American Idol piece on the cover, but boss Jann Wenner decided to switch to Ledger just before Friday's close. "He pulled it for Heath," the source said.

The Oscar voters many not have agreed with the last-minute decision. But Wenner--who knows his way around the movie's emotional terrain--has been a big fan of the cowboy-and-cowboy movie all along, according to Wenner Media sources. In a December 1 review, Rolling Stone film critic Peter Travers gave the movie four stars. "Ledger's magnificent performance is an acting miracle," Travers wrote. "He seems to tear it from his insides."

A Wenner source said Jann has also tried to pressure Us Weekly to cover Brokeback stars Ledger and wife Michelle Williams in the magazine.

--Gabriel Sherman

Bruce Springsteen is scheduled to headline Jann Wenner's 60th-birthday party Saturday night, in a private fete at Le Bernadin. Festivities kick off at 7:30, according to the invitations--which list the evening's hosts as Wenner's boyfriend, Matt Nye; his wife, Jane Wenner; and Bette Midler with her husband, Martin Von Haselberg.

A Wenner spokesperson declined to comment on the party.  read more »

--Gabriel Sherman

Jann Wenner has plugged one of the gaping holes of his Men's Journal clipper. While publisher Carlos Lamadrid jumped overboard yesterday, Wenner gets one in the W column today with the announcement that Tom Foster is Men's Journal's new editor in chief. Foster is now the fourth editor in five years to run the magazine and replaces Michael Caruso who walked out last month. Foster decamped from Men's Journal earlier this year to be senior features editor at Men's Health and Best Life, and returns to Men's Journal after Wenner struggled publicly to fill the top spot. The official release follows: WENNER MEDIA NAMES TOM FOSTER EDITOR OF MEN'S JOURNAL November 1, 2005 -- Wenner Media Chairman Jann Wenner announced today that Tom Foster has been named editor of Men's Journal. Foster spent five years with Men's Journal from 2000 to 2005 and was instrumental in defining the magazine's editorial focus on adventure. As deputy editor of the magazine, Foster edited features by award-winning writers such as Hampton Sides, Rick Bragg, Rick Telander, Mark Levine, and Jonathan Miles. Foster's work on two separate articles by Hampton Sides ("The First to Die," in 2003, and " The Survivors," in 2004) resulted in them becoming finalists for national magazine awards for feature writing. He also developed several of the magazine's perennial top-selling cover franchises, such as "50 Best Places to Live." "Tom Foster's fresh ideas, creativity, and dedication to exceptional journalism, as well as his experience with the magazine, makes him the perfect choice for this position," said Jann Wenner. "This is something of a homecoming for me," said Foster. "I'm thrilled to be back, especially at such a high point in the magazine's history. Men's Journal has always been a home for great writing and essential service to help men live the most exciting lives they can, and that's what it will continue to be." Foster earned a Master of Arts in Journalism from the University of Missouri in 2000. He most recently worked as features editor at Men's Health and Best Life. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.  read more »

For the second time this month, Jann Wenner has lost a high-profile editor. On the heels of Michael Caruso's sudden departure from Men's Journal, Bob Wallace, the editor in chief of Wenner Books, left the company last week. According to Wenner insiders, Wallace and Wenner had clashed over the limited marketing and promotion resources being put into the two-year-old imprint.

Wallace had headed Wenner Books since 2003, when it was founded as on outlit for publishing titles inspired by Wenner magazines. Among Wallace's offerings are the poker title Aces and Kings, the romance chronicle Brad and Jen: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Golden Couple, and Bling Bling: Hip-Hop's Crown Jewels. Wallace could not be reached for comment; his Wenner phone extension was disconnected. A Wenner spokesperson said: "Wenner books is alive and well with a full catalogue for 2006 including titles from Us Weekly, Rolling Stone, and Men's Journal. Bob Wallace, who has had a long, esteemed career with Wenner Media, left his position on Friday and will pursue other opportunities. The departure was amicable."  read more »

--Gabriel Sherman

Thomas A.  read more »

Thomas A.  read more »

It's the most wondrous time of the year … again!And what else truly heralds the start of the holid  read more »

During Jann Wenner's boozy Nov.  read more »

Currently, no United States troops have been massed on the border of Kuwait and Iran.  read more »

It used to be that Jann Wenner only drove his own employees bonkers. Now he's driving Time Inc.  read more »

Last week, it was revealed that for $750,000 an hour, you can hire the gorgeous actress-singer Jenni  read more »

Call it Us (Mostly) Weekly .  read more »

It was the Al Gore you never saw during the Presidential campaign: the uncensored, uncombed, unburde  read more »

Jittery and wild-eyed, John Leguizamo looked out at the Radio City Music Hall audience.  read more »

Business does not appear to be slowing down at the Chelsea Commons, the favored restaurant and bar o  read more »

Longtime Rolling Stone writer Neal Karlen has attacked Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner in a new bo  read more »

There's always been a bit of friction between The New York Times Magazine and the legions of ink-sta  read more »

"I'm too overwhelmed and flattered and touched and on the verge of tears …," said James Prosek at  read more »

This year, Life magazine is expected to make $6.5 million, the best profit showing since it was resu  read more »