Triple J’s bi-monthly print publication, Triple J Magazine is reportedly moving to an annual format with writers and staff allegedly being made redundant after the magazine lost their contract with publishers, News Custom Publishing, according to The Music.
The news arrived yesterday, with reports that News Custom Publishing, part of the News Limited group, is centralising to its Sydney offices and as a result would be closing its Melbourne publishing arm, meaning they would not renew the licenses to a number of their publications, including Triple J Magazine.
The Music reports that many of the magazine’s staff, including the Editor, Music Editor, Art Director, and Production Editor, are believed to have been made redundant.
Freelancers, contributors and associates were notified of the situation through ABC‘s channels with the future publication of the magazine in doubt. News Life Media’s Director Of Communications had confirmed last night that the license agreement would not be renewed and the forthcoming Issue #69 would be the last under the News Custom Publishing agreement.
But ABC has since confirmed that they’re looking at turning the publication from a bi-monthly publications into an annual format after being dumped by News Custom Publishing.
A spokesperson from Triple J issued a statement saying: “News Custom are closing the Melbourne office where triple j magazine is currently produced. This gave us a chance to look at what we’re doing with the magazine, and we’ve decided to focus on the Annual edition, rather than a bi-monthly magazine.” [Reportedly] many of the magazine’s staff, including the Editor, Music Editor, Art Director, and Production Editor, are believed to have been made redundant.
“We’re always evolving ways we reach our audience and we’re really excited about our next Annual hitting the shelves.” The representative also confirmed that the annual publications will be produced in-house.
The final issue of Triple J Magazine under the current license is the June/July issue, out May 31st, focusing on the newly announced ‘Hottest 20′, the public music poll celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Triple J Hottest 100.
Triple J Magazine started as a monthly publication, originally titled J Mag, in 2005, and after 63 issues, it converted to a bi-monthly publication in August of 2012. Issue #66 was the publication’s first ‘Annual edition’ a bumper-sized issue looking back at the year in review, it’s expected that if the youth broadcaster’s magazine will follow this format when it goes to annual in-house production.
In related news, earlier this year The Music Network announced they would be discontinuing their associated print magazine, TMN, after publishing 925 issues across its nearly 20 year tenure.
Despite the “print is dead” tag, Peer Group Media will continue to print Sydney street press magazine The Brag, an interesting note in light of similar issues facing the diminishing street press industry. Operating under a new subscription-based service, The Music Network moved online to continuing providing industry news, music sales data, and charts.
Peer Group Media, who became TMN‘s owners in 2009, noted that ceasing publication of the print edition would not affect the continued publication of Sydney street press The Brag, an interesting note in light of similar issues facing the diminishing street press industry.
Last year saw the shut down of Brisbane street press magazine Rave after almost 1047 issues, and regional Sydney publication Reverb magazine in August calling on Street Press Australia’s managing director Craig Treweek to issue a statement that street press’ situation has been “grossly exaggerated;” stating Are times tough, yes they are… But like any industry that suffers a decline, those that face the challenges head on and embrace them will survive.”
He continued by stating: “we are certain that the future of this business is underpinned by producing quality street press in print on a weekly basis.”
