After 35 years of nude dudes, Playgirl magazine has called it quits and will only be available online in the future.
Nicole Caldwell, Playgirl's editor-in-chief, confirmed that "Playgirl is going all-Web. The last print issue will be the Jan/Feb 2009 magazine, which comes out Nov. 18."
The website will feature more videos and pictorials, and less editorial content.
Playgirl was founded in 1973 as the feminist alternative and response to men's magazines such as Penthouse and Playboy. The magazine was kept afloat in later years by the gay community and this change in audience was reflected in the images in the magazine.
The magazine was well-known for two publicity stunts - offering Charles, Prince of Wales $45,000 to appear nude in a centerfold in 1990, and publishing a nude pictorial called "The Men of Enron" in September 2002 in which some former Enron employees "lost their shirts."
The Death of Dirty Magazines?
Playgirl Folds
Trend Themes
1. Digital Magazine Shift - The closure of Playgirl magazine and its transition to an online platform highlights the trend of traditional magazines moving towards digital formats.
2. Video and Pictorial Emphasis - The Playgirl website's focus on videos and pictorials suggests a growing trend of multimedia content becoming more prominent in online magazine platforms.
3. Changing Target Audience - Playgirl's shift in audience from mainstream men to the gay community reflects a trend of magazines adapting to the changing demographics and preferences of their readers.
Industry Implications
1. Publishing - The digital magazine shift presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for publishing companies to explore digital platforms and deliver content in new and engaging ways.
2. Entertainment - The emphasis on videos and pictorials in online magazine formats creates an innovation opportunity for the entertainment industry to leverage multimedia content and enhance user engagement.
3. LGBTQ+ - Playgirl's transition to an online platform and its focus on the gay community opens up opportunities for the LGBTQ+ industry to collaborate with digital magazine platforms and cater to a specific niche audience.