Week 3 EOC: Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone is a magazine that publishes newsworthy articles related to pop culture.  Its’ strategic marketing patterns are directed to a younger generation interested in worldly subjects that affect their futures. In its early days in the 1960s and ’70s, Rolling Stone was a chronicle of the counterculture where a generation of young people came to find political coverage that spoke to their disaffection. Rolling Stone has a reputation of publishing shocking and controversial topics and media. It is because of their heavily researched articles that make the magazine unique. They communicate to their subscribers and readers that they are more than just a magazine for music. Wenner made it clear that Rolling Stone was not just about music “but also about the things and attitudes that the music embraces,” as he wrote in the first issue, which bore a cover date of November 9, 1967. Some of these other things include movies, books, politics and newsier items - anything that might interest a literate, engaged readership. The position Rolling Stone holds in the media business is fading. Technology reigns over newspapers and magazines, therefore trying to publish multiple page articles in a booklet is not favorable in today’s society.  Since their fist publication in 1967, Rolling Stone’s first editor, Jann Wenner, has made sure that each issue contains in-depth and informative media. Wenner observed: “When Rolling Stone started, music was the only medium available to young people to express themselves and share ideas. Now everything is open to young people and their concerns and values: television, newspapers, books, every medium imaginable. He also stressed the importance of innovation and evolution; therefore his magazine has reached to local and global audiences through journalism and Internet channeling.  Because Rolling Stone has been around for many years, they are considered a trustworthy brand. It is of significance that the magazine communicates to their target audience who they really are. Their brand markets to young, educated individuals who want to read about newsworthy topics that provide great detail and research. Because of technology, information is sent in seconds and can be read in just a few minutes. This type of competition can be difficult to beat.  Luckily, Rolling Stone has worthy journalist who continues the brand’s legacy. 

http://articles.latimes.com/1997/oct/20/news/ls-44656

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/business/media/28stone.html?ref=jannwenner

http://rockhall.com/inductees/jann-s-wenner/bio/