Rolling Stone Magazine is cutting down from it's approximately 10" by 12" to a more standard 8.5" by 11". In a refreshing twist, it's not a cost-cutting measure. They are going to heavier paper with a glossy finish, adding 16 to 20 pages and changing from a saddle-stitched binding to a glued perfect bound format.
Why?
The New York Times reports that magazines are becoming increasingly standardized and Rolling Stone's shape doesn't fit in standard racks. It gets pushed up, down or off to the side of displays -- away from eye level. Also, advertisers have to revise ads to fit the format, and insert ads, with scent samples for example, are especially troublesome.
Word is, the new shape with come with a redesign.
