Comments on: Motor Trend/Automobile Publisher Files for Bankruptcy

By: niky

niky — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:45:22 +0000

Sooo… now that they’re gone… where do we go for the magazine title auction?

I call dibs on Sport Compact Car, Turbo, Hot Rod and Automobile… you can all quarrel over the rest. I might not end up publishing, but it’ll feel good being a magazine magnate.

By: Johnster

Johnster — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:20:17 +0000

According to the guys over at AutoSpies, GM owes Source Interlink millions of dollars for advertising in their mags and that it will never be paid. They seem to think that Source Interlink’s bankruptcy was triggered by GM’s.

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:09:36 +0000

So, sounds like being a shill for players in a bankrupt industry doesn’t actually work as a biz plan. Who knew?

By: mpresley

mpresley — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:43:35 +0000

tedj101 writes: Your [muskets] are still on the mantle? What are you, some kind of a nut !

Yeah…but if you haven’t noticed, there’s a musket ball shortage out there. :-)

It will be interesting to see what happens in bankruptcy. The only thing that is certain: a Pontiac will not be the next M-T Car of the Year.

By: RedStapler

RedStapler — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:38:14 +0000

Diesel Power is another one of their niche Publications that is good. While it is buried under lots of ads for Truck Nuts and Lift & Tire Combos for the Big Foot wannabe they have some good original content.

By: Robert Schwartz

Robert Schwartz — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:49:42 +0000

“Source Interlink simply bit off more than it could chew—and then discovered there wasn’t enough to eat.”

I am sure that the quoted metaphor makes sense at some level.

By: tedj101

tedj101 — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:21:06 +0000

>>Sometimes one begins to think that it’s time to >>take the muskets off the mantle…

Yours are still on the mantle? What are you, some kind of a nut !

By: mpresley

mpresley — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:56:57 +0000

From the article: Source Interlink Cos., the publisher…controlled by billionaire Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Cos., sought bankruptcy protection as it moves to become a private company.

Former President Bill Clinton left his partnership with Burkle’s Yucaipa Cos. in October 2007 while [his wife] campaigned for president. He previously earned $15.4 million from…Yucaipa since 2003…

I’m guessing Bill received his copies gratis? Sometimes one begins to think that it’s time to take the muskets off the mantle…

By: Rod Panhard

Rod Panhard — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:41:53 +0000

Well, this is interesting. With a lot of these titles, there’s just not as much content to “report.” Heck, even “Guiding Light” is going buh-bye, after outliving Saturn, American Motors, Hummer, Saab, Plymouth ….

By: mpresley

mpresley — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:31:12 +0000

As all know, these magazines are supported by ads. I’m guessing their subs price possibly covered a special postage rate, but maybe not even that. Because they are supported by ad revenue, content is necessarily geared toward advertisers, and not readers.

There is nothing intrinsically disqualifying about a publication supported, to one degree on another, by subscriptions. However, in that case, content must be king. Why would anyone pay more than four of five dollars a year for a car magazine, given the marginal content?

Perhaps C/D will be next to fail, or maybe they will gain from increased revenue, now that MT is history. Who knows? More importantly, who cares? C/D content is, as everyone here understands–everyone here who has an historical familiarity with the magazine, likewise marginal. C/D has failed miserably to discuss the industry from a critical standpoint, and one cannot look therein for factual information anent the Motor City, and its problems.

In any event, I liken MT pretty much to GM. They both represent different aspects of the same idea. And they both suffered their respective consequences.

By: PeteMoran

PeteMoran — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:27:17 +0000

MT’s masthead subtitle should be “Just hand Detroit the money conveyor and be thankful already, for chrissakes”.

By: dolorean23

dolorean23 — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:21:55 +0000

Automobile was a good mag as is Motor Trend. I for one could’ve done without Truck Trend. What a waste.

By: Robstar

Robstar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:49:42 +0000

I can concur here. MT is ok. Automobile is much better. I have 1 year subs to both for the aforementioned reasons (bathroom) :)

By: tigeraid

tigeraid — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:42:34 +0000

Motor Trend can kiss my ass, but CIRCLE TRACK, HOT ROD and CAR CRAFT are both published by SMI, and that DOES worry me… Then again, the last three or four times the publishing company went TU or was bought out, those mags were fine… They actually sell reasonably well. So I’m sure it’ll be alright… I hope. I have subscriptions! :/

By: bjcpdx

bjcpdx — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:31:23 +0000

How the hell am I going to get along without Mini Truckin’ magazine?

By: readingthetape

readingthetape — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:24:34 +0000

I never did understand how I got free subscriptions to Motor Trend and Automobile year after year.

By: AWD-03

AWD-03 — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:23:51 +0000

As I refuse to bring my computer into the bathroom, I still have need of Automobile mag. Now MT can go drop off a cliff, but Automobile has been a 85% good read for a good while now. I am just saying, I ain’t doing no Sodoku.

By: AJ

AJ — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:23:20 +0000

I personally have always liked MT. I’m more into trucks, but it’s a good car magazine and like reading it.

And no wonder they have male enhancement pill ads in the back pages. :)

By: John Horner

John Horner — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:56:47 +0000

“This after spending $1.2b to buy a package of titles from PrimeMedia in 2007″

Wow, was that ever a dumb move.

By: Lokkii

Lokkii — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:43:08 +0000

What eeez theeeez Mortar Trend? A car magazine?

The world will little note nor long remember their passing. The car companies who remain after the deluge won’t need to buy “Car of the Year” awards.

And if they do, they can buy them from J.D. Powers.

By: HEATHROI

HEATHROI — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:35:51 +0000

Would anyone buy a bankrupt buff book?

By: superbadd75

superbadd75 — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:34:58 +0000

Well, not like MT hasn’t sucked for a while anyway. I like Automobile for the most part. It’s at least worth the $10 I paid for a year’s worth. It makes for decent bathroom reading.