• by Michael Shields , December 22, 2004

Anniversaries Two anniversaries of note in the magazine world will soon be commemorated:

The 25th anniversary issue of Guitar World will be on newsstands next Tuesday. The special collector's issue features what the editors are calling "the most spectacular group of guitarists ever assembled" on the cover, including Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, and Slash.

The anniversary issue will feature interviews with such legendary groups as Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Nirvana, and Metallica; lessons with guitarists like Pink Floyd's Roger Waters and AC/DC's Angus Young; a look back at historic "Guitar World matchups," including Jimmy Page meeting Jeff Beck and Tony Iommi meeting James Hetfield. A CD featuring lessons for playing 10 classic guitar riffs is polybagged with the issue as well.

Meanwhile, American Cheerleader is set to hit double digits early next year, celebrating its tenth anniversary (a fact that may surprise many media analysts) in February. Details are to follow.

Teen People Rebounding Despite a tough year in the teen magazine market (see YM's folding, Seventeen's ad pages skidding), Teen People sent out a missive boasting of a terrific 2004 (despite being down 10 percent in ad pages through November). They say that the magazine was No. 1 on the newsstand for the fourth straight year, with revenue from single-copy sales soaring 12 percent to more than $7.2 million. In addition, they claim to have generated their best subscriber satisfaction numbers since 2000.

Advertising-wise, Teen People was quite impressive, leading competitors in market share while adding 30 new advertisers, including Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Sunkist, Trident, Panasonic, Borders, Kmart, Biore, and Soft Sheen.

Notes:

-In lieu of sending clients gifts during the holidays, Initiative Media is providing items requested by the troops in Iraq.

-Disney Adventures Comic Zone, which publishes special collectors' edition comics, will increase in frequency in 2005 to four times a year.

-Fast Company will co-host the 2nd annual Social Capitalist Awards, honoring organizations that work for a brighter future on January 13 in New York. Honorees are featured in the company's January issue. -Salon City Star magazine will celebrate its fifth anniversary at the Hyatt Hotel Penthouse on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood on February 6.