The first issue of Rolling Stone written in Chinese for the Chinese market has been a big success, reports the Times of London. The magazine hit newsstands several days ago,
and it has been selling out quickly. "On the cover of the first edition... of the American bible of pop culture is Cui Jian, the godfather of Chinese rock and roll. Featuring the
44-year-old rock star was a bold choice," reports the Times. "Cui only last September played his first public concert in China in 12 years, to nearly 10,000 fans in the
Workers’ Stadium in Beijing." Getting him to speak was also quite a coup for Rolling Stone, says the Times, as Jian has seldom cooperated with the press. Some
newsstand dealers in Beijing and elsewhere wondered if the instant popularity of Rolling Stone might be attributable to the free gift bound into the inaugural issue--a Rolling Stone
baseball-style cap. Some seemed to believe the cap would eventually become a collectible. So observers of the market will need to wait until the publication of the second issue of
Rolling Stone in Chinese to assess if it will resonate with an audience in that potentially huge market.
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