... Man, the magazine business sure looks like a tough one!

Actually, what are the (worldwide) circulation figures for The WORD?

Are they healthy; are they poor; are they ok? will it survive the global financial crisis? who's on the cover next month?

I note the comment about the new Q (which sounds even more like P to me)being to "copy" The Word, and Unshod. Aargh, am I unwittingly subscribing to a lifestyle mag? I still thought Word wasa music mag that dabbled into related areas......
The market can probably not sustain a massive cross party contender, which Q is seeking and indeed once may have been. I think, mirroring the music industry, specialised and more discreet magazines, aimed at a select market, with a planned and targetted circulation, sized appropriately, can survive, albeit modestly, as the juggernauts fail. Its like REM downsizing from the stadium in Cardiff to avoid going under, and Jackie Leven touring to sold out houses (of 50-100) as "normal service". Overheads versus expectation. Q should fraction their print run and aim at a less blanket dumbed down LCD audience.
I am neither expecting them to nor planning to find out.

"Other non-musical features include “Q Heroes”, which kicks off with Barack Obama..."

Jeez, better put my order in now. I can see that one selling out fast.

If I ever see an American politician on the front of The Word I will personally stand outside the offices of Word Towers and throw water balloons at those responsible as they turn up for work. You have been warned.

So says the current editor,
Well no, it hasn't, but this is not a recent decline. It has not been any good since Danny Kelly left!

Agreed, it's been going downhill for years. I was a regular reader in the 90s but in recent years just bought the odd one for a free cd or something.

I can't help but think a re-jig that includes sport and so forth may just alienate the readers it has left.

Circulation of 113,000 still seems pretty respectable to me and it seems like a lot of people you can alienate by turning yourself into a cross between Word and GQ.

...I'll buy the first one, at least, just to see what it's like. Q is the music mag I buy least often, and then only because I've read or discounted the others. The problem with monthlies is that they don't take a month to read, and I need my fix. "Relaunching" might encourage lapsed or occasional readers to try it again.

In the new November issue, Q has undergone a complete redesign, with a brand new look, fresh writing talent on board and new regular features. Here are some of the highlights from the edition, on sale September 30:

http://home.q4music.com/services/currentissue.shtml

AC/DC
Keane
Sugababes
People who live in the former homes of rock stars

Yeah...right. On.