All change for Attitude Magazine as historic 300th issue approaches

Stream Publishing has today announced that attitude and Winq magazines are to merge to create a gay media ‘superbrand’, publishing in six countries and five languages across multiple print, digital and social platforms.

A bigger-than-ever attitude magazine, with higher production values and an increased page-count, will appear for the first time on 26th April with an expanded international brief and an exciting new look and feel.

From its new, purpose-built UK base mid-way between London and Brighton, attitude will publish in English for sale in 32 countries worldwide, as well as under licence and in native languages in Belgium, the Netherlands, Thailand and (shortly) in both the Philippines and Vietnam.

The new-look attitude will be the first to be published under the tutelage of new Editor-in-Chief Cliff Joannou.

Cliff, who has been Editor of the print title for the past two years, having first joined as Deputy Editor nearly five years ago, will oversee all print and digital output at the head of a newly-combined editorial team. He replaces Matt Cain, who returns to life as an author at the end of March, ahead of publication of his next book – The Madonna of Bolton – in July.

Following a pre-Christmas soft launch, the all-new attitude.co.uk website is now fully live ahead of the merged operations to come.

Developed in partnership with Amsterdam-based Media Mansion and their colleagues at NextGear, the brilliant new site – which attracts well over one million unique users a month – offers a wider range of functionality and content than ever before and a greatly enhanced user experience in mobile formats.

Having launched in May 1994, attitude magazine will publish its 300th issue in August 2018 (cover-dated September). Watch this space, there is something very special planned…

Says attitude Publisher Darren Styles: “Since becoming the first gay owner of attitude magazine some eighteen months ago it has been a whirlwind – we have brought back the attitude Pride Awards to great acclaim, delivered the biggest and best attitude Awards ever, relaunched the website at attitude.co.uk and, now, the magazine that sits at the heart of everything is to be reborn.

“By merging our two brands – attitude and Winq – into one super-sized product we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance still further what is already Europe’s best-selling gay lifestyle magazine, and with a laser focus.

“In Cliff Joannou we have a new Editor-in-Chief with all of the sensitivities, humour and experience our readers demand, and having his expertise applied to both print and digital channels for the first time can only enhance the consistency of our tone of voice and magnify the stories we have to tell.

“We wish the departing Matt Cain well, of course. He has delivered all that he came to do – including a string of extraordinary stories and exclusives, from an award-winning account of his experience on Prep to reporting from behind the lines in Russia on the oppression of the HIV+ community. His work on the attitude Heroes podcast series to mark the 50th anniversary of the decriminalising of homosexuality will stand as a testament to him.

“We are emboldened by how far we have come in so short a time, look forward to two extraordinary 2018 events and, of course, await all that will surround our historic 300th issue with bated breath.”

Says new attitude Editor-in-Chief Cliff Joannou: “As it enters its 25th year, attitude’s evolution continues, reflecting the changing and sometimes challenging conversations within the gay, bisexual and queer community. From print to digital, via our world-class live events, attitude is the world’s biggest gay media brand. And the most exciting thing is… the best is yet to come.”

Virgin Holidays and Jaguar confirmed for attitude Awards: 

The attitude Awards return to the legendary Camden Roundhouse on Thursday 11th October 2018, with Virgin Holidays and Jaguar confirmed as returning headline and lead sponsors respectively.

The Virgin Holidays attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar, and to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation, are now in their seventh year and remain the UK’s biggest and most pre-eminent LGBT+ awards. Last year’s event, hosted by Olympian Tom Daley, included attendees His Royal Highness Prince Harry, Kylie Minogue, Sam Smith and Laverne Cox, plus live performances from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Charli XCX and the iconic Erasure.

A limited number of tables of ten guests are now on sale at £4,000 per table. Enquiries to craig.lewis@streampublishing.net. 

attitude Pride Awards to reopen Mandarin Oriental ballroom: 

The third annual attitude Pride Awards will also have the honour of reopening the famed ballroom (reputedly the Queen’s favourite as well as the queens’ favourite) at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on Knightsbridge, following the landmark hotel’s extensive, multi-million-pound refurbishment.

Set for Friday 6th July, on the eve of and to benefit Pride in London, the lunchtime event applauds and accolades ten extraordinary individuals from across the rainbow spectrum who have triumphed over tragedy or devoted their lives to a cause.

Last year’s attitude Pride Awards, hosted by Gok Wan and featuring presenters including Davina McCall, Nick Grimshaw and Stephen K Amos, saw winners including Black Pride’s Lady Phyll, Manchester bombing victim Martyn Hett, the late journalist Dean Eastmond, trans activist Natalie Scott and Sikh campaigner Manjinder Singh Sidhu. It’s a roller-coaster for the emotions…

A limited number of tables of ten guests are now on sale at £2,500 per table. Enquiries to craig.lewis@streampublishing.net. The 2018 host will be announced shortly.