Details Magazine Is Shutting Down

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The latest domino to fall in Condé Nast's reshuffling is a big one. The Wall Street Journal reports that Details magazine is shutting down and that its December issue will be its last. One of Condé Nast's other men's titles, GQ, was hit by layoffs two weeks ago and it was reported at the time that those changes would be some of the most severe the publisher would make. Clearly that wasn't true. It's expected that roughly 20% of the 60 staffers at Details will find roles at other Condé Nast publications. However, that does not include the magazine's editor-in-chief Dan Peres or its chief revenue officer Drew Schutte, who were both let go.

In order to maintain the high-fashion designer advertisers that are drawn to Details, GQ will start releasing its currently twice annual "GQ Style" issue more frequently. WSJ notes that even though Details's digital ad profits were rising, they weren't enough to offset the print edition's losses. It's been tough the last few months," Bob Sauerberg, Condé Nast's president told WSJ. "Consumers love the magazine. It's not fair or right."

In the same story, Condé Nast also announced that it is bringing Self and Glamour's advertising teams together since the magazine's cover similar topics, like women's health and wellness. "This move gives us the scale go to market that our ad partners want," Sauerberg said. Consequently, Self's publisher and chief revenue officer Mary Murcko was let go. The move is similar to what took place at Vogue and Teen Vogue last week when advertising teams were combined and a publisher was let go.

Update: Here's a copy of the memo sent out to the Details staff today:

After about a decade of rumors, Conde Nast will actually close Details magazine, per the end of this memo to staff. pic.twitter.com/KLcMp1gUjV

— Ravi Somaiya (@ravisomaiya) November 18, 2015

The memo highlights the fact that Details.com will stay operational as the content moves to GQStyle.com, which sounds a whole lot like when Style.com was axed and its content was moved over to Vogue Runway. "GQ Style, which has consistently been popular among upscale millennials and luxury advertisers alike, will significantly expand its digital presence and also increase to a quarterly print schedule," the memo reads.

Update: WWD reports that 55 jobs will be eliminated as Details goes out of print. There were 40 full and part-time editorial staffers and 27 advertising staffers at the magazine; 12 employees will stay on to help morph Details.com into GQStyle.com.