Earlier this year, I wrote about nostalgic kids magazines, ranging from publications that had short print lives to those which are still published on a regular basis. The focus was on magazines for those in the tween and younger demographics, though many readers shared their fondness for teen magazines of their youth. It only made sense to dig into some of those nostalgic teen magazines, too.
FULL Teen Beat Off Magazine Vol 4
Some of these teen magazines are still being published, either in print or digitally. Others ceased operation completely or pivoted to online-only. This will be an incomplete list but one that should tap the nostalgia button for readers who loved their monthly or semi-monthly subscriptions or trips to the corner store for the latest edition.
Running for almost ten years, CosmoGirl! launched in 1999 and folded in 2008. Fashion and celebrities were the focus of this teen-geared spinoff magazine of Cosmopolitan, and each edition featured photos and an interview with a celebrity, beauty, and fashion tips. Like so many teen magazines of the era, there was a section devoted to reader-submitted embarrassing moments, as well as features on mental health, sexual health, and more.
Focused on reaching tween and teen girls, J-14 launched in January 1999 with the goal to cover celebrities. The magazine is still active today, publishing monthly editions that cover young Hollywood, quizzes, fashion, posters, and more.
Not to be confused with the long-running manga magazine line, Jump launched in 1996 and ran through 2001. Its focus was once again tween and teen girls, as so many other teen monthlies at the time, but what made Jump stand out was its focus on teens interested in an active lifestyle. It was packed with stories of sports, with workout ideas, as well as fashion, beauty, and quizzes.
Many believe Right On! to be the first magazine in the U.S. to cater to Black teens, offering celebrity news and gossip like cousins Bop and Tiger Beat. The monthly publication aimed to keep a positive tone and highlighted musicians, athletes, and business people alongside film and television celebrities.
What made Sassy stand out was that it took a slightly off-centered approach to content and style. It was bolder than other teen magazines and covered politics alongside fashion, culture alongside celebrities, and more. Once a year, Sassy also devoted an entire issue to its readers, who would write, design, and edit the issue cover to cover.
Teen Vogue may be one of the most respected teen magazines in recent memory, particularly as it has come to be a place for hard-hitting and cutting edge work on politics and social justice. Launched in January 2003 as a spinoff to the adult Vogue, it was initially a fashion and beauty magazine, but it has expanded to include current affairs and more.
Tiger Beat launched in September 1965 and its print operations ended in December 2018. But never fear: teens (and not-so-teens) who love teen idols, gossip, movies, music, and entertainment can access all of the goodness of the magazine on their active website.
In 1932, two magazines existed that would form YM: Compact, meant for older teens, and Calling All Girls, for tweens and younger teens. Calling All Girls has been cited as the beginning of the teen magazine staple of embarrassing reader-submitted stories. By the 1960s, the magazines came together to become Young Miss, and in the 1980s, YM began to stand for Young and Modern. It saw its final name change in 2000, when it became Your Magazine.
For more great reading about teen magazines past and present, explore this piece on the rise and fall of teen magazines at The Hairpin, the history of teen idol magazines at Mental Floss, and this fabulous piece about how teen magazines have always been about more than fashion in The Washington Post.
TEENBEAT J. UNREST, "This Side, Numskull" cassetteTEENBEAT 1. Extremism in the Defense of Liberty is No Vice, various artists cassetteTEENBEAT 2. UNREST, cassetteTEENBEAT 3. WILLIAM & VIVIAN, "Fly to France" cassetteTEENBEAT 4. THIRSTY BOYS, cassetteTEENBEAT 5. CLARENCE, cassetteTEENBEAT 6. UNREST "Lisa Carol Freemont", cassetteTEENBEAT 7. UNREST, 7"TEENBEAT 8. Kim Says, posterTEENBEAT 9. FLOWERS OF DISCIPLINE, 7"TEENBEAT 10. JUNGLE GEORGE & THE PLAGUE, "From Tree to Shining Tree", cassetteTEENBEAT 11. The Trouble with Harry, various artists cassetteTEENBEAT 12. Teenbeat logo, tee shirtTEENBEAT 13. SCALEY ANDREW "Too Tight to Tango", cassetteTEENBEAT 14. UNREST, LPTEENBEAT 15. SYNTHETIC SOCKS, cassetteTEENBEAT 16. SCALEY ANDREW, "Nervous Twitch" cassetteTEENBEAT 17. MARK ROBINSON "Black Christmas", cassetteTEENBEAT 18. CRISPY AMBULANCE, cassetteTEENBEAT 19. Paint My Dick, cassette of spoken audioTEENBEAT 20. UNREST, station wagonTEENBEAT 21. UNREST "Malcolm X Park", LP/cassetteTEENBEAT 22. The Tube Bar, spoken audio cassetteTEENBEAT 23. UNREST "Twister", cassetteTEENBEAT 24. The Straight Line, issue 3, magazineTEENBEAT 25. CLARENCE "Hurry Up", cassetteTEENBEAT 26. UNREST, metal CD jewel caseTEENBEAT 27. MARK ROBINSON "KingXMas", cassetteTEENBEAT 28. UNREST "Catchpellet", 7"TEENBEAT 29. VOMIT LAUNCH "Relapsation", 7"TEENBEAT 30. SCALEY ANDREW "The Soul of Postmodernism", cassetteTEENBEAT 31. The Tube Bar, spoken audio LPTEENBEAT 32. UNREST "Mark E", posterTEENBEAT 33. SCALEY ANDREW "Raising the Goddess", 7"TEENBEAT 34. UNREST "Invoking Osiris", tee shirtTEENBEAT 35. UNREST "Kustom Karnal BlackXPloitation", LP/cassetteTEENBEAT 36. Teenbeat Fiesta Days, @King's DominionTEENBEAT 37. MARK E SUPERSTAR "Sammy Supreme My Man", 7"TEENBEAT 38. DUSTdevils "Is Big Leggy", 7"TEENBEAT 39. JONNY COHEN'S LOVE MACHINE, LPTEENBEAT 40. SCALEY ANDREW "Meridian Hill Park", cassetteTEENBEAT 41. UNREST and DUSTdevils "Live at D.C. Space", cassetteTEENBEAT 42. UNREST "Yes She is My Skinhead Girl", 7"TEENBEAT 43. UNREST "Live at the Tube Bar", tee shirtTEENBEAT 44. BUTCH WILLIS "Shopping Bag", 7"TEENBEAT 45. CLARENCE, three cassette box setTEENBEAT 46. The Wedding of Terry Tolkin and Justine ChiaraTEENBEAT 47. THE KROKODILOES, cassetteTEENBEAT 48. DUSTdevils "Struggling Electric and Chemical, LP/cassette/CDTEENBEAT 49. UNREST "Cherry Cherry", 7"TEENBEAT 50. Teenbeat Fifty, various artists LP/cassette/CDTEENBEAT 51. Teenbeat's Sixth Anniversary banquetTEENBEAT 52. VOMIT LAUNCH "Of", 7"TEENBEAT 53. BELLS OF, one-sided LP, not releasedTEENBEAT 54. BUTCH WILLIS & THE ROCKS "Conquering the Ice", LP, not releasedTEENBEAT 55. SEXUAL MILKSHAKE "Space Gnome and Other Hits", 7"TEENBEAT 56. UNREST "Chocolate City Cherry", CD, not releasedTEENBEAT 57. MARK E SUPERSTAR, cassetteTEENBEAT 58. Teenbeat 1991 calendarTEENBEAT 59. Teenbeat Funbox, 16 cassette boxTEENBEAT 60. SCALEY ANDREW "You're Safer at Home", cassetteTEENBEAT 61. Teenbeat "Skater Girls" catalogTEENBEAT 62. FLYING SAUCER "Real", 7"TEENBEAT 63. UNREST "A Factory Record", 7"TEENBEAT 64. Cityslicker, travel magazine, not publishedTEENBEAT 65. SEXUAL MILKSHAKE "Hip Death Goddess", tee shirtTEENBEAT 66. EGGS "Skyscraper", 7"TEENBEAT 67. UNREST "Fuck Pussy Galore & all her Friends", LP/cassette/CDTEENBEAT 68. Teenbeat ballpoint penTEENBEAT 69. JONNY COHEN "Space Butterfly", 7"TEENBEAT 70. UNREST "Isabel Bishop", 7"/12"/CDTEENBEAT 70. UNREST "Winona Ryder", version xx 7", xy 7", not releasedTEENBEAT 71. KENNETH ANGER "Soundtracks", cassetteTEENBEAT 72. UNREST "Imperial f.f.r.r.", tee shirt and posterTEENBEAT 73. ANDREW BEAUJON "Valenteen", cassetteTEENBEAT 74. UNREST "Cherry Cream On", video shootTEENBEAT 75. SEXUAL MILKSHAKE "Sing-a-Long in Hebrew", LP/CDTEENBEAT 76. EGGS "Eggs Bruiser LP", LP/CDTEENBEAT 77. UNREST "Imperial f.f.r.r.", LP/cassette/CDTEENBEAT 78. UNREST "Imperial f.f.r.r.", ceramic coffee mugTEENBEAT 79. JONNY COHEN "Space Butterfly", original cover art, not usedTEENBEAT 80. Teenbeat 1992 Annual ReportTEENBEAT 81. The Tube Bar, 'deluxe' CDTEENBEAT 82. LOS MARAUDERS "You Make Me Cum in My Pants", 7"TEENBEAT 83. SCALEY ANDREW "In a Deep Blue Funk", cassetteTEENBEAT 84. UNREST "Bavarian Mods and Other Hits", 7"TEENBEAT 85. VOMIT LAUNCH "Dogeared", cassette/CDTEENBEAT 86. EGGS, tee shirtTEENBEAT 87. Teenbeat business cardsTEENBEAT 88. GRENADINE "Fillings", 7"TEENBEAT 89. JONNY COHEN "Indian Giver, 7"TEENBEAT 90. Zenith Solid State Stereo, a gift from Jenny ToomeyTEENBEAT 91. UNREST "West Coast Love Affair", 7"TEENBEAT 92. Teenbeat's Seventh Anniversary banquetTEENBEAT 93. BELLS OF "11:11", CDTEENBEAT 94. BLAST OFF COUNTRY STYLE "I Love Entertainment", 7"TEENBEAT 95. GASTR DEL SOL "The Serpentine Similar", LP/CDTEENBEAT 96. EGGS "Teenbeat 96 Eggs Exploder", LP/cassette/CDTEENBEAT 97. Teenbeat house, Arlington, VATEENBEAT 98. Teenbeat matchbooksTEENBEAT 98. UNREST "So Sick", 7"TEENBEAT 99. GRENADINE "Goya", LP/cassette/CD
Over its history, the magazine had multiple teen idols on its cover, including John Travolta, David Cassidy, Leif Garrett, Menudo, Michael J. Fox, Debbie Gibson, the Coreys (Feldman and Haim), Molly Ringwald, Tom Cruise, New Kids on the Block, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jonathan Brandis, and, more recently, Hanson, Ricky Martin, Leonardo DiCaprio, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Hilary Duff, Michael Jackson, Raven-Symoné, Lindsay Lohan, and many others.
The mid-1990s saw a slump in the overall teen magazine market.[1] In 1998, the conglomerate's line of youth music publications was sold off to Primedia.[2] In 2001, after publishing up to twelve magazines each year, Primedia decided to reduce its number of publications to only four magazines per year, deciding to keep 16, Tiger Beat, Teen Beat, and BOP Magazine. In October 2001 the frequency of Teen Beat switched to quarterly.[3] 2ff7e9595c
Comments