Genre All But Abandoning Its Subscribers?
After hearing that Genre magazine wasn’t being delivered to paid subscribers, Queerty did some digging last month and learned straight from editor-in-chief Neal Boulton’s mouth that a “new printer” company was to blame for the hiccups. Boulton even asked that we post his personal email address, so affected customers could touch base directly. Then explain this: How come Neal’s company email address now bounces back? And the toll-free subscription line has been disconnected? The Queerty reader who originally tipped us off is back with more ominous news for the gay glossy:
Says our informant: “Tried e-mailing [Neal] again today and this time the e-mail bounced back. So I tried the 888 subscription number in the most recent Genre issue I have. It’s been disconnected.
“At this point, I’ve given up on getting the missing issue, but thought I’d let you know in case the magazine went under. At this point, I sort of hope it did.”
Indeed, when we emailed “nboulton@genremagazine.com,” we received a “mailbox full” response from the account “billjr415@aol.com.” Whatever that means.
But since Boulton says he really wants to hear from subscribers, we feel at liberty to provide his personal email address: neal.boulton@gmail.com.
And maybe the massive financial troubles of Genre‘s private equity part-owner Avalon Equity are already impacting its publications.
Genre still has subscribers?
Queerty – Boulton has not used his email account with his magazine since he started his Bastard Life site. I just sent him an email at NB@bastardlife.com to suggest a story idea for and he got back to me in 15 minutes. I do not know about their customer service number – but do numbers change?
To be honest, I am a wee tad bored by this crop of gay men’s magazine editors who vamp around the subject of their sexuality. They pride themselves in being “post-gay” instead of being, well, gay. While Boulton was off on his manly motorcycle trips a la Che Guevara, having earnest, non-sexual bromanciful chats with our betters (aka hipper than us — in Boulton’s head — straights) the magazine went to shit. While I have the same qualms about some of AH’s pan-sexual bromides on the pages of Out, at least his magazine is holding a handsome candle in the winds of the new media onslaught. But for how long? How can you have the passion to persevere if you’re not even sure that your gay-ness is authentic?
“response from the account “billjr415@aol.com”
AOL? Isn’t that always a sign when you see an email from aol to be skeptical? Always
As far as him allegedly only receiving emails via bastardlife, that is a horrible excuse if it is true. Someone in IT should have been forwarding the emails to him or to a subordinate from his otherwise active and published business account. It is also rather odd that a company changes phone numbers so quickly without forwarding or allowing some sort of time overlap.
Well responsible, fiscally sound companies anyways.
If Boulton’s endeavors ever become profitable again, he really needs a stylist. I mean come on, he’s an editor for a gay magazine and that’s the best he can do.
I know it is entirely off topic and possibly inappropriate, but how can you not think it?
Too true Seebe. I think he would look darling in a blond M Monroe wig and long lashes. He does have a cute butt tho
He’s a fitness nut who frets over what he eats everyday. I think we make him over in tight white t-shirts and skinny jeans. He’s too 90′s at this point. But then again, he is in his 40s.
Oh he’s cute leave him alone. But he does need to lose the black on black on black thing. He needs some flair! I’ve never seen him in a single shard of color.
i only subscribe to instinct these days, basically because the bf likes it and as we live in a small town in the midwest it is nice to keep up with some of the gay trends. still trying to figure out why 10 percent chose me to get out magazine for free. used to get genre but it wasn’t worth the money.
is it just me or does the guy in the picture not look like a real human but a construct?
He looks like sort of neanderthal. But I wouldn’t kick him out of bed. The shots of him inside were hot.
Japhy, Why do you seem to root for the downfall of gay mags? Can’t their be a place for both traditional media and new media? I’m not saying some of these magazine’s shouldn’t be held to a higher standard than that which they are performing at, but you seem to relish in the demise of certain mainstays of gay life, i.e. gay magazines, HRC, etc. Can’t we hold people/institutions/companies accountable for their actions without rooting against them? All we end up doing is rooting against ourselves. Sometimes it seems like you’d rather a magazine like Genre, or an organization like HRC, fail than see them change and succeed.
Boulton always comes of way douchey to me. He’s probably to busy worrying about his own site and weekly party he’s trying to put together.
How ironic — they won’t stop sending it to me even though I let my subscription expire. They keep promising me every month that this is me “very last issue ever,” yet there is it next month just the same.
It’s the kind of gay mag that I really have no use for — it has no relevance to my life, or the lives of the gay men I actually know. Maybe there are tons of scrawny, hairless 20-somethings on the coasts who can both afford the stupid-looking clothes and over-priced gadgets that Genre is constantly pushing and have jobs where they wouldn’t look ridiculous dressed that way, but not where I live.
“straight from Neail Boulton” has layers of meaning, considering how cadgy he is about his own sexuality. (Not that anyone cares.)
Too bad Queerty is so in love with Genre. Did they not hire one of the Queerty editors or something?:)
I emailed the magazine when I did not get my issue and I was mailed one in a week. The envelope was actually hand written. I never go that from GQ.
When Genre changed their format, I declared to the publisher (in an email) that his magazine was now the epitome of fluff. One-page “articles” and the “special advertising section” where the employees or owners of the advertisers are profiled, puh-leese!
Still good pectorials, though!
It’s funny how Instinct and Genre traded places in quality.
I let my subscription run out, but they keep coming anyway – though late. Just got the December 08 issue.
Try emailing Bill Kapfer
he is the Publisher
billkapfer@gmail.com
he is also on facebook under William Kapfer (New York)
http://www.facebook.com/profil.....m%2Ckapfer
Funny how Genre hires random, loser photographers from places like Palm Springs. I love Instinct and Genre, almost as much as OUT! Advocate is WAY cool and back in the fold, too
Does anyone have the editor of Advocate’s private email? I’d love to write him. Thanks for being the source Queerty!!!!!!
re: Bill Kapfer – gmail? who the h*ll are these people?
I have an aol account and a yahoo account online
First of all the post above me was not me. Second, I do not use a gmail account to run a major (snicker) publication. No offense to TheDiva or anyone else, but AOL above all others has shall we say a certain reputation of users, although obviously some people have kept their old accounts for different reasons.
Thats the email Bill Kapfer listed on his facebook
You must be a “friend” of Bill Kapfer’s hence his email access?
I am a friend of Bill Kapfer, he is sweet!
I e-mailed both Boulton and Kapfer earlier this week — just as I e-mailed Boulton a month ago after the first post on this subject — and still no response, still no sign of Genre’s December issue.