HX Magazine is sold and the New York Blade ceases publication

In an official statement published on the New York Press website, Mathew Bank founder of HX, confirmed that the magazine had been sold to an undisclosed buyer.

The long running free publication has been covering New York’s gay night life and club scene since 1991. It evolved from a black and white newsletter distributed by Mathew Bank into a glossy and voluminous weekly publication, featuring the highly anticipated gossip column Homo Dish, a tasteful selection of photos from the past week’s parties in the “Seen” pages, and the many pages of gentlemen advertising their services with colorful accompanying pictures.
This upheavel in the small word of New York’s gay press comes about a year after HX Media bought the New York Blade, a bi-weekly free gay newspaper focusing on current affairs, news and politics. It has been confirmed that all the staff from both publications has been let go. The New York Blade will cease to be published and the future of HX Magazine remains unknown. It seems like its longtime competitor Next Magazine is the new owner, as it has been reported that the last issue of HX Magazine was delivered to gay establishment alongside with Next Magazine. That would give Next a monopoly  on the New York gay bar rag market.

Recently, HX Magazine relaunched its website, with extended articles and exclusive online content, making it one of the best resources for gay nightlife news, gossips and pictures.

“HX Magazine and the web site hx.com have been sold. The new owners of HX Magazine will be releasing details and information on their plans for the future of the title shortly. In the meantime, Bank and HX Magazine Publisher Gary Lacinski will be assisting them in the transition. HX Magazine issue 931 dated July 10th, which will be released on July 3rd, will be the last one produced by HX Media and its staff.

We’ve had an incredible time creating what we feel is the best local gay magazine the world has ever seen,” says Bank, “and I am proud that even in this difficult economy we were able to ensure that this magazine that is dear to the hearts of so many readers will be able to continue under capable new ownership.”

It’s been argued that with online social networks becoming so ubiquitous, today’s gays would rather get their party information from Facebook rather than bother actually picking up a paper magazine.

HX Magazine didn’t come out on the week of July 10, and its website was taken down over the weekend, which doesn’t bode well for the future of the HX Brand. It would make sense, if Next did in fact buy its competitor, that it would consolidate its print operations under the Next brand, which has broaden its appeal over the year by extending its coverage beyond the nightlife to include theater,  movies, restaurant, shopping etc… It can also be argued that Next has painted a more diverse and inclusive portray of New York’s gay community, whereas HX had remained more narrowly focused on the downtown club scene.

Nonetheless, we’re sad to see this fun and shameless bar rag disappear under its current incarnation. Their archive of pictures and articles constitute a unique chronicle of gay life in New York through two decades. If you haven’t discarded the past issues of the magazine, keep them in a safe box, for they are now a priceless testament of our culture and history.