NEW YORK—Veteran journalist, producer and publisher, Bob Johnson, has taken on the duties as managing director for SkinMagz.com, the world’s only adult digital newsstand.
First up for Johnson is the world premiere of a major adult star’s new, personal digital publication exclusively on SkinMagz set to be announced shortly. A number of new titles are also in the wings.
Johnson, who has held executive positions at a number of major adult companies including Playboy Enterprises, Vivid Entertainment, Private U.S.A., High Society, Playgirl and Cheri magazines, and most recently as a freelance editor for XBIZ, is charged with bringing new titles to the publishing platform and developing SkinMagz’s global presence.
SkinMagz boasts a number of leading publications including Hustler, Penthouse, Barely Legal, Old Nick, Playgirl, and Colt, among many more. Johnson’s familiarity with both publishing and digital and video production is key to SkinMagz’s initiative as magazines employ the latest digital “flip-page” technology along with video clips and cutting-edge interactive features. VR is also not far behind.
Johnson said that although there’s been an evaporation of physical newsstands and print publishing is declining, the audience for all periodicals, including adult publications is still strong thanks to new delivery platforms like tablets and smartphones.
“People still like to take their reading (and viewing) matter along with them, whether it’s print or electronic," Johnson said. "Tactile and tangible products still appeal to the senses. Publishers today need to exploit both means. And digital publishing opens the market to new publishers without the distribution challenges of the past.”
Before his current duties, Johnson was also a consultant to mainstream publisher Zinio’s adult arm, UnderCoverMags.com that was ultimately divested by the company leaving a void filled by SkinMagz, now the only adult digital newsstand in operation.
SkinMagz provides print and digital publishers a new revenue stream where the company will take a print product and publish it for sale on its newsstand free of charge. The partners work with SkinMagz on a generous rev share basis.
Johnson said that the model is also ideal for publishers, studios and stars that want to create another vehicle for branding.
“It doesn’t matter if a company or entrepreneur has no publishing experience. Content is the key. A good designer need only take the content, produce a typical magazine PDF template and hand it over to SkinMagz. We do the rest,” he said.
Publishers, studios, companies or talent interested in publishing their own digital publication can email Johnson at [email protected].
