MM Paris

>> The first issue of POP under Dasha Zhukova's guiding hand hits newsstands tomorrow at $8, with two international newsstand covers, each with a 50/50 split run, of Style Rookie's Tavi, plus a 500-copy limited-edition hardback cover by Ed Ruscha (below, left), and a limited subscriber's cover of Cicciolina for the Baltic States (below, right).

“The new Pop launches at an exciting turning point in fashion, where the possibilities and potential for creativity are almost overwhelming,” Zhukova told WWD. “The new era is more fluid than ever before; one where teenage girls in Chicago, fashion editors in Paris, street photographers from Berlin and bloggers everywhere . . . redefine the fashion landscape.”

Fake Karl, Jen Brill, and Mark Borthwick are all involved »

>> INSIDER WIRE —Some are surprised that Fabien Baron is being welcomed back at Interview, given the magazine's financial state and that Baron was originally let go because he was going over budget.  Apparently, fashion director Joe McKenna — who is expected to leave — cancelled a recent shoot on grounds of nonpayment, creative directors Michael Amzalag and Mathias Augustyniak of M/M Paris quit because they are owed three months pay plus expenses, and a number of retouchers and photographers are owed, including Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, who have not been paid for their August 2009 cover story. [FWD]

>> INSIDER WIRE —Fabien Baron may be back at Interview, but it sounds like creative directors Michael Amzalag and Mathias Augustyniak of M/M Paris and fashion director Joe McKenna, who both came on after Baron left the magazine in January, are on their way out.  Karl Templer, who served as creative director under Baron the first time, is expected back imminently — official announcements are expected within a week. [FWD]

>> INSIDER WIRE —As rumored, Fabien Baron is coming back into the Interview fold as editorial director, replacing former co-editorial director Glenn O'Brien. Baron was originally fired in January and took creative director Karl Templer with him.  After he left, the logo revamp he did was replaced and Mathias Augustyniak and Michael Amzalag of M/M Paris were brought in as creative directors. Baron is said to be talking to top talent about coming back with him — M/M Paris do not appear to be currently working on the August 2009 issue and are expected to leave the magazine  — will he revert the logo as well? [WWD, FWD]

>> BLOWING THE COVER —M/M Paris's revamp of Interview, complete with new handwritten logo (influenced by the one used in the '70s) and new layout (which supposedly includes less model-heavy fashion editorial), debuts with the April 2009 issue featuring Zac Efron.  There seems to be no hard feelings between Fabien Baron and one half of M/M Paris, Michael Amzalag, but the graphic design duo, together with newly-named fashion director Joe McKenna (who replaces Karl Templer) have their work cut out for them: ad pages dropped 27 percent in 2008, and another 38 percent in the first quarter of 2009. [WWD]

>> INSIDER WIRE —Despite Interview going under a full revamp from Fabien Baron's design for its May 2009 issue under the care of new creative directors M/M Paris, all seems amicable between the two — Purple's Olivier Zahm snapped Baron wishing half of M/M Paris, Michael Amzalag, luck backstage at Prada. [Purple Diary]

>> INSIDER WIRE —While her old POP stomping ground seems to be having trouble fitting in these days, Katie Grand's Love is doing more than fine: the magazine is sold out, the fastest-selling debut issue of all time [presumably for Conde Nast UK], with reprints on the way.  As for the other magazine in transition, Interview, expect big change with new creative directors Mathias Augustyniak and Michael Amzalag, aka M/M Paris.  The retro logo is being readopted, fashion editorial won't be as model-heavy, and a full redesign is in order; the first peek will come with the May 2009 issue. [LOVE blog, FWD]
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>> Now that the news of Fabien Baron and Karl Templer's departures from Interview has had a chance to sink in, a little background on the breakdown.  According to sources close to the magazine, Baron, who also owns agency Baron & Baron, spent too little time in the office and too much money on shoots.  Fabien's co-editorial director, Glenn O'Brien, seems to confirm these reports: "Fabien is a busy man. We haven’t seen him a lot up here.  We have to have our needs met here.”

That, in addition to the fact that "he comes with a big price tag," especially in a time of falling ad pages, did not bode well.  His pricy fashion spread expenditures did not mesh well as Interview's bottom line went lower than expected, and supposedly, Baron began to feel pressure from Brant Publications to cut costs, "take the magazine more mainstream, popular, and Hollywood."  Although Baron hung up on WWD when asked for a comment, he and Templer, who chose to leave when Baron was pushed out, "tried to come to terms and were very disappointed at having to leave."

According to Glenn O'Brien, the parting wasn't so pretty: “In any creative enterprise, there’s always screaming."  But until April, when M/M Paris take over creative direction of the issues . . .
*image: source

>> Yesterday's surprising news came in the form of co-editorial director Fabien Baron leaving Interview and taking creative director Karl Templer with him.  Today's surprising news?  Also about Fabien Baron — it's rumored that he may be launching his own publication with Templer.

Brant Publications released a statement in response to their exits today, confirming that Baron "decided to resign in order to focus on [his agency Baron & Baron]" and Templer resigned "in order to focus on other projects." 

Baron also commented on his move — "now it’s time to focus all my energy on my own business and the many clients that have been loyal to me over the years" — but does his "own business" include a new magazine, as the buzz among his colleagues indicates? His "many clients" — which include luxury brands that Baron directs and sometimes even photographs ads for — could, as Gawker points out, allow Baron to be "especially well positioned to land what remains of [luxury print advertising]."

Meanwhile, back at Interview, M/M Paris, who just like Fabien Baron are well known for their work with Vogue Paris and luxury advertising, are said to be taking over creative direction.
*image: source