Okay, let’s go over this one more time: The NY Time’s David Carr profiles the launch of Tracks Magazine. Warning to Tracks: Don’t confuse a David Carr profile with success.

If this blog entry sounds familiar, it’s because, except for substituting the word “Tracks” for “Radar,” I posted the same message on April 14th of this year. However, as he later admitted, the editor of Radar Magazine DID INDEED confuse the David Carr profile with success. When the magazine folded a few months later, he sounded baffled that the magazine could fail when, “We were the first independent magazine launch that The New York Times wrote about in its history…”

So, especially beware Tracks, as every independent magazine launch that the NYT has written about in its history has failed.

Also, of special note, David Carr cites Samir Husni’s statistics about magazine failure rates in Monday’s article.

Also, as a public service to those who may be interested (although there’s nothing there): If you look for the new Tracks Magazine online, don’t go the following URLs: tracks.com, tracksmag.com, or tracksmagazine.com. You’ll find it at www.tracks-magazine.com.

Arthur rules: The folks at Utne Reader have named the top nominees from which they will choose what they believe to be the best new independent magazine of 2003.

Personally, I am pulling for Arthur Magazine. That’s because I want to give its publisher the satisfaction of accepting the award and being able to say, “You know, there was this asshole named Rex Hammock who said watching the launch of Arthur Magazine is like watching a high-speed car head into a brick wall and then later said, and I quote”:

“Watching the launch of Arthur Magazine is not like watching a high-speed car racing hopelessly toward a brickwall. It’s like watching a high-speed car glide beautifully through the guard rails of a mountain highway, sailing majestically in super slow-motion through the clear-blue sky and perhaps (it could happen) making it to a landing ramp that by coincidence is set-up on the other side of the canyon. “

I don’t know how Utne Reader selects who wins this award, but if you happen to be a judge or voter, please, in your heart, you know who deserves it.

Also, thanks to Arthur publisher Jay Babcock for personally letting me know about who the finalists are.

Custom publishing update: Thanks to several folks who sent me this link while I was traveling last week. It’s the article from last week’s Time Magazine about custom publishing.

Mr. Quotanator: While magazine launches are the cornerstone of his name brand, Mr. Magazine is able to provide great quotes elsewhere, as in this AP story appearing lots of places:

Purveyors of adult fare must expand beyond traditional publishing methods to survive, said Samir Husni, head of the magazine program at the University of Mississippi’s journalism school.

“The magazine may remain the cornerstone for the name brand, but in the future, the real money will be made elsewhere,” Husni said. Hundreds of new adult Web sites launch every month, he said, compared to 30 new sex magazines all of last year.

“That’s one magazine category that really can’t compete with the Internet and television,” Husni said. “Sex has become so much a mainstream entity.”

I’ll have to take Professor Husni’s word on this. He’s the expert at vices.

McMVP update: The Titan’s PR folks are brilliantly supporting Steve McNair’s campaign for NFL Most Valuable Player (a campaign endorsed with zeal by this weblog), the NYT apparently was given full access to Steve on the farm during the bye week. The result: a major profile in this morning’s Times (registration required) so that New Yorkers spending the morning reading the paper can get a sense how great this guy really is.

As for me, I get to spend a few hours later today (after attending early church services) with my 13-year-old son, sitting right behind Lucille (who is quoted extensively in the article) watching her son be great, live and in person. I can’t believe I’m this lucky. (rexblog flashback: 1.10.03 regarding a previous NYT McNair profile.)

Later - Post-game: Wow. The most dominating performance of the Titans I’ve ever seen, in every aspect of the game. Also, I never thought I’d be cheering a Jacksonville victory (and may never again), but “how ’bout them Jags? And (I promise this is all), here are some impressive statistics after today’s game: Tennessee improved its record to 17-3 in its last 20 regular season games and 9-0 in the last nine home games. The Titans are now 28-8 (at home) since the start of the 1999 season, the NFL’s best record over that span.