NEW YORK, October 17, 2017 – Hearst Magazines today hosted its fifth-annual MagFront at Hearst Tower in New York City, unveiling a set of high-impact editorial opportunities for an audience of brand and marketing executives. Hosted by Hearst Magazines President, Marketing and Publishing Director Michael Clinton, the lineup included appearances by Kate Hudson, Ali MacGraw, Michael Shannon, Jonathan and Drew Scott of The Property Brothers, Molly Sims, Danielle Brooks and Pioneer Woman’s Ree Drummond, who, with Hearst Magazines’ editors-in-chief, shared insights and ideas to spark the imagination of marketers and consumers.

“We present our most integrated, comprehensive programs at the MagFront, and every year, the ideas get more ambitious and unique,” Clinton said. “Last year, we shared O, The Oprah Magazine’s Year of Adventure concept, which resulted in an award-winning partnership with Holland America Cruise Lines. We also teed up a one-of-a-kind celebration for Harper’s BAZAAR’s 150th anniversary: an evening of the brand’s extraordinary photography projected on the Empire State Building; with our partner Tiffany & Co., we created an unforgettable live and social sensation around the globe. Hearst is known for embracing print and digital with a vibrant pipeline of projects and this year’s programs are outstanding, each one reflecting the brand’s specific point-of-view and the passion-points of its readers.”

Hearst Magazines Chief Content Officer Joanna Coles debuted My Beauty Chat, a breakthrough voice-first beauty skill for Amazon Alexa hosted by women’s lifestyle group beauty director Leah Wyar. The skill, sponsored by L'Oréal, will launch in November. “Hearst is the leader in beauty content and this is a new opportunity for us to bring our editorial expertise to life,” Coles said. “Voice opens the door for marketers to work with our teams to develop programs that dovetail with our content. The future is in voice and we are at the forefront of this emerging platform.”

Hearst has been an early adopter to new technology with successful launches of Esquire on Google Home and ELLE, O, The Oprah Magazine and Good Housekeeping on Amazon Echo.

The 2017 MagFront event opened with an original performance from the cast of Spamilton, who sang special, written-for-the-occasion lyrics, “You are with us in the room where it happens/Ideas pop and snap in the room where it happens,” and closed with a Halloween trick-or-treat. In between, editors-in-chief shared their boldest ideas, including:

Maile Carpenter, editor-in-chief of Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine, talked with Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond about the company’s successful launch of her namesake magazine, announcing a four-times-per year frequency in 2018, with a rate base of 400,000.

Food Network star Duff Goldman joined Carpenter and Drummond to announce Food Network Magazine’s 10th birthday celebration for the September issue and fan engagement initiative, which will bring Food Network Magazine and partner brands to life.

Nina Garcia shared news on the upcoming 25th anniversary of ELLE Women in Hollywood. In March, ELLE will produce a “silver anniversary” issue, which will be Nina’s first official issue as editor-in-chief, to kick-off a year-long editorial initiative that will honor legendary Hollywood actresses and shine a spotlight on the next generation of rising stars.

Editor-in-Chief Michele Promaulayko unveiled the Cosmo Dream Machine series, which will activate in four U.S. cities with the help of Kate Hudson, a woman who knows a thing or two about turning her ambitions into action. The Dream Machine experience will offer “transformation sessions” with career, finance, wellness and relationship experts.

HGTV Magazine Editor-in-Chief Sara Peterson teamed up with Drew and Jonathan Scott, the superstar home-renovation team on HGTV’s Property Brothers, to announce that HGTV Magazine is creating a special magazine-within-a-magazine featuring the famous brothers at work and play. The special edition will be included in a fall 2018 issue of HGTV Magazine.

At O, The Oprah Magazine, 2018 will be the Year of Living Well. Editor-in-Chief Lucy Kaylin and Editor-at-Large Gayle King talked to Orange is the New Black’s Danielle Brooks about the need for balance and joy in our lives. They also announced that through a dedicated new wellness initiative both in the magazine and off the page, O and Oprah Winfrey herself will inspire readers to live their healthiest lives yet.

Good Housekeeping Editor-in-Chief and Women’s Lifestyle Group Editorial Director Jane Francisco and Country Living Editor-in-Chief Rachel Hardage Barrett announced the launch of Julep, a fun, minty-fresh quarterly mini-magazine that celebrates “How the Southern Half Lives,” with their southern lifestyle contributor, Molly Sims. Reaching millions of highly-engaged female consumers in the South in print and digital, the spirited collaboration will be embedded in issues of Good Housekeeping and Country Living on southern newsstands and in subscriber copies for readers living in the South.

Harper’s BAZAAR Editor-in-Chief Glenda Bailey discussed plans for harper kids, a special supplement devoted to the under-12 fashion set.

Actress and writer Jill Kargman and Town & Country Editor-in-Chief Stellene Volandes introduced Prep School, a series of guides based on the advice of editors and influencers on how they prepare for the moments that matter, including weddings, tripsand more. T&C Prep School is a concept that will live across all mediums, from print to digital to social media, and will also be brought to life through a series of live events.

Also, via video, Marie Claire Editor-in-Chief Anne Fulenwider announced the launch of a Sustainability Summit that will bring together leading experts at the intersection of fashion and sustainability. The Summit will be led by an all-star sustainability advisory council comprised of celebrities, designers and executives.

And ELLE DECOR Editor-in-Chief Whitney Robinson shared all-new specials celebrating the rituals of a life well-lived, starting with the rituals of bath.

Editor-in-Chief Jay Fielden unveiled “Esquire’s Best and Brightest: 25 for the Next 25,” a special issue spotlighting 25 men and women whose genius is so great it will be felt for the next 25 years. Fielden was joined by Michael Shannon,who appears in the new Fall/Winter edition of Esquire’s Big Black Book.

Woman’s Day Editor-in-Chief Susan Spencer shared details on the brand’s blowout Halloween program, the Woman’s Day Tricked Out Treat House, a Halloween-themed showhouse that will engage millions of readers in person, online and in print in October 2018.

And VERANDA married wanderlust with remarkable design discoveries from around the world in its first-ever Travel + Design issue. Ali MacGraw joined Editor-in-Chief Clinton Smith to talk about her partnership with the IBU Movement, a company that supports women artisans who are making exquisite products for home and fashion.

Hearst Magazines President David Carey closed the event, saying “Against a backdrop of ever-faster disruption, these ideas, from these respected magazine media brands, feel just right. These brands stand for trust and credibility. Here at Hearst, we take that responsibility seriously, in the care, attention and quality of how we create our products and through re-imagining our powerful franchises, creating new ones in partnership with some of today’s most innovative companies and scouring the world for exciting acquisitions that expand that footprint.”