Discover Asian Babes Magazine History

Asian Babes Magazine has a debated history in UK publications. It started in the early 1990s and quickly became well-known. The magazine featured Asian babes and stirred conversations all over the country. This blog post looks at how Asian Babes Magazine began, its journey, and why it ended. It also discusses how it affected the British Asian community and the wider culture at that time.

The Origins of Asian Babes Magazine

The story of Asian Babes Magazine starts with Richard Desmond and his company, Northern & Shell. In 1983, they got the UK license for Penthouse. This move opened doors for them in adult publications, leading to many different titles. It was in this setting that Asian Babes Magazine was created.

Seeing a chance to fill a niche in the market, Desmond and his team chose to start a magazine that featured Asian models. At first, this decision seemed simple for business. However, it quickly brought the magazine into the middle of a cultural debate.

Launch and Initial Concept

Asian Babes Magazine debuted in the UK in March 1992. Its aim was to feature women of Indian and South Asian backgrounds living in the UK. Northern & Shell gave it a test run, and it became popular quickly. In fact, it sold 160,000 copies right away. This showed there was a strong market for this kind of content.

The magazine's early success proved it could thrive. It soon became a part of Northern & Shell's collection of adult magazines. The company also launched softcore porn videos under the "Asian Babes" name to tap into the growing home video market.

The Publishing Journey

The story of Asian Babes Magazine in publishing has been full of changes in ownership and efforts to adapt to a changing society. It started as part of Richard Desmond's Northern & Shell. During the 1990s and early 2000s, the magazine grew important for the company, alongside other well-known titles.

From Northern & Shell to Remnant Media

In 2001, Richard Desmond decided to sell his adult magazines, which included Asian Babes. He wanted to move away from being seen as a "pornographer." This choice came as more investors felt uneasy about being linked to the adult entertainment world. There was also a clear change in the market for these types of magazines.

In 2004, after several years for sale, Asian Babes Magazine and 45 other titles were sold to Remnant Media. This deal was said to be worth £20 million. It marked the end of the magazine's link to Desmond and his company, Northern & Shell.

The sale was not without its problems. It got some criticism and even led the Bank of Scotland to apologize. The bank had given a £5 million loan to Remnant Media to help make the purchase. This shows that Asian Babes Magazine was still controversial, even after the change in ownership.

Transition Through Ownership: Trojan to Interactive Publishing

The story of Asian Babes in the publishing world has seen many changes in who owns it. Remnant Media owned the magazine for a short time before going into administration in 2007. This led to the magazine being sold again, this time to Trojan Publishing.

Trojan is a well-known name in the adult industry. They bought the magazine, likely thinking it still had a chance in the market. However, it is unclear what their plan was. In the end, it was not enough to keep the magazine going.

Later, Asian Babes Magazine became part of Interactive Publishing. Even though the ownership changed again, efforts to refresh or update the magazine for the new market did not seem to work.

Controversial Impact on the British Asian Community

Asian Babes Magazine caused a lot of discussions from the very start. This was especially true in the British Asian community. The magazine’s content brought up strong feelings about how Asian women are shown and perceived.

Its effect went beyond just talk. It led to real outcomes for people and their communities. These effects showed the tough questions around cultural identity, family expectations, and how tradition and modern life change in the British Asian community.

Family Conflicts and Models’ Dilemmas

The topic around Asian Babes Magazine affected the personal lives of the people involved, especially the models in it. Many models felt trapped between their career choices and what their families expected. This mix of different values often led to difficult relationships, families being unhappy, and sometimes even being shunned.

The Market Shift and Magazine’s Demise

Asian Babes Magazine faced many controversies before it shut down. Several larger trends played a role in its closure. One big reason was a major change in the media world. The internet became more popular. Digital platforms made it easy for people to find adult content. This greatly affected the print pornography industry.

At the same time, people's attitudes and habits of consumption changed. It wasn’t just Asian Babes that suffered. Many similar magazines found it hard to keep up with the digital world and changing tastes. This mix of new technology and changing consumer behavior led to the magazine closing in 2012.

Changing Tastes and the Decline of Print Pornography

The start of the new millennium changed how people accessed and consumed adult content. With the rise of the internet, adult content became easier to find and more private. This growth led to strong competition for print magazines like Asian Babes Magazine from online sites that offered similar material.

The Closure of Asian Babes Magazine in 2012

By 2012, Asian Babes Magazine, once popular, stopped printing. It had changed owners several times and could not keep up with the market. This was a big change for a magazine that had been around for twenty years. It had dealt with shifting social views, new technology, and criticism from the community.

The magazine's end shows bigger issues in the publishing world. The ups and downs of such magazines show how hard it is to adjust to fast-changing media. It also shows the struggle to create content that can make money without spreading harmful stereotypes or offending different cultures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Was the Unique Selling Point of Asian Babes Magazine?

The special thing about Asian Babes Magazine was that it only focused on Asian babes in the UK. It was one of the first magazines to block out just for those who really liked the idea of Asian women.

How Did the Asian Community in the UK Respond to the Magazine?

The Asian community in the UK mostly did not like Asian Babes Magazine. Many people thought it was taking advantage of Asian women. They did not agree with how the magazine showed Asian babes. Because of this, there were boycotts and protests in the community.