Variety (magazine)

Variety (magazine)
source
Title	Variety
Category	Entertainment journalism
Frequency	Weekly
Publisher	Penske Media Corporation
Founder	Sime Silverman
Firstdate	1905
Country	United States
Based	New York City
Language	English

Variety (magazine) is a long-running American weekly trade publication covering the film industry, television, theatre, music and related entertainment sectors. Founded in 1905, it has chronicled major commercial and artistic developments involving figures such as Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Steven Spielberg, and Martin Scorsese while reporting on studios like Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and companies including Netflix, Amazon (company), and The Walt Disney Company.

History

Variety was founded by Sime Silverman in 1905 in New York City and quickly became a fixture for professionals connected to Broadway and the burgeoning silent film era. During the 1910s and 1920s it covered the rise of performers such as Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, alongside theatrical producers like Florenz Ziegfeld and studio executives at United Artists and Goldwyn Pictures. In the 1930s and 1940s Variety tracked the expansion of the studio system, reporting on personalities including Louis B. Mayer, Jack Warner, and Samuel Goldwyn while documenting events like the transition to sound associated with The Jazz Singer and the influence of directors such as John Ford. The postwar decades saw coverage of the decline of the studio system, labor actions by groups like the Screen Actors Guild, and the emergence of television figures including Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, and networks such as Columbia Broadcasting System and National Broadcasting Company. Ownership changes included acquisition by investors linked to Gerald M. Loeb and later consolidation under media companies culminating in the current ownership by Penske Media Corporation. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s Variety adapted to industry shifts driven by conglomerates like Viacom, Time Warner, and streaming entrants such as Hulu.

Content and Coverage

Variety publishes reviews, box office reports, trade news, and analyses focused on studios, distributors, producers, agents, and creative talent. Regular coverage includes film premieres featuring actors like Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington, Cate Blanchett, and Leonardo DiCaprio; television series starring performers such as Bryan Cranston, Jon Hamm, Viola Davis, and Claire Foy; and music industry developments involving artists like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Adele, and Drake. It reports on financing and corporate strategy affecting companies such as Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lionsgate, and A24 and tracks festival circuits including Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival. Variety also covers awards seasons for honors like the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Primetime Emmy Award, and Tony Award, along with guild actions by entities such as the Directors Guild of America and Writers Guild of America. Features examine creative collaborations among figures like Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, Kathryn Bigelow, and Greta Gerwig and industry trends shaped by executives such as Shari Redstone and Bob Iger.

Editorial Leadership and Staff

Across its history Variety has been led by editors and publishers who shaped trade journalism standards, including founders and successors linked to the Silverman family and later executives under corporate owners. Notable editorial figures have overseen coverage that highlighted critics and columnists who profiled stars like Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, and directors such as Stanley Kubrick, Ingmar Bergman, and Francis Ford Coppola. The newsroom has included reporters and critics specializing in beats for film, television, theatre, and music, interacting with talent agencies like Creative Artists Agency, William Morris Agency, and International Creative Management. Variety’s business reporters routinely analyze corporate maneuvers involving media conglomerates like Comcast, AT&T, and private equity participants in transactions affecting entertainment holdings.

Format, Distribution, and Digital Presence

Originally issued as a print weekly, Variety expanded with a Los Angeles edition to serve Hollywood and broadened distribution to cover regional markets and international hubs such as London, Hong Kong, and Mumbai. The print edition featured signature features like the "Senior Staff" reviews and the distinctive slang known as "Varietyese" that commented on personalities like Mae West and Clark Gable. In the digital era Variety developed an extensive online presence, publishing daily news, video interviews with figures like Spike Lee and Kathryn Bigelow, and databases tracking box office totals and television ratings for series on platforms such as HBO and Showtime. Social media channels and email newsletters extend reach to professionals at agencies, studios, and festivals, while subscription models and advertising partnerships support distribution to industry stakeholders and international correspondents.

Awards and Industry Influence

Variety’s reporting and special issues—such as its compilations of box office leaders, rising stars lists, and power rankings—have influenced perceptions of talent and corporate clout. Its coverage of award seasons impacts campaigns for nominees and winners at events like the Academy Award, Cannes Film Festival juries, and guild ceremonies. Industry lists and features have spotlighted emerging artists who later earned recognition including Oscar winners and nominees like Brie Larson, Mahershala Ali, Olivia Colman, and Rami Malek. Corporate and legal coverage has intersected with regulatory matters involving entities such as the Federal Communications Commission and transactions like mergers of Disney and 21st Century Fox. Through decades of reportage, Variety has remained a primary source for studio executives, showrunners, talent representatives, festival directors, and journalists navigating the continually evolving landscape shaped by creators such as David Fincher, Taika Waititi, and Greta Gerwig.

Category:American magazines Category:Entertainment industry publications