FHM is one of the most popular lifestyle magazines that cater to men's interests. It covers various topics like fashion, health, fitness, travel, sports, cars, gadgets, women, etc., but its primary focus is on entertainment, sex, and relationships. Founded in 1985 in the United Kingdom, it was later launched globally and became very famous worldwide. Its editorial style is irreverent, humorous, and satirical, with references to contemporary culture and pop-culture icons. In addition to printed copies, it also had a strong presence online.
Economic downturns have impacted its advertising revenue and circulation, reflecting wider challenges faced by print media during tough financial times.
The magazine has been published monthly since its launch but struggled to maintain its readership due to increased competition from digital media such as blogs, websites, social media platforms, and apps. As technology advanced, people started spending more time reading articles or watching videos online rather than buying physical copies of magazines, which led to decreased subscriptions and sales. The decrease in sales caused significant issues for advertisers who had previously relied heavily on print publications for their campaigns. Advertisers began withdrawing their ads due to reduced circulation numbers, leading to lower revenues. This resulted in budget cuts, staff layoffs, and the closure of some regional editions.
Although FHM adapted its content strategy towards a younger audience to remain relevant in today's digital age, the changing trends negatively affected the publication. It changed its format from paperback to glossy paper in an attempt to stay competitive. Still, this did not help much because readers were more interested in consuming information digitally. In 2015, after 30 years in business, FHM stopped publishing its British edition due to declining sales. The global version continued until 2016 when it shut down due to falling advertising revenue and shrinking readership. The end of FHM marked a significant milestone for men's lifestyle magazines worldwide as they struggled to adapt to modern technologies that disrupted traditional media models.
Economic downturns have impacted advertising revenue and circulation for FHM, reflecting wider challenges faced by print media during tough financial times. Despite attempts at adaptation and reinvention, the magazine could not survive the competition from digital media, resulting in its demise.