{{Short description|American publisher}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2013}} {{Infobox publisher | name = Parade Media | image = AMG Parade textlogo.png | caption = Logo prior to 2022 | parent = | status = | traded_as = | predecessor = | founded = 1967 | founder = <!-- or | founders = --> | successor = | country = United States | headquarters = Nashville, Tennessee | distribution = | keypeople = Spencer Hays (majority owner) | publications = Magazines | topics = | genre = | imprints = | revenue = | owner = | numemployees = | website = {{URL|http://www.parademediagroup.com/}} }}
'''Parade Media''' (previously known as '''AMG/Parade''' and '''Athlon Media Group''') is a publisher founded in 1967 that is based in Nashville, Tennessee.<ref name=a>{{cite web|url=http://www.athlonsports.com/about-us |title=Who Is Athlon |publisher=AthlonSports.com |access-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xc0DAAAAMBAJ&q=%22+Athlon+Sports+Communications%22&pg=PA65 |title=The Alcalde |date= March 2001|access-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GvsLnHBkaFEC&q=%22+Athlon+Sports+Communications%22&pg=PT387 |title=Career Opportunities in the Sports Industry |author=Shelly Field |date= 2010|publisher=Facts On File, Incorporated |isbn=9781438129754 |access-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DOhvShRSj2MC&q=%22+Athlon+Sports+Communications%22&pg=PT240 |title=Sports Publicity |author=Joseph Favorito |publisher=Routledge |date=2012 |isbn=9781136364266 |access-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref> Nashville's Spencer Hays was its majority stockholder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2000/03/20/story3.html?page=all |author= Judy Sarles|title=Suit targets clothier's religious climate |publisher=Nashville Business Journal |date=March 19, 2000 |access-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref><ref name="forbes1997">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/1997/1201/6012170a_print.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010208205451/http://www.forbes.com/forbes/1997/1201/6012170a_print.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 8, 2001 |title=An American original |magazine=Forbes |date= December 1, 1997|access-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Geert De Lombaerde |url=http://nashvillepost.com/node/66295/121001 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629223831/http://nashvillepost.com/node/66295/121001 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |title=Athlon CEO steps down |publisher=Nashville Post |date=December 7, 2011 |access-date=April 8, 2013 }}</ref> It was purchased by The Arena Group in 2022 and now operates as a subsidiary of The Arena Group.<ref>{{cite web |author=TheStreet Staff |title=The Arena Group Closes Purchase of AMG/Parade |url=https://www.thestreet.com/investing/the-arena-group-closes-purchase-of-amg-parade |website=TheStreet |date=April 4, 2022 |access-date=17 August 2022 |language=en-us}}</ref>
==Athlon Sports== Athlon is best known for publishing preseason single-title sports annuals on professional and college sports. The annuals are sold at newsstands in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe.<ref name=a/> It is the U.S.'s largest publisher of sports annuals,<ref name="forbes1997"/> ranking Number 1 in retail sales dollars and magazines sold.<ref name=a/>
Athlon's 15 sports magazines include Athlon Sports Monthly, Pro Football, Fantasy Football, National College Football, Southeastern Football, Atlantic Coast Football, Big Ten Football, Big 12 Football, Big East Football, Pac-10 Football, Baseball, College Basketball, Pro Basketball, Racing and Golf.<ref name=a/><ref name="bizjournals2006"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/11302004aaa.html |title=Virginia Tech's Allison Tallman a finalist in Athlon Sideline Spirit Contest; Winner to be featured in 2005 Athlon Sports College Football Preview |publisher=hokiesports.com |date=November 30, 2004 |access-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref> Athlon's digital properties include AthlonSports.com, which has daily coverage of the sports it covers.<ref name=a/>
On October 1, 2022, it was announced that Athlon Sports would be discontinuing its special magazines due to its merger with Sports Illustrated. The new special magazines will be released in the Sports Illustrated manner.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} The merger was undone in 2024 with ''Sports Illustrated'' owner Authentic Brands Group revoking The Arena Group's license to use the ''Sports Illustrated'' brand and transferring it to Minute Media;<ref>{{cite news|last=Perez|first=A.J.|url=https://frontofficesports.com/sports-illustrateds-publisher-lays-off-entire-staff-future-unclear/|title=Sports Illustrated's Publisher Lays Off Entire Staff. Future Unclear|work=Front Office Sports|date=January 19, 2024|access-date=January 19, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mullin |first=Benjamin |date=2024-03-18 |title=A New Chapter for Sports Illustrated, With Plans to Keep Print |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/18/business/sports-illustrated-magazine.html |access-date=2024-03-18 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The Arena Group's sports content, which was being published under the ''SI'' banner at the time, moved to a revived Athlon Sports website.
==History==
In February 2006, it acquired Grogans Sports Information Inc., a fantasy sports publisher based in Littleton, Colorado, that publishes ''Grogans Fantasy Football Analyst'' in-season scouting reports.<ref name="bizjournals2006">{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2006/02/06/daily27.html |title=Athlon buys fantasy sports publisher Grogans |publisher=Nashville Business Journal |date=February 8, 2006 |access-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref>
In June 2010, Athlon Sports Communications appointed Anthony Flaccavento as publisher for ''Athlon Sports'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2010/06/14/daily4.html |author= Dan Hieb|title=Athlon Sports hires publisher |publisher=Nashville Business Journal |date=June 14, 2010 |access-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref> ''Athlon Sports'' is a monthly publication that launched in October 2010.<ref name=a/><ref>[http://www.sys-con.com/node/1572850 "Athlon Sports Launches as Largest Sports Magazine in the U.S. With 7MM Circulation"], October 15, 2010</ref> ''Athlon Sports'' began with a circulation of seven million and grew to nine million in 2011.<ref name=a/>
In 2013, Athlon acquired the print rights to three magazines distributed as newspaper inserts: ''American Profile'', ''Relish'', and ''Spry''. Athlon did not develop the associated websites and later launched the companion website Community Table.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/athlon-acquires-rights-to-publish-american-profile-relish-spry-magazines/|title=Athlon Acquires Rights to Publish American Profile, Relish, Spry Magazines}}</ref> In 2014, Athlon acquired ''Parade'' from Advance Publications.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/234397/athlon-acquires-parade-consolidates-newspaper-d.html|title=Athlon Acquires 'Parade,' Consolidates Newspaper-Distributed Magazine Market|website=www.mediapost.com}}</ref>
In 2016, Athlon acquired the titles of Harris Publications, which had been shut down.<ref>[http://www.foliomag.com/78590/ Harris Magazines Find New Life as Athlon Newspaper Offerings]</ref>
Athlon Sports, as well as Tom James Co, an affiliated company, have been accused of racism by several employees who complain of an extremely religious, right-wing and racist atmosphere.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Judy |first1=Sarles |title=Suit targets clothier's religious climate |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2000/03/20/story3.html |access-date=June 19, 2024 |work=www.bizjournals.com |publisher=Nashville Business Journal |date=May 19, 2000}}</ref>
In August 2023, Manoj Bhargava announced that he would be merging his Bridge Media Networks (the owner of NewsNet) with The Arena Group, bringing Parade Media under his majority control.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=2023-08-14 |title=5-Hour Energy Founder Expands Media Holdings Including Audacy & Cumulus Stakes - RadioInsight |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/257404/5-hour-energy-founder-expands-media-holdings-including-audacy-cumulus-stakes/ |access-date=2023-08-15 |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Publications== *AMG Lifestyle<ref>[http://amglifestylestore.com/ AMG Lifestyle Store]</ref> ** ''Harris Farmer's Almanac'' *AMG/Parade<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.athlonmediagroup.com/amgparade-titles/|title=AMG/Parade Titles}}</ref> ** ''Athlon Sports'' ** ''Parade'' *Athlon Outdoors<ref>[https://outdoorgroupstore.com/ Athlon Outdoors Store]</ref> ** ''American Frontiersman'' ** ''Ballistic'' ** ''Combat Handguns'' ** ''Guns of the Old West'' ** ''Mopar Action'' ** ''The New Pioneer'' ** ''Survivor's Edge'' ** ''Tactical Weapons''
==References== {{Reflist|27em}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Sports magazines published in the United States Category:Publishing companies established in 1967 Category:Companies based in Nashville, Tennessee Category:1967 establishments in Tennessee Category:Magazines established in 2010 Category:Magazines published in Tennessee