# Zoo World

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***Zoo World*** was an American bi-weekly [rock music](/source/Rock_(music)) magazine that operated between 1972 and 1975. Available throughout the United States, it was published in [Fort Lauderdale, Florida](/source/Fort_Lauderdale,_Florida) and intended as a rival to *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*.[2] In early issues of the magazine, the cover carried a subtitle reading: "The Music Megapaper".[3]

## History

Launched by [Go Publishing](/source/Go_Publishing) on 27 January 1972 and originally titled *Zoo News*, it was renamed *Zoo World* for its fifth issue, and retained that name for the rest of its publication. From the second issue the publisher is listed as Les Feldman.[4]

The publication was funded by Florida businessman Jack P. Hunt.[5] Its offices were in a building he owned at the corner of [Oakland Park Boulevard](/source/Oakland_Park_Boulevard) and Bayview Drive.[citation needed] The magazine grew to include offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, with a combined staff of 60[citation needed] under publisher Les Feldman. A contemporary report in the Lauderdale *[Ledger](/source/The_Ledger)* described *Zoo World* as a "bi-weekly tabloid featuring record reviews, feature articles on rock celebrities and gossipy news stories on the music world".[5]

Among its contributors were journalists and authors Jim Esposito, Arthur Levy, [Michael Gross](/source/Michael_Gross_(American_writer)), [Jon Tiven](/source/Jon_Tiven), [Nick Tosches](/source/Nick_Tosches), Wayne Robins, [John Swenson](/source/John_Swenson), Steven Rosen, [Gene Sculatti](/source/Gene_Sculatti), [Ira Robbins](/source/Trouser_Press), David Rensin and [Barbara Charone](/source/Barbara_Charone).[2] In an online discussion at the music critics' website rockcritics.com, in February 2013, author and journalist Richard Riegel recalled that *Zoo World* resembled *Rolling Stone* in format, and he likened the title's "editorial personality" to that of *[Crawdaddy!](/source/Crawdaddy!)* following the departure of that magazine's founding editor, [Paul Williams](/source/Paul_Williams_(Crawdaddy!_creator)).[1]

By the time of its demise in January 1975, *Zoo World* enjoyed a circulation of 300,000. Although Feldman and his colleagues were confident that the magazine remained a viable title, Hunt's withdrawal of his patronage forced its closure, the decision for which was announced to employees in December 1974.[5] Dated January 2, 1975,[5] the cover of the magazine's 75th and final issue carried a picture of soul singer [Barry White](/source/Barry_White).[6]

## References

1. ["Obscure Magazine of the Day: Zoo World"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150510162616/http://rockcritics.com/2013/02/12/obscure-music-magazine-of-the-day-zoo-world/). rockcritics.com. February 2013. Archived from [the original](http://rockcritics.com/2013/02/12/obscure-music-magazine-of-the-day-zoo-world/) on May 10, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.

1. ["Zoo World articles, interviews and reviews"](http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Publication/zoo-world). [Rock's Backpages](/source/Rock's_Backpages). Retrieved May 28, 2015.

1. Raup, Avo (November 2014). ["Zoo World"](http://www.afka.net/mags/Zoo_World.htm). afka.net. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20101110082441/http://www.afka.net/mags/Zoo_World.htm) November 10, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 17, 2017.

1. ["Zoo World; The Music Magazine, Jan-Apr 1972 - Popular Culture"](https://www.rockandroll.amdigital.co.uk/Documents/Detail/zoo-world-the-music-magazine-jan-apr-1972/1462272). *www.rockandroll.amdigital.co.uk*. Retrieved 2024-02-27.

1. ["Zoo World magazine to cease publication"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19750113&id=K6VOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-_oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2523,3220285&hl=en). *[The Ledger](/source/The_Ledger) (Lauderdale)*. Associated Press. January 13, 1975. p. 5A. Retrieved May 28, 2015.

1. ["Cover image, *Zoo World* 1975-01-02"](http://www.afka.net/images/Magazines/1975/1975-01-02%20Zoo%20World%20n75%2000.jpg). afka.net. Retrieved May 28, 2015.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zoo World](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoo_World) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoo_World?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.