Orlando, FL --- Monday, February 2, 2009 When Dan Denton and Randy Noles strategized how to further expand their company's family of publications, they looked no farther than an Orlando-based magazine that is a standout in the region, with an affluent readership and a growing book of advertisers.
Both are veteran publishers of city and regional magazines and other niche publications across Florida. Their focus centered on
Orlando Home & Leisure, a 10-year-old lifestyle publication that has enjoyed an advertiser-driven revenue resurgence despite the tight economy and fits well with their other Florida-based magazines.
This morning, Denton and Noles announced that their company, Florida Homebuyer Media LLC, had completed the purchase of
Orlando Home & Leisure from Gross Communications, owners of Smooth Jazz 103.1 WLOQ FM. No purchase price was disclosed.
“
Orlando Home & Leisure is growing every month and that is impressive,” said Noles, whose publishing career in Orlando spans nearly 30 years. “It’s a great time to buy quality magazines and we are looking at other potential purchases across Florida.”
“It’s a time of change for the publishing business, and we gain economies of scale with this acquisition,” added Denton. “We’re particularly pleased that WLOQ will continue a strategic partnership with the magazine, allowing advertisers to enjoy a powerful multimedia platform that will be unequalled when it comes to reaching upscale consumers.”
Orlando Home & Leisure was founded a decade ago by 30-year-old Gross Communications. John Gross, co-chief operating officer, said that the magazine will benefit from WLOQ’s innovative marketing programs and tradition of community involvement. “We remain vested in the magazine’s success,” Gross said. “The reputations of Dan and Randy as publishers of content-rich, award-winning magazines make them a great choice to guide the magazine’s next growth phase."
Orlando Home & Leisure’s key managers including Publisher Kathy Brown, Editor-in-Chief Steve Blount and Senior Marketing Representative Toni Tucker will remain on staff. In addition, the magazine will remain headquartered next door to WLOQ in Maitland Center.
“In a very difficult economy, Kathy and Steve have increased revenue, market share and produced a beautiful publication,” said Noles who will now be responsible for
Orlando Home & Leisure as well as serve as group publisher for the
Florida Homebuyer magazines in Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville.
“Community media is one of the few areas of print that is growing,” said Denton. “As Central Florida continues to grow in stature and size, we’re committed to providing readers with the information they need to full enjoy all of the experiences the region has to offer, and providing our marketing partners with new and effective ways to connect with our audience.”
ABOUT FLORIDA HOMEBUYER MEDIA LLC
Florida Homebuyer Media LLC was founded by Dan Denton, the founder of
Sarasota magazine. In the more than 30 years after the first issue of
Sarasota magazine, Denton and his partners built a dominant Southwest Florida publishing group that included Gulfshore Life magazine in Naples and a dozen other award-winning titles, including
Homebuyer magazines in Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville.
In 2004 Denton sold the company to CurtCo Media, publishers of Robb Report. In 2007 he formed Florida Homebuyer Media LLC with longtime publisher Randy Noles and bought the
Homebuyer titles back from CurtCo.
Orlando Home & Leisure will be managed by Noles and become part of Florida Homebuyer Media LLC, based in Maitland, Fla. Currently Florida Homebuyer Media publishes
Homebuyer magazines in Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville. The Web site is
www.florida-homebuyer.com.
ABOUT ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE MAGAZINE
Based in Maitland, Florida,
Orlando Home & Leisure began as a newsletter to communicate with the loyal listeners of 103.1 WLOQ FM. The station was among the first in the nation to use the smooth jazz format and has a long tradition of service to the Central Florida community. Today the magazine has an audited circulation of 22,000. The magazine’s Web site is
www.ohlmag.com.
ABOUT SMOOTH JAZZ 103.1 WLOQ
Smooth Jazz 103.1 WLOQ is a 30-year heritage radio station owned by Gross Communications, Inc., serving nearly 150,000 of Central Florida’s most affluent, educated, and diverse radio listeners every week. WLOQ serves the community through its high-quality programming, lifestyle concert events, and interactive content at
www.wloq.com.
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