Why Did Hearst Let Go of the Magazine Industry's Only Winner?

Town & Country was the magazine industry's newsstand standout for 2010, according to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations numbers, which makes the magazine's the recent shakeup even stranger.

Town & Country's newsstand sales increased 25.1% from the second half of 2009, when the overwhelming majority of magazines saw declines. 2010 was also the year Stephen Drucker was at the helm. Drucker was recently replaced by Men's Vogue editor Jay Fielden. Hearst insists Drucker left of his own volition, but it seems odd that he would leave when things were going so well. Of course no single editor is responsible for a magazine's newsstand sales, but Drucker totally cleaned house when he took over. He had a similarly positive effect on House Beautiful's sales before jumping to Town & Country.

It may be "gauche," but it appears the Barefoot Contessa moves magazines.

kstoeffel@observer.com :: @kstoeffel