When you read the word notable it may mean several things to you; however, for me, notable does not refer to "probability of success." Although 27 out of the 30 most notable launches of 2005 are still alive, doing well and kicking. Many notable magazines of past guides have faded from the newsstands or fallen into obscurity. Based on current market trends, only two of every 10 magazines will live to see their 10th anniversary. For this reason it would seem presumptuous and useless to choose notable titles by predicting their success. Some of the folowing magazines are already successful, some may see success and some may not even see the newsstand at all next year.

Whatever their fate, all of them stand out.

The following choices reflect my opinion and belief that these titles are innovative and have the potential to make an impact on the industry. In terms of analyzing new magazines for impact and innovation, I ask five main questions:

How much publicity did the magazine generate?

How relevant was the magazine to the intended market?

Was the magazine notably diversified and specialized?

How innovative was the magazine?

Was the magazine so bizarre it had to be included?

The magazine market in 2006 maintained the same percentage of specialized publications covering everything from men's fashion and style and poker and yes, even more celebrities and sudoku. However, 30 magazines stood out because of their content and wonderful ability to find a niche and fill the void so very aptly. What follows are the 30 most notable launches of 2006. Watch for more details on each title next week and our announcement of the launch of the year for 2006 as well as the four runners up from those 30 nominees.

So without further adieu...

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