Ya, you know it.

We included this section because we wanted to explain something that most magazines never actually explain to their readers. We wanted to explain what not only keeps a magazine afloat, but allows it to grow into the best possible magazine: subscriptions.

A lot of magazines (small magazines, not to be confused with titles like Details or Maxim, who are owned by huge corporate publishing houses...which is pretty much the opposite of what we are) have to pray to the magazine Gods that they make it past the first year of issues. Why? Because the costs of running a magazine are pretty incredible, especially when compared to the money you actually make when you take out the cut for the stores and the wholesalers, and the distribution deal.

When all is said and done, the only way a magazine like YGA can actually make any money to keep going is with investment (which we have) and a healthy base of subscribers who believe in the magazine. Unlike newsstand sales, subscription money goes directly to the publisher, which is why we can make subscription rates so much cheaper than the cover price! It also gives us the strength to grow the magazine, increase the page count, and have way-cool features and special events.

But subscriptions are important for another reason: they attract advertisers. We've spoken to advertisers - big ones - who want to approach the "Gay Youth" Market, but they need to see that a strong subscriber base will be viewing their advertisements! Getting our subscription base up to a number that impresses upon the mainstream advertisers like Diesel or 2(x)ist is how we're going to grow to really compete with mainstream teen magazines like YM or Seventeen.

Equally important to help YGA Magazine become the best possible publication the world has ever seen, is to get the word out. Stores need to HEAR that there's interest in a particular title before they'll order it from the wholesaler (the person who buys magazines from us.) You know what!? We've actually heard that some stores say "HUH!? A MAGAZINE FOR YOUNG GAY PEOPLE? THERE'S NONE OF THOSE TYPES OF PEOPLE IN OUR TOWN. FORGET IT." That's why it's critical that you make your voice heard and go into local and regional stores (big ones, small ones, it doesn't matter) and tell them to bring YGA Magazine to the readers in your area.

The best thing about Subscribing to YGA is that we both win. Right now, corporations pretty much dominate a lot of the world, and YGA - as a small publisher - is forced to deal with tons of people in between before our product, that we create, actually gets delivered to your hands. Now with a subscription. You save money. We make money. We get stronger, make the magazine better, give free gifts, become big enough to lobby Senators and change the world on your behalf, homophobia goes away, the world becomes awesome - ALL because you subscribed. Seriously. It sounds crazy, but that's exactly where we're headed. Click here to subscribe to YGA Magazine. Let's prove to those cool brands out there that, yes, young queer people are out there, are powerful, and are not to be ignored any longer.

That's the same reason why we started YGA in the first place.

Mike Glatze, Benjie Nycum, Ted McGuire, Sheena Jamieson, Scott Marquardt, Andy Brown, Simon Thibault, Tamryn Pope, Marc Guillemette, Stephen Terauds, Scott MacPhee, and Carol Page

[email protected]