AVN (magazine)

Last updated

Adult Video News
Adult Video News logo.svg
AVN, March 2012.jpg
Cover of the March 2012 issue
Categories Trade magazine
FrequencyMonthly
PublisherTony Rios [1]
Total circulation
(2006)		40,000 [2]
Founded1983;41 years ago (1983)
CountryUnited States
Based in Chatsworth, California, U.S.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN 0883-7090

Adult Video News (also called AVN or AVN Magazine) is an American trade magazine that covers the adult video industry. The New York Times notes that AVN is to pornographic films what Billboard is to records. [3] AVN sponsors an annual convention, called the Adult Entertainment Expo or AEE, in Las Vegas, Nevada along with the AVN Awards, an award show for the adult industry modeled after the Oscars. [3] [4]

Contents

AVN rates adult films and tracks news developments in the industry. An AVN issue can feature over 500 movie reviews. [5] [6] The magazine is about 80% ads and is targeted at adult-video retailers. Author David Foster Wallace has described AVN articles to be more like infomercials than articles, but he also described the AVN magazine as "sort of the Variety of the US porn industry." [2]

History

Paul Fishbein, Irv Slifkin, and Barry Rosenblatt founded AVN in 1983 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Slifkin left in 1984; having lost interest in reviewing adult movies due to the industry's transition from film to videos. Rosenblatt and Fishbein had a falling out in 1987. Eventually, Fishbein moved the magazine to the San Fernando Valley where it operates to this day.[ when? ] [7] Fishbein sold the company in 2010. [8] Theo Sapoutzis became chairman and CEO of AVN. [9] Tony Rios became owner and CEO of AVN in August 2015. [1]

AVN is widely quoted for various figures about the adult industry and its revenues. [10] [11] [12] AVN estimated that the sales and rentals of adult videos topped four billion dollars in 2000 [10] and 2002. [11] Forbes has called this figure "baseless and wildly inflated". When Forbes asked AVN how it arrived at this figure, Mike Ramone the managing editor at the time responded, "I don't know the exact methodology... It's a pie chart." When asked to separate the figures for sales versus rentals, a standard practice among those who cover the video industry, the editor did not think those figures were available. Adams Media Research noted that no one tracked the adult video business with rigor or precision and that the most generous estimate of sales and rentals combined was $1.8 billion. [10] AVN estimated that adult industry revenue in 2005 was $12.6 billion with $2.5 billion of that coming from the Internet. However, ABC News reported that this figure could not be independently verified. [12] According to Michael Goodman of the Yankee Group, it is difficult to estimate for an industry where few companies are public and new providers continually appear. [13] By 2018, Dan Miller, AVN's managing editor said, "The safe estimate is to say it’s worth billions, but I don’t know exactly how many billion, and no one does." [14]

Notable alumni

AVN Europe

In October 2007, AVN launched the first ever pan-European, English-language adult industry trade-magazine, AVN Europe, with editorial offices based in Budapest, Hungary.[ citation needed ] For about two years, AVN Europe published monthly issues with reviews and news items as well as in-depth background articles on such topics as historical development, distribution patterns and women's erotica. By mid-2009, following a change of editorial staff, the publication lowered its ambitions somewhat, focusing more on photos from trade shows and other light-weight content. It folded soon after; the last issue was June 2009.[ citation needed ]

Adult Entertainment Expo

AVN sponsors an annual convention, the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo (AEE), held each January in Las Vegas. [18] The Expo is the largest pornography industry trade show in the United States. [19]

Award Shows

AVN Adult Movie Awards

AVN also hosts an award show for the adult industry modeled after the Oscars. [20] [21] [22] The awards feature over 100 categories and has an attendance of over 3500 people. [23] David Foster Wallace skeptically noted that AVN, in 1997, reviewed over 4,000 new releases in every category in comparison to the 375 films that the Academy Awards were required to see for the Oscars. [2] This number increased to 8,000 for the 2008 Awards and Paul Fishbein comments that it is "a very long, horrible process". [24] The New York Times noted that the "precise criteria for winning an AVN are not, well, explicit". [25] Awards often go to consistent advertisers in AVN. [26]

Sports columnist Bill Simmons commented that the Awards were "the most secretly captivating telecasts on TV" alongside the National Spelling Bee and Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. [27] Violet Blue, the sex writer, describes the Awards as "big backslapping event where the same companies and same names win year after year... To think of the 'porn Oscars' as a true representation of porn's very best is like having sex with a Jenna Jameson love doll and telling your friends you had sex with the porn star". [28] Even Tyla Winn, an award winner, had trouble remembering one of her sex scenes that was nominated. [25]

GayVN Awards

AVN also sponsors the GAYVN Awards which are presented annually to honor work done in the gay pornography industry. Awards for gay adult video were a part of the AVN awards from 1988 to 1998. In 1999, AVN decided to separately host the GayVN Awards.

AVN Online

AVN produces a publication dedicated to online adult business trends. In print and on the web, AVN Online publishes articles devoted to the diverse adult internet experience, such as a story about the Village TV Gay News.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Briana Banks</span> American pornographic actress and model

Briana Banks is a German pornographic actress and model. She was the Penthouse Pet of the Month for June 2001. She is a member of the AVN Hall of Fame and XRCO Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christy Canyon</span> American pornographic actress (born 1966)

Christy Canyon is a pornographic actress and American radio personality. She is a member of both the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame and a recipient of the Free Speech Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenna Haze</span> Former American pornographic actress

Jenna Haze is an American director, model, and former pornographic actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tristan Taormino</span> American author, columnist and adult film director

Tristan Taormino is an American feminist author, columnist, sex educator, activist, editor, speaker, radio host, and pornographic film director. She is most recently known for her book Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships, which is often recommended as a starter guide to polyamory and non-monogamy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewel De'Nyle</span> American pornographic actress

Jewel De'Nyle is an American former pornographic actress and director. She is a member of the NightMoves, AVN, and XRCO Halls of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AVN Awards</span> Adult entertainment industry award

The AVN Awards are film awards sponsored and presented by the American adult video industry trade magazine AVN to recognize achievement in various aspects of the creation and marketing of American pornographic films. They are often called the "Oscars of porn".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Jane</span> American pornographic actress (1980–2024)

Cynthia Ann Howell, known professionally as Jesse Jane, was an American pornographic film actress. She became one of the few adult film performers of the 2000s to make the transition into mainstream film and television roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XBIZ</span> American publisher of business news and business information for the sex industry

XBIZ is an American publisher of business news and business information for the sex industry founded in 1998 and based in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belladonna (actress)</span> American pornographic actress, director, producer and model (born 1981)

Michelle Sinclair, known professionally as Belladonna, is an American former pornographic and erotic actress, director, producer, and model. Since announcing her retirement from pornography in 2012, she has acted in several mainstream films, including Inherent Vice and The Ladies of the House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pornographic film actor</span> Person who performs in pornography

A pornographic film actor or actress, pornographic performer, adult entertainer, or porn star is a person who performs sex acts on video that is usually characterized as a pornographic movie. Such videos tend to be made in a number of distinct pornographic subgenres and attempt to present a sexual fantasy; the actors selected for a particular role are primarily selected on their ability to create or fit that fantasy. Pornographic videos are characterized as either softcore, which does not contain depictions of sexual penetration or extreme fetishism, and hardcore, which can contain depictions of penetration or extreme fetishism, or both. The genres and sexual intensity of videos is mainly determined by demand. Depending on the genre of the film, the on-screen appearance, age, and physical features of the actors and their ability to create the sexual mood of the video is of critical importance. Most actors specialize in certain genres, such as straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, bondage, strap-on, anal, double penetration, semen swallowing, teenage, orgy, age roleplay, fauxcest, interracial or MILFs and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebeca Linares</span> Spanish pornographic actress

Rebeca Linares is a Spanish pornographic film actress and Penthouse Pet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32nd AVN Awards</span> 2015 American adult industry award ceremony

32nd AVN Awards was an event during which Adult Video News (AVN) presented its annual AVN Awards to honor the best pornographic movies and adult entertainment products of 2014 in the United States. The ceremony was held on January 24, 2015, at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada. The 32nd AVN Awards were co-hosted by Alexis Texas and Tommy Pistol.

The 33rd AVN Awards ceremony, presented by Adult Video News (AVN), honored the best pornographic movies and adult entertainment products of 2015 and took place on January 23, 2016, at The Joint in Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada. During the ceremony, Adult Video News will present AVN Awards in 115 categories released from October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2015. The ceremony, taped to be televised in the United States by Showtime, was produced by Gary Miller. Comedian and actress Kate Quigley co-hosted the show for the first time, joined by adult movie actresses Joanna Angel and Anikka Albrite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">24th AVN Awards</span>

The 24th AVN Awards ceremony, presented by Adult Video News (AVN), honored the best pornographic films of 2006 and took place January 13, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Paradise, Nevada. During the ceremony, Adult Video News presented AVN Awards in 119 categories released during the eligibility period, Oct. 1, 2005 to Sept. 30, 2006. The ceremony, televised in the United States by Playboy TV, was produced and directed by Gary Miller. Adult film star Jessica Drake hosted for the first time, with comedian Jim Norton, who also co-hosted in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">23rd AVN Awards</span> 2006 American adult industry award ceremony

The 23rd AVN Awards ceremony, presented by Adult Video News (AVN), honored the best pornographic films of 2005 and took place January 7, 2006 at the Venetian Hotel Grand Ballroom, at Paradise, Nevada, U.S.A. During the ceremony, AVN presented AVN Awards in 104 categories honoring films released between October 1, 2004, and September 30, 2005. The ceremony, televised in the United States by Playboy TV, was produced and directed by Gary Miller. Comedian Greg Fitzsimmons hosted the show with adult film star Jesse Jane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">22nd AVN Awards</span>

The 22nd AVN Awards ceremony, presented by Adult Video News (AVN), took place January 8, 2005 at the Venetian Hotel Grand Ballroom, at Paradise, Nevada, U.S.A. During the ceremony, AVN presented AVN Awards in nearly 100 categories honoring the best pornographic films released between Oct. 1, 2003 to Sept. 30, 2004. The ceremony, televised in the United States by Playboy TV, was produced and directed by Gary Miller. Comedian Thea Vidale hosted the show for the first time with adult film star Savanna Samson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">13th AVN Awards</span>

The 13th AVN Awards ceremony, organized by Adult Video News (AVN) honored the best pornographic films of 1995 and took place on January 7, 1996 at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts in Paradise, Nevada, beginning at 8:15 p.m. PST / 11:15 p.m. EST. During the ceremony, AVN presented AVN Awards in 97 categories. The ceremony, taped for broadcast in the United States by Spice Networks, was produced and directed by Gary Miller and Mark Stone. Comedian Bobby Slayton hosted the show for the first time, alongside actress co-hosts Jenna Jameson and Julia Ann. Hall of Fame inductees were honored at a gala held a month earlier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">35th AVN Awards</span> 2017 American adult industry award ceremony

The 35th AVN Awards, presented by Adult Video News (AVN), honored the best pornographic movies and adult entertainment products of between October 1, 2016, and September 30, 2017, and took place on January 27, 2018 at The Joint in Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada. During the ceremony, Adult Video News presented AVN Awards in more than 100 categories. Webcam star Harli Lotts and performer/director Angela White co-hosted the ceremony, each for the first time. Master of ceremonies was comedian Aries Spears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">37th AVN Awards</span> Pornography award show

The 37th AVN Awards was a pornography award show recognizing the best actresses, actors, directors and films in the adult industry in 2019. Nominations were announced at a ceremony on November 24, 2019, at the Avalon Hollywood. The show was held on January 25, 2020, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It was broadcast on Showtime. The awards show was hosted by adult star Nikki Benz, MyFreeCams celebrity Emily Bloom, with comedian Aries Spears. The 37th AVN Awards was noteworthy as one of the last events held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, before the facility's closure on February 3, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jazmin Chaudhry</span> Bangladeshi pornographic actress

Jazmin Chaudhary is a Bangladesh-born American adult film actress. She is the first pornographic actor known to have been born in Bangladesh. Born on May 15, 1985, in Chattogram, Bangladesh, she moved to the United States with her parents at a young age. There, at the age of 19, she came into pornographic acting. In her five year career between 2004 and 2008, she featured in over 90 films, and worked for Spiegler Girls. At the 2005 AVN Awards Show, Jazmin won the award of Best Group Sex Scene, Video for Orgy World: The Next Level 7 by Evasive Angles. Bangladesh Booty, the first Bangladesh-themed pornographic film was made with Jazmin in the lead. She retired from the adult industry in 2008 with a husband and a son.

References

  1. 1 2 Madler, Mark (April 17, 2016). "Porn's Insider". San Fernando Valley Business Journal. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 David Foster Wallace (March 12, 2006). "First Chapter – 'Consider the Lobster'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  3. 1 2 Timothy Egan (October 23, 2000). "EROTICA INC.—A special report.; technology sent Wall Street into market for pornography". U.S. The New York Times. Corrected October 25, 2000. Archived from the original on November 12, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  4. ↑ Steve Kroft (September 5, 2004). "Porn In The U.S.A." 60 Minutes. Archived from the original on January 3, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  5. ↑ Frank Rich (July 27, 2003). "Finally, Porn Does Prime Time". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 23, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ DPA, Los Angeles (July 17, 2003). "Porn loses seedy image, becomes mainstream in US". Taipei Times . Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  7. ↑ Anthony Layser (January 9, 2008). "Porn Supremacy". Philadelphia Weekly . Archived from the original on January 12, 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
  8. ↑ Nick Wingfield (January 9, 2012). "Silicon and Silicone Split, as C.E.S. and Adult Entertainment Expo Part Ways". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  9. ↑ Street, Sharan. "AVN Acquires Social Networking Site Adult Whos Who AVN". AVN. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 Dan Ackman (May 25, 2001). "How Big Is Porn?". Forbes . Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  11. 1 2 Bill Keveney (October 16, 2003). "Hollywood gets in bed with porn". USA Today . Archived from the original on June 26, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  12. 1 2 Jonathan Silverstein (January 19, 2006). "Is Porn a Growing or Shrinking Business?". ABC News . Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  13. ↑ Sue Chen (November 25, 2002). "San Fernando's Open Secret". CBS News. Archived from the original on December 29, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Porn could have a bigger economic influence on the US than Netflix". Yahoo Tech. June 21, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  15. ↑ "AVN Names New Managing Editor". Adult Video News. January 26, 2000. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  16. ↑ Gelt, Jessica (January 28, 2014). "Anthony Lovett dies at 52; humorist wrote 'L.A. Bizarro' guidebook". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on January 29, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Tony Lovett Steps Down as AVN Publisher and Editor-in-Chief to Pursue Creative Ventures Archived March 16, 2016, at the Wayback Machine , AVN, November 19, 2010.
  18. ↑ "From actors to accounting firms, annual AVN Expo in Las Vegas offers a diverse landscape". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  19. ↑ Stephen Clark (April 1, 2006). "Ex-stripper evangelizes to sex industry". The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on December 9, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
  20. ↑ "The Oscars of porn". The Sydney Morning Herald . January 9, 2006. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  21. ↑ Brent Hopkins (June 3, 2007). "Porn: The Valley's secret industry". Los Angeles Daily News . Archived from the original on June 6, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2007. ...earned seven Adult Video News awards, referred to as the Oscars of porn.
  22. ↑ David Schmader (March 9, 2000). "Porn's Big Night". The Stranger . Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2007. ...the most prestigious event in the world of adult film: the Adult Video News Awards, hereby known as the AVNs, popularly known as the porno Oscars.
  23. ↑ Stuart McGurk (March 4, 2006). "And the winner is ..." The Guardian . Archived from the original on January 10, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
  24. ↑ Adam Tanner (January 14, 2008). "Porn industry seeks recognition with annual awards". Reuters . Archived from the original on April 6, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
  25. 1 2 Matt Richtel (January 10, 2006). "A Night to See the Stars Actually Wearing Clothes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  26. ↑ The teenager & the porn star: will 18-year-old Sasha Grey become the adult film industry's next Jenna Jameson? Los Angeles Magazine
  27. ↑ Bill Simmons (May 31, 2002). "Great sports any way you spell it". ESPN. Archived from the original on June 3, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  28. ↑ Violet Blue (January 18, 2007). "The Rise of Indie Porn?". San Francisco Chronicle . Archived from the original on January 6, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.