That People magazine has a nicey-nice relationship with Madonna, as Gawker relayed today, has been an ill-kept secret in the tabloid biz. Some veteran tabloid editors said they weren't surprised managing editor Peter Castro is rumored to be accepting free tickets to the pop star's concerts — but comp'd tickets, though worth thousands of dollars combined, isn't enough to guarantee her protection from the biggest circ celeb weekly. Rather, Madonna relies on the magazine's "straight and narrow" approach to celebrity news (though, to be sure, fairness is a relative concept in the industry).
While Madonna's publicist Liz Rosenberg isn't known to play well with others — which makes her awesome to us — we're told she has a soft spot for People, because they're always willing to run her statements and spin, and not the rumors others traffic in, as the real news. (i.e. "Madonna 'Over the Moon' About Finalized Adoption" sounds a lot different than, say, "Madonna Finally Nabs African Baby After Adoption Scandal.")
But what are the consequences of Madonna having such a lovey-dovey relationship with the Time Inc. tabloid? For one, the other kids on the playground won't be so nice.
Take a look at this week's Us Weekly.
Editor Janice Min has no problem letting People defend Madonna's honor (exclusively!), especially when that means Min's own cover will be dedicated to trashing her. "It's Over!" screams the headline. And so is any pretension that Madonna will be reversing the negative press anytime soon.
As we've pointed out before, the price that's paid when a celebrity works closely with one outlet and shuts out the rest is … absolute carnage.
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This "story" is embarrassing for you and even more embarrassing for Gawker.
If you want to do an analysis of People's coverage versus the rest of the industry's, totally fair. But making something of the fact that Castro gets comp'd when Madonna comes to town? Well, if you guys actually worked in the industry instead of just wishing you did, you'd know that editors are offered and - gasp! - accept comp tickets all the time.
As a matter of fact, there was more than one Us Weekly editor at Madonna's Roseland show a couple months ago, and as tickets weren't for sale, I have to assume they were comped. And I saw Janice Min at a Natasha Bedingfield show last week. Something tells me she didn't pay for that ticket. Us Weekly in bed with Bedingfield? Quick, call Gawker!
I think it's funny Madonna's life is so dysfuctional. So much for being "enlightened". I still suspect she hired her brother to write the book…
Oh yea! P.S. I wonder who the next "Mr. Madonna" will be? Is anyone keeping a roster?