It’s award time in the magazine world. This week three industry publications saluted the best of the year, and though the winners don’t get the red carpet treatment, they are the publishers and editors whose magazines are red-hot right now.

To start, Advertising Age named US Magazine, edited by Janice Min, “Magazine of the Year.” US’s newsstand sales have leaped almost 50% in the past six months and the magazine has become the guilty pleasure of nearly 800,000 weekly readers. They’re the ones among us who just need to know whether or not Gwyneth Paltrow was wearing a girdle after the birth of her baby (she was) or what kind of trouble “Britney: Totally Trashtastic, ” as one recent US headline put it, has gotten into lately.

For “Editor of the Year” Ad Age chose the much-respected David Granger, who has been at Esquire since 1997. During his seven-year tenure as editor-in-chief, Mr. Granger has slowly resuscitated the men’s magazine that was on life support when he took over. Recently, calculation and advertising have ma gains, and last spring the magazine won four National Magazine Awa for its features and design.

In describing the editorial transformation he has accomplished, Granger said, “I and my staff try to make a magazine men will respond to on multiple levels. I want to give them an entertaining and rewarding experience that gives them some kind of perspective on the world. “

Although several magazines for men – such as Maxim, Details, and Esquire’s traditional rival, GQ – have focused on a younger audience, Mr. Granger continues to try to reach what he calls “the high-normal man.” By going younger, he says his rivals have “left the market open. In some ways, I feel we are the last man standing.”

Ad Age also picked an “A List” of hot magazines that includes, in addition to US and Esquire: Real Simple, Men’s Health, Conde Nast Traveler, and Lucky.

Meanwhile AdWeek, another trade publication, was handing out its kudos to an entirely different list of magazine success stories. Their “Hit List” applauded long-established magazine gi ants including Better Homes and Gardens, People, Sports Illustrated, and Time. Dan Lagani, publisher of Better Homes and Gardens, which topped the list, said, “What’s great is that AdWeek recognizes not the newer or smaller magazines but the ones that are the real powerhouses of the industry.”

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to note that I worked for Meredith, the publisher of BH&G, for years and the publication is, indeed, a true behemoth, with a circulation of 7.6 million and ad revenues that exceeds $450 million. Mr. Lagani said, “What’s most exciting about being acknowledged is that BH &G isn’t a new brand. It is 84 years old and the magazine has just had the two best years in its history.”

Not to be outdone, MIN Magazine, the offshoot of the Media Industry Newsletter, just named its “21 Most Intriguing People of 2004.” Topping the list is Robin Domeniconi, publisher of “Real Simple,” which was one of Ad Age’s “A List” magazines and (surprise) Ms. Min.

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SHOP, SHOP, SHOP

Are you ready for, at least, two more shopping magazines? Well, they are in store. Even Newsweek, like a fashionista at a sample sale, is elbowing its way into the category with Tip, an outgrowth of the magazine’s service section “The Tip Sheet.” The de but issue, which focuses on the holidays, will appear on newsstands on November 15. Another 150,000 copies will be sent to Newsweek readers and there are plans for a spring is sue, depending on consumer response.

The issue’s coverlines promotes features on “Sure-Fire Gifts for Everyone,” “How to Throw A Perfect Party,” and “Last Minute Nips and Tucks.” Another story promises pointers to deal with holiday stress – the piece is written, one might wonder why, by actress Jamie Lee Curtis. The magazine cover shows a cute couple dressed cutely all in red, cutely kissing, and exchanging cutely wrapped gifts. Gift suggestions, party tips, and Jamie Lee Curtis on stress – sure looks like a women’s service magazine to me.

And yet still another shopping magazine to be launched this spring is “Arthur Frommer’s Smart Shopping.” The brainchild of Arthur Frommer, 75, the longtime budget travel guru, he claims it will focus not on shopping ’til you drop, but on saving money when you do. “Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel,” which was launched in 1998 and reports on bargain vacations around the world, is now published by Newsweek through a subsidiary and has a circulation of over 500,000.

Other shopping magazines on the horizon include Domino, a home shopping magazine from Conde Nast, Star Shop, a celebrity shopping magazine from American Media, and Vibe Vixen, a beauty and fashion shopping magazine from Vibe.

Remember when magazines used to tell you things, not sell you things?

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COVER GIRLS

It turns out that not only do gentlemen prefer blondes, so do magazine editors. At least that’s what Cosmopolitan’s editor, Kate White, told an audience of editors and publishers at last week’s Magazine Publisher of America’s conference. Blondes – and only blondes – work on covers. “Sales have been terrible for brunettes,” she said. What she tries to do, month after month, she said is find “the sexiest blonde” out there. But only certain types of celebrity blondes will do. “Someone the reader would want to drive cross country with.” Not, for example, Paris Hilton.

No problem. “Totally Trashtastic” Paris is practically perfect for US!