Philadelphia Magazine
Philadelphia Magazine is a 117-year-old regional media brand serving the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley DMA across print, digital, podcast, and signature events. Since October 2025 it has operated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under Citizen Media Group, monetizing through tiered memberships, advertising, and sponsored events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1908
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Philadelphia Magazine does
Philadelphia Magazine is a 117-year-old regional media publication founded in 1908 that serves the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley region across print, digital, audio, and live-event channels. The publication covers local news, restaurants, health, real estate, weddings, and lifestyle through its flagship magazine, the daily Philly Mag Today podcast, phillymag.com, email newsletters, and sub-brands including Be Well Philly, Philadelphia Wedding, and the Find It Philly directory service. It also operates four annual signature events — Best of Philly Party, Wine & Dine, Whiskey Fest, and Be Well Philly Fest — that function as both editorial anchors and revenue-generating consumer experiences.
In October 2025 the publication was acquired by The Philadelphia Citizen, a solutions-journalism nonprofit, and converted into a wholly owned subsidiary of Citizen Media Group, a newly formed IRS-registered 501(c)(3) organization chaired by Ambassador David L. Cohen. The transaction re-platformed a previously for-profit media business into a community-supported nonprofit funded by a coalition of regional foundations (William Penn, Connelly, Forman), corporate donors (WSFS Bank / Bryn Mawr Trust, IBEW Local 98, PCOM), and individual philanthropists, with program sponsorship partnerships such as PNC Private Bank on Best of Philly 2026.
The commercial model rests on three legs: (1) tiered membership subscriptions priced at $50/year (City Insider), $100/year (Change Ambassador), and $2,500 (Citizen Stakeholder, which confers non-transferable 'ownership' shares with board observer voting rights modeled on the Green Bay Packers structure); (2) advertising across print, web, and social via a media kit targeting healthcare, real estate, restaurant, and retail verticals; and (3) ticket sales and sponsorships from the four signature events. Core technology is a standard digital content management system and print publication platform, with no disclosed proprietary AI/ML or data products and no third-party API or SDK layer.
Philadelphia Magazine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Philadelphia Magazine
- Legal name
- Citizen Media Group
- Website
- https://phillymag.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1908
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Philadelphia Magazine is a 117-year-old regional media brand serving the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley DMA across print, digital, podcast, and signature events. Since October 2025 it has operated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under Citizen Media Group, monetizing through tiered memberships, advertising, and sponsored events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Philadelphia Magazine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regional Lifestyle Magazine and Digital Media
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Consumer Lifestyle & Fashion Magazines (MPAJAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO)
Keywords
Where Philadelphia Magazine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Philadelphia Magazine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership and Subscriptions: Tiered membership program offering digital edition access, print subscription discounts, event tickets, and community engagement benefits. Tiers range from $50/year (City Insider) to $100/year (Change Ambassador) to $2,500 (Citizen Stakeholder with ownership stake).
- Advertising: Traditional magazine and digital advertising across print, website, and social platforms. The media kit targets advertisers across multiple verticals including healthcare, real estate, restaurants, and retail.
- Events and Sponsorships: Signature events including Best of Philly Party, Wine & Dine, Whiskey Fest, Be Well Philly Fest generate revenue through ticket sales and event sponsorships from corporate partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | City Insider - Basic membership with event access and digital content |
| Subscription | Annual | Change Ambassador - Enhanced membership with free event admissions |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Citizen Stakeholder - Ownership stake in nonprofit parent (inspired by Green Bay Packers model) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Philadelphia Magazine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Philadelphia Magazine publishes a monthly regional print magazine and a continuously updated digital publication covering Philadelphia-area news, restaurants, real estate, weddings, health, and lifestyle. It monetizes its audience through tiered consumer memberships, display and digital advertising, signature branded events (Best of Philly Party, Wine & Dine, Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival, Be Well Philly Fest), a daily podcast, and a local professional directory called Find It Philly. Following its 2025 acquisition by The Philadelphia Citizen, it now operates under nonprofit parent Citizen Media Group.
Product overview
Philadelphia Magazine operates as a multi-platform media company under Citizen Media Group (a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization), offering a print and digital publication covering Philadelphia-area news, restaurants, health, real estate, weddings, and lifestyle content. The portfolio includes the flagship Philadelphia Magazine (print/digital), the nonprofit sister publication The Philadelphia Citizen focused on civic journalism, and a membership program with three tiers (City Insider at $50/year, Change Ambassador at $100/year, and Citizen Stakeholder at $2,500). The company also produces signature events including Be Well Philly Fest, Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival, Wine & Dine, and the Best of Philly Party. Additional offerings include the Find It Philly directory service for local professionals and the Philly Mag Today podcast.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Best of Philly: Annual awards program recognizing the best restaurants, businesses, and professionals in the Philadelphia region.
- Be Well Philly
- Philly Mag Today
Products and services
- Philadelphia Magazine (Print and Digital Publication) Print and digital regional magazine covering Philadelphia-area news, restaurants, real estate, weddings, health, life and style, and events, targeted at Philadelphia metropolitan residents.
- Citizen Media Group Membership Program Tiered community membership program offering digital magazine access, print subscription discounts, member pricing on signature events, free event admissions at higher tiers, member badges, and (at the top tier) stakeholder ownership in Citizen Media Group with board observer voting rights and access to exclusive gatherings.
Companies that use Philadelphia Magazine
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Philadelphia Magazine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Philadelphia Magazine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and major.
- The Philadelphia CitizenflagshipThe Philadelphia Citizen, a nonprofit focused on solutions journalism, acquired Philadelphia Magazine in October 2025. The acquisition marks nonprofit consolidation in local media. Philadelphia Magazine now operates as part of Citizen Media Group, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
- PNC Private BankmajorPNC Private Bank serves as sponsor for VIP tickets at the Best of Philly 2026 Party event.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Philadelphia Magazine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Axios Philadelphia: Digital-first local news outlet launched as part of Axios's national local expansion. Competes with Philadelphia Magazine on local digital news coverage and on smart brevity newsletter formats.
- Billy Penn (WHYY): Philadelphia-focused digital local news outlet under WHYY. Competes for the same digital local-news audience and ad/donor dollars, but with a digital-native cost structure and no print product.
- Patch.com (Philadelphia region): Network of hyperlocal digital news sites with significant Philadelphia-area coverage. Indirect competitor for local digital audiences and community-events ad inventory.
Broad incumbents
- New York Magazine: Larger, national-scale city magazine that has expanded well beyond its original NYC base. Directly comparable product (city news, dining, lifestyle) but at materially larger scale and audience reach.
- The Philadelphia Inquirer: Philadelphia's dominant regional daily news outlet. Competes with Philadelphia Magazine for the same local news audience and advertisers but operates at much larger scale with a broader news mandate.
Direct peers
- Chicago Magazine: Long-running Chicago city magazine with a comparable mix of news, restaurants, real estate, lifestyle, and signature Best of Chicago-style awards. Operates an adjacent events and advertising model.
- Washingtonian Magazine: DC-metro regional magazine focused on dining, politics, real estate, and lifestyle. Closely aligned content mix and city-magazine revenue model to Philadelphia Magazine.
- Los Angeles Magazine: LA regional city magazine with parallel coverage of restaurants, culture, real estate, and events, plus a Best of LA franchise. Same business model of print + digital + events.
- Boston Magazine: Regional city magazine covering Boston-area news, dining, culture, and lifestyle. Closely comparable business model with print, digital, signature events (Best of Boston), and directory offerings targeting a single metro audience.
Others
- Metro Corp Philadelphia (parent publications): Former parent of Philadelphia Magazine and operator of related regional publications (e.g., Philadelphia Wedding). Remains a relevant ecosystem participant through its digital platform powering PhillyMag.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Philadelphia Magazine social profiles
Digital presencePhiladelphia Magazine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Philadelphia Magazine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Philadelphia Magazine subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Philadelphia Magazine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Philadelphia Magazine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Philadelphia Magazine
What does Philadelphia Magazine do?
Philadelphia Magazine publishes a monthly regional print magazine and a continuously updated digital publication covering Philadelphia-area news, restaurants, real estate, weddings, health, and lifestyle. It monetizes its audience through tiered consumer memberships, display and digital advertising, signature branded events (Best of Philly Party, Wine & Dine, Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival, Be Well Philly Fest), a daily podcast, and a local professional directory called Find It Philly. Following its 2025 acquisition by The Philadelphia Citizen, it now operates under nonprofit parent Citizen Media Group.
Is Philadelphia Magazine a public or private company?
Philadelphia Magazine is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Philadelphia Magazine founded?
Philadelphia Magazine was founded in 1908. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Philadelphia Magazine based?
Philadelphia Magazine is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Philadelphia Magazine make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership and Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are advertising and events and Sponsorships.
Who are Philadelphia Magazine's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Axios Philadelphia, Billy Penn (WHYY) and Patch.com (Philadelphia region). Broad incumbents are New York Magazine and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Direct peers are Chicago Magazine, Washingtonian Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine and Boston Magazine. Metro Corp Philadelphia (parent publications) is listed as an others.
Does Philadelphia Magazine have an API?
No public API is recorded for Philadelphia Magazine.
What industry is Philadelphia Magazine in?
Philadelphia Magazine's product category is Regional Lifestyle Magazine and Digital Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAA, Consumer Lifestyle & Fashion Magazines, with a secondary code of MPAJAEAO, News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines. Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2721.