Justin Bieber Joins the Vanity Fair Covers That Didn't Sell

By Ray Gustini | Jul 5, 2011

Women's Wear Daily reports that February's issue of Vanity Fair, cover featuring a smooch-laden Justin Bieber, is on track to be the magazine's worst-selling issue in 12 years. This isn't that surprising, when you consider the general lack of overlap between Vanity Fair newsstand buyers and hardcore Beliebers. What is surprising, and somewhat inexplicable, is the rundown of other notable issues to sell less than 300,000 copies at the newsstand since editor Graydon Carter arrived at the magazine in 1992. We're not sure what the lesson is. Maybe don't be male, don't be female, don't be young, don't be established, don't be an up-and-comer, don't be solo, and don't be in a group? Have a look at this list of past flops.

July 1999: Will Smith (202,701 copies sold)