After being sold to Emmis Publishing, L.P. in 1998,[4] the magazine was later sold to Genesis Park LP in 2016 for $25 million,[5][6] and is currently owned by Randa Williams as of 2019[update].[7][8][9] In 2021, Texas Monthly began expanding into video production through its acquisition of Phillips Productions, best known as the producers of Texas Country Reporter.[10]
Subject matter
Texas Monthly takes as its premise that Texas began as a distinctive place and remains so. It is the self-appointed arbiter of all things culturally Texan, with past articles on Texas BBQ, the Texas Rangers (including Joaquin Jackson's famous 1994 cover appearance), and Texas musicians.
Texas Monthly's annual "Bum Steer Awards" poke fun at Texas politicians and policies, odd Texas-related news items and personalities from the previous year. Anna Nicole Smith (prior to her death) was a perennial "winner". Other Bum Steer "Hall of Famers" include Ross Perot, Tom DeLay, and Jessica Simpson. It releases biennial lists with explanations of the "Ten Best" and "Ten Worst" Texas state legislators.
Since the establishment of the magazine, barbecue enthusiasts have been among the Texas Monthly staff. The magazine's first article about barbecue in Texas was published in 1973. The magazine often ranks what it considers to be the best barbecue restaurants in Texas.[11] Calvin Trillin of The New Yorker said in 2008 that East Texas barbecue often did not interest the Austin-based staff of the Texas Monthly, who were more focused on Central Texas barbecue.[12]
816 Congress, which houses the Texas Monthly headquarters
It has its headquarters at 816 Congress Ave. in Downtown Austin. It occupies a 21,610 square feet (2,008 m2) area on the 17th floor of the building. As of 2011[update] it has about 80 employees.[14]
Around 2009 the Texas Monthly headquarters moved to University Park, on the site of the former Concordia University. The headquarters was scheduled to move to its current location in Downtown Austin in the summer of 2011.[14]
Previously the headquarters was in Suite 1600 of 701 Brazos in Downtown Austin.[15]
In the 1980s, Texas Monthly Press published such books as Goodbye to a River and Hank the Cowdog and authors such as Bud Shrake, Stephen Harrigan and Gary Cartwright. Gulf Publishing Company purchased Texas Monthly Press in 1989.
