Nöjesguiden's Publisher HKM Media Group Declares Bankruptcy, Staff Laid Off

HKM Media Group, the company behind the renowned Swedish entertainment magazines Nöjesguiden and Kingsize, has filed for bankruptcy, leading to significant uncertainty over the future of these long-standing publications. The bankruptcy, confirmed in Stockholm District Court, has resulted in the immediate discontinuation of the magazines in their current forms and the layoffs of approximately twenty employees across cities including Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Örebro, and Helsingborg.

Frasse Levinsson, the editor-in-chief of Nöjesguiden, commented that the bankruptcy was not a surprise, stating, "It does not come as a bolt from the blue." He metaphorically described the magazine as a "cockroach that refuses to die," highlighting the turbulent times the publication has faced. This is not the first time HKM Media Group has filed for bankruptcy; the company previously went bankrupt in 2024, at which time staff were moved to the newly formed group.

Bankruptcy administrator Leonardo Merino conveyed that there is no realistic chance to continue the business significantly within the bankruptcy framework. The priority now is to determine the employees' rights to wage guarantee compensation, which is a state-provided measure when a company fails to pay salaries. All company offices will be closed, assets sold, and inventory liquidated as part of the winding-down process.

Significantly, the intellectual property rights to the Nöjesguiden and Kingsize brands are held by a parent company registered in Ireland and are not part of the bankruptcy estate, leaving potential pathways open for these media titles in the future though under different ownership and structure.

As it stands, the bankruptcy marks a serious turning point for HKM Media Group and its media outlets, signaling a pause and potential transformation in the Swedish entertainment media landscape.