UBM is ending 2016 by taking several of its trade magazines out of print.

UBMThe Americas divison of the global B2B information firm, which has not been shy about its aggressive transition from trade publisher to “events-first” company, confirmed to Folio: today that Design News, MD+DI, Qmed, and Packaging Digest will cease print production following their respective December issues and enter 2017 as digital-only brands.

“Our publications will be dedicating resources to developing more community-tailored and substantive content, and we are reinforcing our vibrant digital channels and communities because of the natural synergy between online and live, in-person experiences,” a UBM spokeswoman tells Folio:. “Not to mention, it’s important to proactively evolve alongside the ever changing media landscape.”

CEO Tom Cobbold inaugurated the “events-first” push in late 2014, but UBM has dramatically ramped up the strategic shift over the past year since agreeing to sell off PR Newswire for $841 million last December. Following comparatively smaller deals like the offloading of its electronics media portfolio and the purchase of the event-driven Content Marketing Institute, over 80 percent of the company’s revenues are now driven by live events.

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