Published
May 5, 2026
Updated
July 16, 2026
This settlement resolves claims that Penske Media, Rolling Stone’s parent company, broke its “lifetime” subscription promises by switching print subscribers to a digital-only edition. If you once bought a lifetime subscription to Rolling Stone magazine, you can opt in to restore print delivery and add two years of free RollingStone.com access — there is no cash payment, no proof, and no opt-in deadline.
What Is the Rolling Stone Settlement About?
If you bought a "lifetime" subscription to Rolling Stone magazine years ago and then noticed the printed magazine stopped arriving, you may be eligible to resume print delivery and receive two years of free access to RollingStone.com under a class action settlement now open for opt-ins. There is no opt-in deadline, no proof requirement, and only three pieces of information are needed to participate.The lawsuit, captioned Krivin v. Penske Media Corporation, No. 2:25-cv-05803, is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. It alleges that Penske Media Corporation (PMC), the parent company of Rolling Stone, breached its contracts with lifetime subscribers by switching them from the printed magazine to a digital E-Edition, and that PMC violated the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act on the same basis. The plaintiffs allege that subscribers paid for a print magazine that was meant to last their lifetimes and were entitled to keep receiving the printed edition. PMC denies any wrongdoing, denies any liability, and is settling without admitting fault. The court granted preliminary approval on April 27, 2026, and a final-approval hearing is scheduled for August 7, 2026.
Status
Opt-In Open
Preliminarily approved April 27, 2026 — benefits begin after the Aug 7, 2026 final-approval hearing.
Deadline
None — open through final approval
No opt-in deadline; opt-ins are accepted before and after final approval.
Benefit
Restored print + 2 yrs RollingStone.com
Non-cash — resume the printed magazine plus two years of free RollingStone.com digital access.
Proof Required
No
Name, mailing address, and email only.
Do I Qualify?
The Settlement Class is defined as all subscribers to Rolling Stone magazine who live in the United States and previously purchased a so-called "lifetime" subscription. That definition has three parts:• Lifetime subscription specifically. Regular annual subscribers, gift subscribers, and digital-only subscribers are not in the class. It covers only people who paid for a lifetime subscription product.
• Rolling Stone specifically. Lifetime subscribers to other Penske Media titles (such as Variety, Billboard, or The Hollywood Reporter) are not in this class. Each publication is treated separately.
• U.S. residence. The class covers U.S.-resident lifetime subscribers; those who now live abroad are excluded.
The class is defined by the original purchase of a lifetime subscription, not by your current subscription status. If you bought a lifetime Rolling Stone subscription in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, or later, you likely qualify regardless of whether you are still receiving the magazine today. Excluded are PMC and its current officers, directors, employees, subsidiaries, and affiliates; the judges assigned to the case and their immediate families; and the parties' counsel.
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What Does the Settlement Provide? (No Cash)
This is an expectation-management point worth stating plainly: the Rolling Stone settlement is non-monetary. There is no cash payment, no check, and no settlement fund. What eligible lifetime subscribers receive instead is two non-cash benefits:• Resumed print magazine delivery. If you were switched to digital or stopped receiving the magazine entirely, you can resume print delivery for as long as PMC continues to publish a printed edition of Rolling Stone during your lifetime. Print delivery begins several weeks after PMC processes your opt-in.
• Two years of free RollingStone.com access. Class members can claim two years of paid digital access to RollingStone.com at no cost, provisioned shortly after PMC processes the opt-in.
The benefits stack rather than substitute: lifetime subscribers who are already receiving the printed edition keep the print magazine and may also claim the two years of digital access. For most lifetime subscribers the print restoration is the primary benefit, since the original "lifetime" subscription was a print product and PMC's switch to a digital-only E-Edition was the central grievance in the lawsuit.
Why There Is No Opt-In Deadline
Most class action settlements impose a strict claim deadline a few months after final approval, after which class members forfeit their benefits. This settlement is structured differently: there is no opt-in deadline. Eligible lifetime subscribers may opt in at any time, including years after final approval.The reason is structural. The benefits are tied to an ongoing subscription relationship rather than a one-time payout from a fund. As long as a class member is alive, lives in the United States, and PMC is still publishing Rolling Stone, the settlement contemplates that the member can claim print delivery and the digital access. Even so, opting in early is worthwhile: print delivery does not begin until several weeks after PMC processes the opt-in, and the two-year digital window starts when access is provisioned — so an earlier opt-in means the benefits begin sooner.
How to Opt In
Opting in is straightforward, and only three pieces of information are required — your name, mailing address, and email address. Submit the online opt-in form at the official portal, subscribe.rollingstone.com (Krivin opt-in form). The form captures your name, mailing address, and email address, then submits the request directly to PMC for processing. No subscription receipts, payment records, or other documentation are required; PMC verifies class membership against its existing subscriber records. Benefits are issued only after the court grants final approval.Key Dates
• Preliminary Approval: Granted April 27, 2026• Opt-In Deadline: None — opt-ins are accepted before and after final approval
• Opt-Out Deadline: June 26, 2026 (now passed)
• Objection Deadline: July 11, 2026 (now passed)
• Final-Approval Hearing: August 7, 2026, before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California — benefits are distributed only after the court approves the settlement and any appeals are resolved
What Happens If I Do Nothing?
If you do nothing, you remain in the class and will be bound by the settlement if the court approves it, but you will not receive any benefits. You will also give up your right to sue PMC and its affiliates for the legal claims released by the settlement. Because opting in requires only three pieces of information and no documentation, most lifetime subscribers who want the print magazine restored will want to submit an opt-in rather than do nothing.Case Information
• Caption: Krivin v. Penske Media Corporation• Case No.: 2:25-cv-05803
• Court: U.S. District Court, Central District of California
• Defendant: Penske Media Corporation (parent company of Rolling Stone)
• Claims: Breach of contract and California Consumers Legal Remedies Act (alleged; PMC denies wrongdoing)
• Benefit: Restored print delivery plus two years of free RollingStone.com access (non-cash)
Official Settlement Notice
Sources
- Official Opt-In Portal — Krivin v. Rolling Stone Opt-In Form
- Official Settlement Notice (PDF) — Class Notice
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California — Krivin v. Penske Media Corporation, No. 2:25-cv-05803
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Settlement Benefit
Restored print + 2 years free RollingStone.com (non-cash)
Case Title
Krivin v. Penske Media Corporation
Case Number
2:25-cv-05803
Court
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Defendant
Penske Media Corporation (parent of Rolling Stone)
Preliminary Approval
Granted April 27, 2026
Final-Approval Hearing
August 7, 2026
Opt-In Deadline
None — open through final approval
Proof: name, mailing address, and email only
Official Website
Rolling Stone Opt-In Portal
