From the 'painfully obvious' files comes this bit of news: 11-year-olds may love Justin Bieber, but they do not buy Vanity Fair magazine. Some kind soul should have whispered this blatant fact into their editor-in-chief's ear before VF went to print with a lipstick-smothered Bieber on their February cover. That issue is now on track to become the worst-selling Vanity Fair issue in 12 years. Yep, 12 years! Heads will roll, if they haven't already. Clearly, Bieber can do a lot of things, but selling magazines for grown ups is not one of them.

According to reports - Bieber is one of three cover models in the last 20 years that bombed a Vanity Fair issue so convincingly. Curious? Back in 1993, Harrison Ford sold only 243,000 copies. Surprising, I know. In 1999, Will Smith atop a black stallion sold only 202,701. So Bieber, whose issue has sold a mere 246,000 copies, isn't alone in lowered expectations. But Bieber does have a unique ability to sink an issue that doesn't have the words "Tiger" and "Beat" in the title. His People and Teen Vogue issues also did poorly.

But I don't think this proves Bieber isn't popular. Here's my personal theory. True J-Biebs fans are being raised in the digital age. They would be loath to actually *gasp* PAY for info on their teen idol when Bieber's Twitter, Youtube Channel, Funny or Die skits and attendant drooling fansites are all FREE. Adults are the suckers here, while Beliebers have better things to do with their money. Like going to see his movie Never Say Never for the 11th time.