There was an incredible buzz in the office last week, caused by the release of the biannual ABC CCR report. Produced in February and August, this document provides the circulation figures of consumer magazines and reveals the true breadth and depth of the market.
Despite the recession, it seems that one of the things consumers are not ready to give up just yet is their weekly or monthly fix of their favourite titles. Magazines are considered by many as an inexpensive luxury, which can bring a little light-hearted relief to everyday life. As such, six of the top 10 market sectors have shown growth, according to the report.
Even before the report was released, the CCR was making headlines, as the publisher of CondeNast’s Vogue accused NatMags of using multipacks as a way of even though it is a perfectly legitimate marketing tool
In terms of circulation trends, satirical magazine Private Eye saw a year-on-year circulation increase of 3.4 per cent, taking sales to more than 210,000 for the first time since 1992. However, we were more impressed with Private Eye editor Ian Hislop’s quip: “The Eye’s circulation figures are like John Terry’s shorts. In the past they may have been down – but now they are firmly up again.”
Debut circulation of Wired magazine, which launched last April, was 48,275 in the second half of 2009, whilst Sky Magazine retained the highest distribution of any magazine,, mailed to 7,423,570 BSkyB subscribers.
