Consumer Mag Launches Up Year On Year

The number of new consumer magazines launched in the first four months of this year saw a year on year increase, despite widespread fears of an ad revenue downturn and saturation of the magazine market (see Feature: Has The Consumer Magazine Industry Reached Saturation Point?). Figures released by the Periodical Publishers’ Association (PPA) from Seymour Distribution’s Monthly Monitor showed that between January and April the number of regular frequency launches was 137, compared to 88 for the same period last year.

March saw the highest number of launches for two years, with 66 new titles hitting the stands. Despite being perhaps the largest existing market, the ranks of women’s interest titles had been swelled by a further 20 launches by April, compared to just five for the same period in 2000. However, while the PPA claims the new number of launches outweighs the closures, it admits that the profile of the closures has been high in some cases.

The comics and teenage market has also seen a boom time at the start of this year, with 31 launches, compared to 18 last year. This week came news that another offering is setting out to capture the youth market, with Paragon’s launch of Gear. Aimed at 16 year old boys, the £2.99 monthly will go on sale on 28 June with editorial based around products such as sports clothing and equipment, computer gaming systems and music.

Paragon: 01202 299 900 www.paragon.co.uk PPA: 020 7404 4166 www.ppa.co.uk

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