ABC Results Jan-Jun 2004: Glamour Becomes Top Monthly Magazine

The figures listed in NewsLine’s ABC reports are those reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) as at Thursday 12 August 2004. Late submissions and changes may be made after this date, and will thereafter be amended in MediaTel’s Press database. For full notes on how NewsLine’s reports are compiled please see NewsLine.

Condé Nast’s Glamour continues to go from strength to strength in the women’s monthly magazine market with a healthy 5% year on year rise in circulation, according to the latest consumer ABC results for the six months to June 2004.

This increase helped the handbag-sized glossy overtake FHM to become the UK’s best selling monthly consumer magazine, with a circulation just over the coveted 600,000 mark. The fledgling fashion and beauty title continues to cast its shadow over the sector with a handful of its main rivals now also available in a compact size and at a lower price.

National Magazine Company’s Cosmopolitan saw its circulation remain fairly stable with a slight 1.2% year on year decline to just below the 450,000 mark. The title recently appointed a new editor and is planning a major advertising push to strengthen its position in the sector (see Cosmopolitan Appoints Former Company Girl As New Editor).

Elsewhere, increasing pressure in the sector recently forced IPC to pull the plug on 19, its glossy title for younger women aged between 15 and 24. Hachette Filipacchi’s B, which targets a similar audience with a focus on fashion, celebrities and relationships, also appears to be struggling with circulation dipping by 22.5% year on year to 128,169.

Things were slightly more positive for IPC’s Marie Claire, which saw circulation rise by 1.1% year on year to 380,760 ahead of an extensive relaunch designed to entice new readers. Rival fashion-focused Elle also performed well with copy sales inching up by 0.3% during the same period to 201,469.

There was also good news for titles targeting older, thirty-something women and BBC’s Eve recorded a solid 14.4% year on year increase in the first half of this year to 150,069. Time Life Entertainment’s InStyle saw circulation improve by 6.1% to 190,102 and Hachette Filipacchi’s Red rose by 3.9% year on year to just under the 200,000 mark.

Emap’s Yours saw its popularity amongst older readers increase in the six months to June, with circulation climbing 7.1% higher to 413,855. IPC’s Woman & Home also strengthened its grip on the over forties with a healthy 7.3% year on year rise in sales to 303,701.

Meanwhile, H Bauer’s recently launched Spirit & Destiny appears to be finding a place for its self in the increasingly competitive women’s monthlies market. The title, which blends fashion, beauty and health with features on astrology and holistic therapies, saw circulation rise by 6.8% year on year to 80,826.

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