ABC Results Jul-Dec 2004: Metal Hammer Rises On Rock Resurgence
The figures listed in NewsLine’s ABC reports are those reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) as at Thursday 17 February 2005. 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.
Rock music came out on top in the latest ABCs, with Future Publishing’s Metal Hammer leading the market with a massive 30.9% year on year increase in circulation figures, giving the publication a total of 38,313 in the last six months of 2004.
Weekly rock magazine Kerrang! slipped by 10.7%, giving the Emap-owned title a 61,844 circulation for the same period.
Meanwhile, Q magazine retained its position as market leader, reaping the benefits of a revamp last August. The success in the redesign is reflected in the titles circulation of 162,574, a 0.6% increase year on year.
Commenting on Q magazine Marcus Rich, managing director of Emap Performance said: “Q is the undisputed king in the world of music monthlies. We said at the last ABC release that our redesign would increase sales and this is what we have done. People are now more obsessed with music than ever. Downloading, blog sites, digital radio and so on are fuelling this consumption and Q has been retuned to navigate music lovers through this brave new world.”
Mojo also reported a significant rise in circulation, hitting 111,815 and revealing a 7.1% rise on the year.
Elsewhere, clubbing and dance magazine, Mixmag recorded a circulation of 46,162, an 8% drop year on year, reflecting an increasingly tough audience as dance music slips in popularity.
NMElost out in the weekly market, reporting a 3.5% decline in circulation, totalling 70,017 at the end of the measured six month period, but remained the best selling weekly music title, with a circulation nearly 9,000 higher than Kerrang!.
| Music Magazines: Jul-Dec 2004 Year On Year Comparisons | |||||
| Title | Publisher | Jul-Dec 03 | Jul-Dec 04 | Actual Change | % Ch |
| Classic Rock | Future Publishing | 40,347 | 42,030 | 1,683 | 4.2 |
| Kerrang! | Emap Performance | 69,261 | 61,844 | -7,417 | -10.7 |
| Metal Hammer | Future Publishing | 29,274 | 38,313 | 9,039 | 30.9 |
| Mixmag | Emap Performance | 50,182 | 46,162 | -4,020 | -8.0 |
| Mojo | Emap Performance | 104,437 | 111,815 | 7,378 | 7.1 |
| NME | IPC Ignite | 72,557 | 70,017 | -2,540 | -3.5 |
| Q | Emap Performance | 161,634 | 162,574 | 940 | 0.6 |
| Rock Sound | IXO Publishing | 22,038 | 22,014 | -24 | -0.1 |
| Uncut | IPC Ignite | 111,167 | 114,034 | 2,867 | 2.6 |
| Total | 660,897 | 668,803 | 7,906 | 1.2 | |
ABC: 01442 200 732 www.abc.org.uk
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