Consumer ABCs January – June 2017: Round-up
As the latest ABC circulation figures are released for the consumer magazine market, Newsline presents its round-up of the results. Click on the links to view the full analysis for each market, which also includes league tables and charts for Mediatel subscribers.
Women’s Lifestyle
Look’s circulation declined by more than a third (-34.2%) between January and June 2017 and -35.4% year-on-year – the biggest declines by a long way in the women’s lifestyle market.
The Time Inc UK-owned title now has a circulation of just 59,400.
By comparison, freebie John Lewis Edition leads the market with a circulation of almost 487,100. The title was up by 6.5% period-on-period and 2.3% YoY.
Conde Nast’s Glamour also performed well over the period with a 5.8% increase taking its circulation to 275,500. However, the title was down by -8.2% YoY.
Men’s Lifestyle
Following a reasonably buoyant 2016, the men’s lifestyle market – despite a series of declines between January and June 2017 – is still fairly stable and most titles have healthy circulations.
Freebie Shortlist sits at the top of the rankings with a (print-only) circulation of more than 503,000 and was only down -0.3% period-on-period and almost -0.6% year-on-year, proving that the hand-me-out distribution model has legs.
In second place is Hearst-Rodale’s Men’s Health, down -4% PoP and -3% YoY with a print and digital circulation of 174,700, followed by Conde Nast’s GQ which was only down -1.3% PoP and -2.6% over the year. The publication now has a print and digital circulation of just over 114,000.
Women’s Weeklies
H Bauer Publishing’s Take A Break Series – the publisher’s special editions – shone out in an otherwise sad and struggling women’s weekly market for the January to June 2017 period, with an 11.8% yearly increase in circulation.
The special editions were also down by just -2.9% period-on-period (PoP) – one of the smallest declines in a loss-heavy market (the regular Take a Break magazine suffered with the rest and was down -5% PoP and -8.4% YoY).
Meanwhile, in a sign that people still Love It! (sort of), ACH Publishing’s Love It! – although at the bottom of the table with a circulation of around 82,800 – was the only title in the weekly market to post both period and yearly increases in circulation, up 0.1% and 3.5%, respectively.
Unfortunately, there is little positive news to report elsewhere, with the majority of titles continuing to post declines – many of them steep – in circulation.
News & Current Affairs
While Private Eye’s circulation decreased by a small -0.11% period-on-period, the title was up a healthy 8.6% year-on-year to 249,900.
However, it was Prospect that really stood out in the January to June 2017 period, with circulation up an impressive 36.2% PoP and 37.2% YoY.
The Economist’s UK edition also performed well, up 5.3% PoP and 5% YoY, with circulation tailing Private Eye at 248,200.
TV Listings
Although the TV Listings magazine market is in decline, the top performing titles still pack a punch.
H Bauer’s TV Choice remains king with a solid circulation – entirely in print, like the majority of the market – of 1.2 million. The title was down only -1.5% period on period and -2.6% year-on-year.
In second place is What’s on TV from Time Inc with a circulation of 885,600 (down -6.3% both PoP and YoY), followed by Immediate Media’s Radio Times with a circulation of 622,800 (down -9.1 PoP and -6.8% YoY).
Home Interest
Although the majority of titles in the Home Interest market recorded declines year-on-year, the picture over the first half of the year was fairly stable.
Hearst’s Country Living is currently in the top spot with a print and digital circulation of 187,400 – a drop of only -0.8% period-on-period. The title was up a healthy 3.6% year-on-year.
In second place is Ideal Home from publisher Time Inc with a combined print and digital circulation of just over 162,110. The magazine brand was up 2.3% between January and June 2017, but took a -9.5% tumble year-on-year.