January To June ABCs – Music Sector
The latest ABC figures show strong growth amongst the teenage pop magazines, with Top Of The Pops magazine sustaining an impressive 119% growth, an actual increase of 229,453 copies. Smash Hits follows suit, with an increase of 89% raising its circulation by 181,220.
Traditional rivals NME and Melody Maker have both experienced a drop in actual change of similar proportions. NME has lost 8% of its circulation, an actual change of 10,459, with Melody Maker witnessing a drop of 10,085 copies; a slightly more serious blow of -18.24% to its score.
Out of the specialist dance magazines, Mixmag has achieved the best growth, with a percentage increase of 8.13, or an actual increase of 6,529. AOR market leader Q has suffered a drop of 12.65% bringing its actual figure down to 187,862. Bad news for Select, as it experiences a 25% drop, bringing its actual figure down to 78,640
| Title | Jan 96 – Jun 96 | Jan 97 – Jun 97 | Actual Change | % Change |
| Classic FM – The Magazine | 38,949 | 39,072 | 123 | 0.32 |
| Future Music | 23,320 | 28,501 | 5,181 | 22.22 |
| Hip Hop Connection | n/a | 12,132 | n/a | n/a |
| Kerrang | 43,163 | 40,428 | -2,735 | -6.34 |
| Melody Maker | 55,288 | 45,203 | -10,085 | -18.24 |
| Metal Hammer | 31,436 | 35,849 | 4,413 | 14.04 |
| Mixmag | 80,280 | 86,809 | 6,529 | 8.13 |
| Mojo | 59,306 | 65,458 | 6,152 | 10.37 |
| Muzik | 45,236 | 38,786 | -6,450 | -14.26 |
| New Musical Express | 117,251 | 106,792 | -10,459 | -8.92 |
| Q | 215,057 | 187,862 | -27,195 | -12.65 |
| Select | 105,128 | 78,640 | -26,488 | -25.2 |
| Smash Hits | 202,202 | 383,422 | 181,220 | 89.62 |
| Top Of The Pops | 192,674 | 422,127 | 229,453 | 119.09 |
| Total Guitar | 32,456 | 44,436 | 11,980 | 36.91 |
| Vox | 88,679 | 66,956 | -21,723 | -24.5 |
