This month the latest release of NRS PADD* shows that print continues to play a key role in growing audience reach for publishers, with nearly half of the monthly magazines produced by Magnetic members having recorded year-on-year readership increases.

The performance builds on recent reports by Magnetic which highlights the growth that magazine media are enjoying with their own digital channels, as well as the impressive 133 million followers they’ve built up on social media.

It’s worth noting that titles which grew their monthly readership, weren’t restricted to certain categories, but instead show a spread that includes fashion, food, home interest, sport, motoring and men’s lifestyle, amongst others.

The top 10 titles with the biggest year-on-year audience growth are:

• Vanity Fair                       +29.1%
• Delicious                          +27.3%
• Country Homes               +22.2%
• Rugby World                   +20.9%
• Esquire                            +19.9%
• Classic Cars                    +19%
• Women’s Health              +13.5%
• BBC History                     +11.4%
• Woman and Home           +10.9%
• Homes & Antiques           +9.5%

The evidence that there remains robust demand for professionally edited and original content in printed titles doesn’t stop here.

Data from Frontline Distribution show that 285 new print titles were launched in the UK in 2015 – a 35 percent increase y-o-y, bringing the total number of consumer magazines to over 3000.

More interestingly, perhaps, is that consumers are directly starting to fund new magazines. Magazine-based projects accounted for 20 percent of the 658 journalism initiatives that reached or exceeded their funding targets on Kickstarter from 2009 to 2015.

Further reading: Mediatel Newsline – NRS PADD: Mobile continues to bolster magazine brands

 

*NRS PADD April 2016 to March 2016