Bauer Media, home to the most influential multi-media brands in the UK, today unveils its latest Jan - Dec and Jul - Dec 2008 magazine circulation figures according to the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC).
- CLOSER – regains top spot in celebrity market.
- heat – up on the period with a market-beating performance.
- GRAZIA – outperforms the market with its seventh successive sales increase.
- more! – fastest growing glossy and a 12% increase on the period following relaunch.
- FHM – number one in men’s lifestyle market.
- EMPIRE – fifth consecutive sales increase.
- Q – biggest monthly music title.
- MATCH – beats MotD; TODAY’s GOLFER – number one; ANGLING TIMES – market leader.
- DIGITAL PHOTO and PRACTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY – one and two in the market.
- CAR – up on the period; MCN – market-beating sales; BIKE – market leading monthly. Bauer Media boasts the top four selling motorcycling titles.
Paul Keenan, Chief Executive of Bauer Media, commented:
“It has been a challenging year on the newsstand for all, but our ambition remains the same: to innovate and invest in brands that create a difference for our consumers and clients.
“Producing entertaining, engaging and compelling multi-touchpoint media brands ensures we are always where our consumers are - despite a rapidly changing media marketplace.”
WOMEN’S BRANDS
Celebrity Weeklies CLOSER with 539,991 and heat with 470,475 have both produced market-beating increases on the period and together sell over one million copies a week.
CLOSER is the top-selling celebrity title, while heat has broadened its audience reach on line and on air with the success of heatworld and heat Radio.
David Davies, MD of heat, commented:
“Closer and heat continue to stand out as benchmark brands in a celebrity weekly market fraught with confusion. The success of Closer and heat can be attributed to their unrivalled strength in editorial which drives huge reader loyalty.”
GRAZIA, recognised and rewarded by the PPA in 2008 as the “Media Icon of our Age”, recorded its seventh consecutive increase with sales of 227,167 every week.
GRAZIA has become the best-selling, most talked about premium fashion glossy since it launched exactly four years ago crucially providing a distinct point of difference to the likes of VOGUE and ELLE for advertisers who want to target upscale fashion-focussed 30-something women on a more frequent basis. The launch of graziadaily.com last September has added a powerful new route to connect with Grazia fans and enhance the timeliness of its content.
David Davies, MD of GRAZIA, commented:
“Grazia’s unique and winning combination of quality fashion content and a weekly news frequency ensures that it continues to create a real difference in the market – for our readers and advertisers alike.”
more! has posted a stunning double digit increase in circulation to 181,260 following a successful relaunch last September, making it the fastest growing women’s magazine in the market.
Jo Morrell, Acting MD of More, commented:
"more!’s circulation is a true reflection of a return to form for the magazine. Soon to celebrate its 21st birthday, more! is still one of the most influential and adventurous titles on the newsstand.”
YOURS, Bauer Media’s lifestyle brand for 50+ women, has been a huge success since it increased frequency from monthly to fortnightly in January ’07.
YOURS’ sales of 307,064 reflect the high levels of loyalty amongst its readers - as underlined by its outstanding subscription figures.
Jo Morrell, Acting MD of Yours, commented:
“YOURS operates across the challenging markets of traditional weeklies and the maturity market, but remains firmly positioned as the most relevant and best value magazine for women aged 50+.”
Health, beauty and fitness brand TOP SANTE posted sales of 74,007 ahead of plans to reposition the title as a mainstream health magazine for 40-something women, and refocus the editorial on health, wellbeing, nutrition and beauty under new editor Sharon Parsons.
Jo Morrell, Acting MD of TOP SANTE, commented:
“TOP SANTE is one of the most famous wellbeing brands on offer and now is the time, under a new editor in Sharon Parsons, to refocus the brand and deliver strong, 21st century health and content that inspires readers to live, look and feel better.”
MOTHER & BABY (51,229) and PREGNANCY & BIRTH (33,327) combined dominate the Parenting market with a 52% share of the market, and are increasing their footprint with askamum.co.uk and a 15-strong, and growing, international portfolio.
MEN’S BRANDS
Bauer Media continues to dominate the sector with a market-leading portfolio of men’s lifestyle brands that boasts a third of all men's magazine sales in the UK.
With sales of 272,545 FHM remains the best-selling men’s lifestyle magazine in the UK, outselling LOADED, MAXIM, and GQ combined (266,116). Proof of its successful repositioning as a broad, ‘premium mainstream’ title, FHM now boasts more AB readers than GQ has total readers, and more AB readers than Men's Health and Esquire combined (Source: NRS Sep 08).
FHM is uncontested as the most complete and creative multi-platform lifestyle brand engaging with young men whenever, wherever and however they want.
The recent relaunch of FHM.com unveiled a new-look site, with a host of exciting new features. Putting the user at the heart of the content, the site has improved navigation, functionality and brand new content channels which have been well received by users and advertisers.
FHM BIONIC, a new health and fitness magazine, went on sale at the end of 2008 with a wealth of news, features and advice aimed at FHM's broad readership of active young men.
FHM now numbers 30 international editions across the globe with more scheduled to launch in the next year and was awarded the trophy for International Magazine of the Year at the PPA Awards in 2008.
Maintaining its market share, ZOO has posted sales of 145,555 and continues to entertain hundreds of thousands of young men each week with its weekly formula of News, Sport, Gags and Girls in print, online and on mobile.
With an ABC of 29,374 and an expanding international portfolio, ARENA’s heritage as the UK’s original men’s style magazine resonates with its affluent male audience and with premium advertisers around the world.
Geoff Campbell, MD of Bauer Men’s Lifestyle Brand’s commented:
“FHM’s leadership in this market is reflected in its growing multi-platform footprint and is a result of our ongoing investment in and commitment to producing the most exciting and engaging content in print and online.
“With ZOO’s brilliant weekly formula of funny, topical editorial and ARENA’s intelligent, discerning and style-leading content no other media group can deliver the reach, frequency, and segmentation of our brands to influence 18-34 year old men.”
FILM & MUSIC BRANDS
The world’s biggest-selling film magazine EMPIRE has posted sales up for the fifth consecutive period to 189,619.
This month, the EMPIRE team, led by Editor Mark Dinning, will be relocating to LA to produce the 20th anniversary issue with guest editor Steven Spielberg.
Q retains its pre-eminent position as the number one music monthly brand in the UK and across Europe with a circulation of 103,017.
A striking and comprehensive redesign in October brought new editorial content, columnists, photographers and world exclusive interviews with U2, AC/DC and the Kings of Leon. This new content has complimented the rest of Q’s digital offering - such as qthemusic.com, Q’s music tv station and Q Radio.
MOJO is second only to stablemate Q in the sector with sales of 100,507. Combined Q and MOJO deliver a 37% share of the monthly music market.
MOJO consistently delivers a depth and quality of journalism and iconic photography to music fans of all ages, alongside mojo4music.com.
KERRANG! remains the market-leading music weekly with a devoted audience of rock fans driving sales of 52,272 with a strong online, TV and Radio presence. KERRANG! remains a flagship 360 brand recently hosting a sell-out 16 date tour of the UK.
Stuart Williams, MD of EMPIRE, Q, MOJO and KERRANG!, commented:
"EMPIRE, Q, MOJO and KERRANG! are true entertainment brands, connecting and engaging with their consumers via a range of multiplatform possibilities and choices.
“The year ahead promises to be a hugely exciting one - particularly for EMPIRE and the team. There is no better illustration of its commercial and critical success than to have secured the editorial services of Steven Spielberg for the 20th birthday issue.”
SPORT
MATCH! has emphatically confirmed its dominance of the weekly football market, breaking the 100k barrier to report a JanDec08 circulation of 100,007, a remarkable result given the head-to-head launch of BBC’s Match of the Day in March 2008.
Steve Prentice, Managing Director, Sport, commented:
“The increased competition last year has served to make MATCH! even stronger. We have refreshed MATCH! editorially, and it continues to be the brand that is closest to the stars of football with the best news and scoops.”
TODAY’s GOLFER, which underwent a major re-launch with the June 2008 issue, has retained its number one position in the competitive Golf market with a strong period performance of 81,862. A recently modernised GOLF WORLD is reaping the rewards of an editorial overhaul with a significant increase in circulation on the year and period to 35,787.
Flagship weekly ANGLING TIMES, with its 55 year heritage, was reinvented and brought bang up-to-date last year, and has been rewarded with a market-leading performance of 51,114 (JanDec08).
PHOTOGRAPHY
DIGITAL PHOTO remains the number one monthly title by a large margin, leading the market with its inspiring tuition with sales of 68,687. PRACTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY remains second only to stablemate DIGITAL PHOTO at 56,003. (both JanDec08)
Rob Croxall, Managing Director, Leisure & Technology commented:
“We’ve already seen consolidation in the photography market during the second half of 2008, and this can only be a good thing for DIGITAL PHOTO and PRACTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY, which are the biggest brands, and the ones that the target audience know and trust.”
MOTORING
In motorcycling, Bauer Media’s weekly Motor Cycle News (MCN) exceeded the market with sales of 120,002. (JanDec08). Bauer Media boasts the UK's top 4 selling motorcycle publications.
BIKE remains the quality, market-leading monthly by over 30,000 copies with sales of 74,339. CLASSIC BIKE delivered an outstanding performance of 40, 647 with its leading edge design and innovative editorial. Elsewhere in the extensive Bauer Media Bike portfolio, RiDe reported 45,844 and PERFORMANCE BIKES sales of 24,694. (All JanDec08)
In Motoring, CAR reported a strong circulation up on the period to 72,536. The CAR brand continues to grow and evolve globally, with 15 international editions and a substantive web presence at www.carmagazine.co.uk
CLASSIC CARS reaped the rewards of a fundamental, value added re-launch last September, and widened the gap over its closest competitor, with an increase on the period to 37,091. PRACTICAL CLASSICS continues to lead the way for hands-on enthusiasts, with a newly bolstered editorial team, also performed well with sales of 57,758. LAND ROVER OWNER still commands over 50% market share of newsstand, with sales of 40,003 soon to be reinforced by two major Land Rover Owner shows planned for 2009.
MAX POWER has gone back to what it does best, putting itself at the heart of the core UK modifying scene, and regaining share in a contracting market, reporting an average circulation of 30,076. (JanDec08)
Ed Kenyon, Managing Director, Motoring commented:
"The motoring category has been a tough battleground in the second half of 2008, yet Bauer's motoring titles continue to do well. Car and Classic Cars are rightly proud of strong period-on-period increases thanks to editorial innovation and targeted investment, while Practical Classics' consistency really stands out. Land Rover Owner's dominance of its sector continues despite challenging wider market conditions for 4x4s and Max Power has transformed itself editorially in the past six months to deliver a consistent product for the core market - which is what advertisers want."
Rob Munro-Hall, Group Managing Director, Bauer Media Specialist added:
“It is rewarding to see that during this ABC period so many of our brands have retained and grown their market leading status. We will continue to re-energise our brands during 2009, with several of our iconic titles including MCN and Car already lined up for re-launches.”
All ABCs cover the period JulDec08 unless singled out as JanDec08
For further information:
Download ABC data in PDF
WOMEN’s, MEN’s, MUSIC & FILM BRANDS:
Sarah Ewing
020 7859 8411
07740 110 788
sarah.ewing@bauermedia.co.uk
SPORT, MOTORING, LEISURE INTEREST BRANDS
Genevieve Potter
01733 468524
genevieve.potter@bauermedia.co.uk
Bauer Media's portfolio of over 80 influential media brands connect over nineteen million UK adults with excellent content whenever, wherever and however they want. Our award-winning brands include heat, Closer, GRAZIA, Magic 105.4, Kiss, Q, KERRANG!, PARKER'S, MATCH!, MCN and FHM: all delivering must-have entertainment and information to diverse and valuable audiences. Our unique insight into the markets and consumers we serve allows us to work closely with our clients to develop innovative solutions that create a difference to their business.
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