Magazine launches down in Q 1, ’07
April 4, 2007
Rocket, Sewstylish, Saphir, Urban Ink, Barbie, First Home, and Seven are but seven (no pun intended) new titles from a total of 145 new magazines introduced to the American magazine scene in the first quarter of 2007. This is a drop of 47 titles from 2006. The first quarter of 2006 witnessed the introduction of 192 new magazines. Another major drop was the number of titles published four times or more in the first quarter of this year. Only 50 magazines were launched with the intention to be published at least four times a year compared with 72 in 2006. There were fewer annuals, 10 compared to 20 last year and fewer specials, 77 compared to 93. For a complete list of all the titles launched in the first three months of 2007 click here. So what do those numbers mean? Not much. Since I have started tracking new magazine launches, I have witnessed a two or three years’ declines after a very healthy and busy year. In 2005 we have seen 1013 new launches, the number dropped to 901 last year, and if the trend of the previous years continues, we will see another drop again this year before the numbers bounce back. Call it market correction if you please, but definitely it is NOT a sign that print is on its way out. History will tell us otherwise. So enjoy this quarter’s crop and look forward to more titles to come next month.
Mr. Magazine 
the link to the complete list isn’t working. neat web site.
JR
it is working from my computer on Firefox…but here is the link just in case…
Samir
http://www.mrmagazine.com/newtitles.html
I agree with you, imagine that.
This is nowhere near the end of the printed magazine, nor a permanent new trend, just a temporary re-adjustment.
The shift to new publishing paradigms does not in itself suggest that fewer Publications will make their way onto the printing press. In fact, I think that the new publishing technologies and models are helping traditional publishers and printers become more efficient and productive. It might even lead to more magazines, but with much shorter press runs than in the past, and with a more passionate audience… the readers of special interest titles.
But it is also the end to the Status Quo. Publishing has a way of continuing to change and morph. The digital distribution platform is proof of the that.
We observe the same trend in France. According to our database (which includes all kind of print, dailies and magazines, free or paying) : first quarter 2007 vs 2006 : minus 25% (the decrease started in 2006 : 775 vs 922). It seems to be partly compensated by the increasing number of Spécial issues (hors series).
Is this Barbie magazine available in India ? If yes how to subscribe ?