Mediafinder announced that fewer magazines are launching and fewer magazines are folding.
The figures I found most astounding revolved around print launches vs. digital launches. Online propaganda would have you believe digital is the future and print is dead. I mean, the Apple Itunes store has been around for 5 years this week. . . and yet, the figures below tell a much different story of print vs. digital. How print is doing much more than digital in the magazine marketplace.
This is how Adweek summed up the figures:
“Only 97 new print and digital magazines launched in the first half of 2013, down from 133 in the year-ago period, according to figures released today by MediaFinder.com, an online database of U.S. and Canadian publications.”
That’s 97 new print and digital. But later Adweek mentions: “The slowdown in launches extended to digital-only magazines, too. MediaFinder counted 14 digital-only launches in the first half of the year, including ones from Esquire and The Atlantic, versus 19 in the year-ago period. There were two digital-only shutdowns this first half, versus three in the first half of 2012.”
That means that out of the 97 titles launched this first half of 2013 only 14 of them were digital – the remaining 83 were new print publications.
How is your business? Magazine ad sales down? Costs up? Catalog sales struggling?
Having the right team of people with the right skill set, continuing to invest in good vendor partnerships with the right technology, and keeping your sales growing while collections improve matters. These are things that all good companies are focused on.
It’s great to see new magazines and catalogs hit the marketplace. Even better, it’s great to see less closures while we are still challenged in this economy.
But how is your printed product fairing? Are you having less paper usage because you are running on the most efficient equipment available today? Are your products and advertisements crisp and bright? Consistent every print? Getting your print product on time at your office and in people’s homes?
Part of surviving is strong partnerships. Is your printer the best partner? We continue to grow and invest in our people and technology. Even in this tough economy.
Pub Exec. take on the Mediafinder findings here: http://www.pubexec.com/article/magazine-launches-outnumber-closures-first-half-2013/
Adweek’s article here: http://www.adweek.com/news/press/magazine-closures-slow-so-do-launches-151065