An analysis of PIB-measured magazines for print versions only shows that consumer magazines’ print ad revenue inched up by 1% year-over-year during 2013 despite a 4% drop in ad pages. The data, reported by the Association of Magazine Media (MPA), indicates that the results are an improvement from 2012, when revenues dropped by 3% and ad pages were down 8%. And an apples-to-apples comparison of print magazines with full-year data for both periods shows ad revenue increasing by 3%.
The MPA also cites SMI Dataminer data showing that agency spending on print magazines had grown by 9% through November 2013, a growth rate outstripping other traditional media such as TV (3%), newspapers (3%), radio (2%) and out-of-home (2%). While Kantar Media’s figures through Q3 2013 show significantly different spending trends for those other traditional media, they do indicate an increase in magazine ad spend.
Other Findings:
- Magazine media advertising’s “footprint” across print pages and tablet units increased by 5% in 2013, fueled by a double-digit increase in tablet units.
- Print ad pages were down by 4.9% during Q4 2013, while revenues were essentially flat (-0.2%).