18 Aug 2000 |

Dance Titles Keep Music Sector’s Head Above Water

The latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulation’s (ABC) show a little improvement for consumer music magazines. Year on year the sector fell only 0.5%, an improvement from the 9.8% drop in the previous report. However, the main publishing companies yet again showed drops in circulation with Emap’s Sky the greatest casualty, falling 46.3% in a year on year analysis.

More encouraging performance’s came from Mixmag and Mojo which again recorded respective rises of 43.2% and 8.8%. In contrast IPC stablemates NME and Melody Maker fell again by 16% and 5.5%.

Future Publishing’s music title Hip Hop Connection was the best performer, recording a year on year rise in circulation of 66.8%, a huge increase from the 20% drop in circulation shown in the Jul-Dec 99 ABC report. The other Future titles on this list incurred significant losses, however, Metal Hammer falling 17% and Total Guitar tumbling 23% and this pattern is mirrored across other publishers within the sector.

In conclusion it appears to have been a very difficult period yet again for consumer music titles, with more falls in circulation effecting the main publishing companies yet again. Unfortunately the few impressive rises for certain titles are outshone by the overall falls within the sector.

Music Magazines Jan-Jun 2000 ABC’s YoY Comparisons
Title	Publisher	Jan 99 – Jun 99	Jan 00 – Jun 00	Actual Change	% Ch
Face	Emap	57,703	65,309	7,606	13.2
Hip Hop Connection	Future	7,407	12,358	4,951	66.8
Kerrang	EMAP	41,080	45,342	4,262	10.4
Melody Maker	IPC	34,068	32,206	-1,862	-5.5
Metal Hammer	Future	39,485	32,900	-6,585	-16.7
Ministry	Ministry of Sound	80,476	95,088	14,612	18.2
Mixmag	EMAP	67,274	96,483	29,209	43.4
Mojo	EMAP	75,150	81,800	6,650	8.8
Muzik	IPC	43,501	40,097	-3,404	-7.8
New Musical Express	IPC	90,763	76,215	-14,548	-16.0
Q	EMAP	204,516	196,099	-8,417	-4.1
Select	EMAP	58,234	50,534	-7,700	-13.2
Sky Magazine	EMAP	113,702	61,030	-52,672	-46.3
Smash Hits	EMAP	230,764	250,388	19,624	8.5
Top Of The Pops	BBC Magazines	385,441	389,245	3,804	1.0
Total Guitar	Future	40,705	31,516	-9,189	-22.6
Uncut	IPC	44,514	50,901	6,387	14.3
Total		1,614,783	1,607,511	-7,272	-0.5

Music Magazine Market Share By Publishing Company
Publishing Company	Jan 00-Jun 00
BBC	389,245	24.21
Emap	846,985	52.69
IPC Media Ltd	199,419	12.41
Ministry Newco Ltd	95,088	5.92
The Future Network Plc.	76,774	4.78
Total	1,607,511	100.00