How financially successful is the UK magazine sector of the UK publishing industry? Conclusion The magazine sector is a very large consumer market, with estimated turnover values in 2014 to be £10.2 billion. Although critics believe and statistics suggest that the magazine industry is decreasing in its size, there is still a great demand for magazines with an average of 72% of adults in the UK consuming magazines in either print or digital format. The 2016 statistics show the retail sales value of magazines topped £268 million, with 285 new magazine launching in just the previous year. However although the magazine industry is still profiting there has been a significant drop in sales since 2014. According to statistics published by the Guardian, Britain's consumer magazines lost nearly 1 million print sales in the first half of the year. In the first four months of 2014 paid for weekly and monthly magazines fell 4.4% compared with the previous six months as the battle with free online media forms began to win. Even supposedly iconic magazine names such as the 62 year old New Musical Express were far from untouchable as its weekly release fell to 14,000 copies, down 28% from a year ago. To conclude, at this current time the UK magazine sector is financially successful but there needs to be an emphasis on audience contribution to ensure that what is published is interesting to the decreasing audience. As magazines continue to become more expensive to counteract not only decreasing sales but increasing production costs, the consumer is not interested in boring content that is not worth paying for. As well as rising prices the average age of magazine consumer is also rising. Folio reported in the fall of 2008 that the median age of magazine readers was 45.1 – up from 44.8 in 2007. from this information we can suggest that eventually magazine readers will become to old to purchase magazines or will die, this could then see the fall of magazines as they become financially Unattainable to carry on producing. 72% of the UK’s Adults (15+) consume magazines in either print or digital format. Downward trend of magazine sales In 2016 Readers Digest released statistics to conclude that sales of their monthly magazine were down 38% to 133,496 sales.

Which companies dominate the UK magazine industry? Consumer Magazines Consumer magazines make up the majority of the magazines for sale in newsagents and shops. There are about 2,800 UK consumer magazines. The biggest consumer magazine publishers (by newsagent sales revenue): Bauer (which took over the 2nd largest group, Emap, in 2008): 26% IPC (Time Warner): 20% BBC Magazines (BBC): 8% National Magazines (Hearst): 7% Bauer Media Group is a European- based media company in charge of more than 600 magazines. It began its life in Germany shortly after moving to the UK in 1987. The annual turnover of this company is almost £2 billion. TimeWarner is an international media conglomerate with its headquarters in New York city. According to statistics on their website globally consumers interact with one of TimeWarner’s brands a quarter of a billion times a year.

How are magazines distributed in the UK? Conclusion The majority of magazines are produced in the UK with large distribution networks. Companies such as ‘Frontline’ and ‘Seymour’ specialise in the distribution of magazines. 90% of magazines sold in the UK are from news agents or supermarkets, this type of distribution is a lot easier to achieve as the magazine can be sent in bulk to shops to sell compared to shipping individual magazines to subscription holders. Placing magazines in supermarkets also increases the chance of magazines being sold as it is on display for everyone to see who comes into the shop.

Which company/ companies own and distribute the magazines that you consume? Conclusion There is many different companies that are in charge of the production and distribution of magazines. The outsourcing of distribution ensures that the best quality service can be achieved without the magazine company having to try and gain knowledge on the best production methods and how to distribute magazines. There are three main national distributors remaining in the UK. These distributers are CMG, Time INC. Retail and Curtis Circulation Company, represent publishers who produce over 90 percent of newsstand sales.

How has digital technology affected magazine production and distribution? Conclusion Digital technology has had a major effect on the magazine industry from the design of magazine layouts to the rapid production of coloured copies of magazines. There has been a lot of advantages in the advances of technology in the design of magazines. Technology has given the magazine design sector the ability to make magazines containing higher quality pictures and layouts that help to attract readers to purchase it. Technology has also been an advantage in the production of magazines. Now there is fast production equipment that can print in great quality as well as at a high speed to ensure magazine production is as quick as possible ensuring that the stock can reach shelves quickly and on time. However technology has also been a great hindrance in the magazine industry because now technology is so widely available with access to the internet there is becoming not as much need for magazines when there is a lot of free content available online. In 2011 Steve Jobs announced sales of 9.25 million ipads. This has given the magazine industry a lot of competition as the ipads are a similar size to magazines but with almost 100% more capability. Magazines however did attempt to overcome this issue by uploading content online so consumers can purchase it that way instead. This would help to enhance there audience reach and also bring their distribution costs down. However at the moment 90% of magazine are still bought from newsagents or supermarkets. In 2011 there was 9.25 million ipads sold!

Which company would be most likely to own/ distribute your magazine? Conclusion The magazine I would like to produce is an outdoor magazine. There would not be as big an audience reach as other topics of magazines. A small independent magazine agency would be more likely to own my magazine as it would be more a specific market which bigger agencies would not be interested in as the profit margins would be a lot smaller. Again the distributer would probably be more of an independent distributer with an national distribution network but not with a lot of big magazine in its production as again large distribution ccompanies would not be interested in small quantity orders.