Magazine ABCs: Top 100 at a glance

View the Top 100 actively purchased magazines and digital editions in the first six months of 2015.

Magazines ABCs: Top 100 at a glance in 2015

The embattled climate for British magazines continued in the first half of 2015, with average circulations falling 5.3 per cent.

In relative terms, the best performing fully paid-for titles were Mega (up 43 per cent to 34,495) and CBeebies Magazine (up 25 per cent to 69,466).

Haymarket's Forever Sports, published under contract for Sports Direct, has stabilised after 45 per cent growth in the last audit to achieve a circulation of 90,539.

Stand-out performers

There were other notable pockets of growth in the print and digital magazines during the January - June 2015 period reported today by the Audited Bureau of Circulations.

In the monthies, Tatler's sales continue to grow following the BBC2 documentary at the end of last year. Since the fly on the wall three part series, the high-society magazine has defied the downward trends to post a 9.5 per cent increase year on year, and an 8.7 per cent lift in purchased copies period on period, to 84,383.

This marks the second ABC period lift since the programme aired. In total, Tatler's UK subscriptions have risen by 18.8 per cent year on year; publishing director, Patricia Stevenson, admits: "Tatler has without question benefited from the increased profile which the BBC documentary".

Speaking to Campaign, Stevenson adds: "Pleasingly these new readers are remaining with us, enjoying the unique mix of glamour, access and humour the magazine offers. "Gratifyingly the Tatler. com audience is also up, with both the new design and content proving very popular. All in all great results all round."

Another title experiencing market beating growth is the satirical news magazine Private Eye. The 5.0 per cent rise year on year to 228,264 represents the best circulation for the fortnightly magazine in almost 30 years. Private Eye’s editor, Ian Hislop, says: "These figures are completely unbelievable. Are they from the Treasury?"

Elsewhere, Radio Times is claiming the crown for being the UK’s "biggest-selling quality magazine", with a weekly print ABC of 712,927. Radio Times is also the UK’s biggest weekly subscription title, with 253,390 subscribers, a 5 per cent year-on-year increase as more than 1 in 3 readers now choose to develop a long term relationship with the title.

The first ever Radio Times Festival is taking place in Hampton Court in September, as the brand continues to engage people in new and exciting ways.

However, H Bauer’s TV listings title, TV Choice, remains the biggest-selling magazine in the UK with a circulation of 1.27 million, extending its lead on Time Inc's What’s on TV with 1.03 million.

In the fashion and beauty sector, In Style rose 2.0 per cent year on year. Marcus Rich, chief executive of Time Inc, says: "This impressive rise is the second annual increase in a row under editor Charlotte Moore and sees the title outperform the market by some way."

Hearst's Good Housekeeping remains the leader of the women’s monthlies with a print circulation of 400,647, followed by Condé Nast's Glamour (366,068) despite six-monthly falls of nearly 4 per cent and 9 per cent respectively.

Digital success

In terms of success with digital editions, The Economist leads the charge, with digital circulation up 22 per cent worldwide over the last six months, and 69 per cent year on year. Total digital circulation now stands at a record 282,829 copies.

Michael Brunt, chief marketing officer at The Economist, says: "Our latest circulation numbers are in line with what we have seen over the last few years – a steady migration to digital. "Whilst the majority of our new customers still choose a subscription that provides both print and digital formats, the number choosing digital-only circulation has grown tremendously.

"This is making our circulation increasingly profitable, as our revenues are increasing and at the same time, our costs are decreasing. We’ve enjoyed the benefits of this trend for some time and it’s a great position to be in."

In the wider marketplace, after several periods of growth - albeit from a low base - 37 of the 90 digital editions audited by ABC for this period, reported falls in digital circulationd from the first half of 2014 as tablet sales slow down and competition increases.

In the celebrity sector, digital sales for Mark Frith's new home, Now, dropped 40.8 per cent to 1,137, accompanied by double-digit falls for rivals Reveal (- 36.8 per cent to 954), OK (-32.5 per cent to 4,998), New (-28.5 per cent to 3,561) and Hello (-27.3 per cent to 4,792).

Other notable drops in digital circulations included Cosmopolitan (- 25.1 per cent to 4,905), Empire (-12.5 per cent to 11,443), Men's Health (-12 per cent to 9,113) and Women's Health (-11.6 per cent to 5,261).

Strong digital performers were Closer (up 93.1 per cent to 2,472) and Heat (up 76 per cent to 2,135). In addition, FHM and Zoo - while experiencing double-digit falls in annual print sales, saw digital circulations increase by 61.4 per cent to 5,486 and 57.1 per cent to 3,214, respectively [see table below].

Freemium continues to grow

It should be noted, not included in this Top 100 ranking are the free magazines owned by brands or in the growing freemium space pioneered by ShortList Media. ShortList's new ABC figure is 502,267 for the period Jan-Jun 2015, Stylist's was 403,200.

The freely distributed Time Out had a stable distribution of 308,041 and Sport magazine reported 304,401. The sector is set to expand in the coming months as music title NME moves to a free model, and other publishers - including Dennis Publishing - also prepare to move into the space.

Top 100 in Print Magazines

	Title	June end 2015	Prd-prd % change	Yr-yr % change
1	TV Choice	1,276,045	0.8	-2.1
2	What's on TV	1,013,702	-4.1	-2.1
3	Radio Times	712,927	-9	-6.5
4	Take a Break	608,743	-5.8	-7.4
5	Slimming World Magazine	539,437	11	16
6	Saga Magazine	385,638	-8.3	-15
7	Good Housekeeping	400,647	-3.8	-0.7
8	Glamour	366,068	-8.5	-8.6
9	Woman & Home	326,417	-6.1	-4.4
10	Closer	281,136	-5.5	-9.8
11	Woman's Weekly	296,317	-3.6	-3
12	Chat	273,434	-9.3	-11
13	Prima	263,273	-1.4	0
14	Yours	272,603	1	0.1
15	New!	247,735	-16.5	-23.3
16	Woman	246,533	-2	-2.9
17	That's Life	241,289	-7.5	-4.5
18	Private Eye	228,264	4	4.6
19	Sainsbury's Magazine	218,034	-5.3	0.5
20	TV Times	212,869	-10.4	-6.6
21	HELLO!	256,541	-4.7	-5.1
22	Woman's Own	208,158	-5.3	-7.7
23	BBC Gardeners' World	206,168	14	-5
24	BBC Good Food	209,847	-12	-7.1
25	Cosmopolitan	253,543	0.5	-10.2
26	The People's Friend	214,414	-5	-6.7
27	National Geographic Magazine	204,958	-6.5	-9.7
28	Bella	187,095	-5.9	-4.1
29	OK! Magazine	195,017	-31.8	-27.4
30	Heat	183,220	-10.1	-16.3
31	Red	184,922	-2	-1.8
32	Best	170,877	-12.5	-16.8
33	Ideal Home	172,991	-6.8	-11.1
34	Real People	156,100	-10.7	-8.1
35	The Week	202,842	1.4	1.7
36	Marie Claire	183,936	-6.3	-8.1
37	Star	147,460	-22.3	-30.1
38	Men's Health	184,788	-3.1	-6.1
39	The Economist - United Kingdom Edition	156,961	-9.8	-22.3
40	Country Living	165,996	-7.8	-5.9
41	Pick Me Up	143,373	-9.8	-12
42	Take a Break Series	141,647	-17.9	-10.3
43	TV & Satellite Week	137,232	-5	-7.8
44	Now	139,152	-13.6	-22.4
45	Vogue	191,659	0	-0.2
46	Reveal	132,134	-17.3	-20.2
47	Elle (U.K.)	160,232	0.6	6.5
48	Grazia	139,137	-7.1	-8.1
49	Inside Soap	122,230	-6.8	-8.3
50	Candis	121,918	-8.8	-20.3
51	Look	129,624	-15.3	-22.1
52	Empire	133,210	1.9	-1.3
53	Your Home	119,621	0.2	-3.3
54	Women's Health	119,479	5.8	9
55	Total TV Guide	108,851	-3.3	1.1
56	House Beautiful	110,884	-9	0.2
57	My Weekly	103,137	-3.1	-3
58	InStyle UK	148,932	-0.6	2.4
59	Reader's Digest	153,175	8.5	14.7
60	Style at Home	96,886	-3.1	-8.9
61	Essentials	103,408	-3.9	-4.6
62	Disney Frozen	91,011
63	HELLO! Fashion Monthly	90,892
64	BBC Top Gear Magazine	119,102	-8.7	-8.1
65	Fun to Learn - Peppa Pig	86,059	-7.5	-12.2
66	GQ	109,785	-2.5	-3.4
67	25 Beautiful Homes	80,280	-10.8	-16.9
68	HomeStyle	70,767
69	Country Homes and Interiors	82,569	-5.6	-9.4
70	CBeebies Magazine	69,466	15.4	25.4
71	Homes & Gardens	102,680	-9.3	-10.6
72	Living etc	84,328	-4.3	-8.6
73	House & Garden	111,261	-2.7	-3.4
74	Peppa Pig Bag-o-Fun	67,305	4	-10.3
75	LEGO Ninjago	58,070
76	Toxic	55,004	5.8	10
77	LEGO Legends of Chima	54,370	1.1	19.1
78	Forever Sports	90,539	0.5	45.4
79	Cbeebies Art	53,378	-1.4	-8.4
80	OMG	52,609
81	Psychologies Magazine	59,904	-6.2	-15.8
82	Swashbuckle	51,007
83	Harpers Bazaar	103,288	-5.4	-1.9
84	Soaplife	50,917	-6.1	-17
85	delicious	58,006	-10.3	-6
86	Cbeebies Special	49,354	-6.2	-6.2
87	MoneyWeek	47,986	-8.9	-17.1
88	Disney's Princess	46,545	-17.1	-22.4
89	Auto Express	45,312	-1.6	-2.9
90	Tatler	82,136	0.1	-0.1
91	Fun to Learn - Friends	46,683	-5.5	-20.1
92	Something Special	43,309	7.4	-1.4
93	Elle Decoration	61,712	-5.1	-5.9
94	Top of the Pops	43,015	5.8	-7.7
95	All About Soap	42,773	-16.7	-23.3
96	Thomas and Friends	42,010	0.5	4.3
97	The Oldie	46,144	1.3	1.6
98	Sparkle World	48,749	9.9	0
99	Top Sante Health & Beauty	47,217	7.6	-5.7
100	The Spectator excluding Australia	55,669	1.6	2.6

Top 100 in Digital Editions

	Title	June end 2015	Prd-prd % change	Yr-yr % change
1	The Economist - United Kingdom Edition	70,953	42	225.8
2	The Week Magazine	30,750	11.3	17
3	BBC Top Gear Magazine	14,562	3	7.4
4	Attitude	12,207	-3.9	-8.7
5	Empire	11,443	-1.6	-12.5
6	GQ	11,300	-9.7	-0.5
7	Slimming World Magazine	10,970	-5.9	-5.6
8	BBC Good Food	10,258	-4.6	-6.7
9	Men's Health	9,113	-4	-12
10	Vogue	8,399	-1.5	5.6
11	Wired	7,692	-7.5	-5.5
12	Vanity Fair	6,817	-11.7	-15.6
13	National Geographic Magazine	6,555	-29.2
14	FHM	5,486	62	61.4
15	Women's Health	5,261	1.8	-11.6
16	Esquire	5,195	-8.2	-8.5
17	The Economist - Middle East/Africa Edition	5,135	37.4	53.1
18	OK! Magazine	4,998	-26.2	-32.5
19	Cosmopolitan	4,905	-10.7	-25.1
20	HELLO!	4,792	14.4	-27.3
21	Elle Decoration	4,694	-5.2	-20.2
22	Grazia	4,681	11.7	18.2
23	Living etc	4,285	4.5	17.3
24	Lonely Planet Traveller	4,083	44.8	45
25	Woman & Home	3,990	-3.9	20.1
26	Glamour	3,944	-17.5	-15.3
27	Red	3,922	2.5	7
28	Elle (U.K.)	3,849	-8.5	-20.8
29	Investors Chronicle	3,645	12.2
30	New!	3,561	-21	-28.5
31	Good Housekeeping	3,558	12.5	5.9
32	Grand Designs	3,323	-0.9	-13.1
33	Zoo	3,214	61.9	57.1
34	Psychologies Magazine	3,208	36	25.7
35	Olive	3,095	34.8	47.7
36	Jamie Magazine	3,011	-15.9	9.7
37	Q	2,894	21.4	28.2
38	Country Living	2,804	12.7	12
39	Harpers Bazaar	2,801	11.5	-11.4
40	BBC Gardeners' World	2,780	22.6	30.3
41	Closer	2,472	99.2	93.1
42	Country Homes and Interiors	2,453	21.8	45.9
43	Look	2,274	-15.8	-13
44	Tatler	2,247	5.4	26.2
45	Inside Soap	2,225	12.3	-24.7
46	What's on TV	2,160	9.6	18.9
47	Heat	2,135	79.6	76
48	Homes & Gardens	2,127	-0.7	16
49	Marie Claire	2,074	2.3	-0.3
50	Uncut	2,065	14.2	34.1
51	BBC Easy Cook	1,874	64	89.3
52	Ideal Home	1,851	-5.2	1.9
53	House & Garden	1,786	6.9	-6.6
54	Health & Fitness	1,652	-19.5	-35.5
55	Conde Nast Traveller	1,551	25.8	3.5
56	Prospect	1,534	10.1
57	Octane	1,479	6.2	0.1
58	Doctor Who Magazine	1,350	-15.8	-2
59	World Of Interiors	1,341	6.9	-6.6
60	Top Sante Health & Beauty	1,328
61	25 Beautiful Homes	1,279	8.4	24.5
62	Instyle UK	1,235	-26.9	-29.1
63	Chat	1,154	-13.6	-7.1
64	House Beautiful	1,143	6.2	13.2
65	Now	1,137	-30.2	-40.8
66	Women's Fitness	1,097	-13.6	-29.9
67	Land Rover Monthly	1,094	7.1	2.9
68	TV & Satellite Week	1,072	3.1	20.6
69	Style at Home	1,025	-11.5	-13.4
70	Reveal	954	-15.8	-36.8
71	Star	930	-30.1	-31.2
72	Prima	882	26.9	25.3
73	Woman	870	-9.3	-8.6
74	Your Home	866	-3.8	-3.5
75	Prima Baby	850	47.3	7.1
76	Essentials	789	6	14
77	Woman's Own	764	-3.5	1.2
78	Saga Magazine	716	-0.8	6.7
79	Good Homes	710	11.1
80	Pick Me Up	527	-12.9	-11.6
81	All About Soap	512	16.6	-32.5
82	Soaplife	511	38.1	43.5
83	Good Things	489
84	Woman's Weekly	476	7.9	20.8
85	The People's Friend	400	10.8	81
86	Real People	378	14.2	26.4
87	Best	350	57	42.9
88	TV Times	315	15	8.2
89	HELLO! Fashion Monthly	177
90	Gurgle Magazine	58	-63.8	-87.2