Will magazines on tablets ever be proitable?

Tablet apps are very popular with magazine publishers.  “Conde Nast and the other [publishers] are looking at the tablet market as the promised land that will deliver them from the plight that they are going through in print and online,” Roger Entner, founder of Recon Analytics, a research and consulting firm, said to TheWrap.com.

But are they making money?  No hard figures have been released, but Conde Nast’s iPad editions, for example, are making up just 1.3% of its total print circulation.  Each publisher, of course, believes its in-house monetizing strategy will unclog the profit faucet.

However, it’s going to get even more complicated before it’s over.  Apple is rumored to release a newsstand app in September; Amazon is rumored to launch its own tablet soon; HP unexpectedly got out of the market; the joint venture Next Issue Media (which some day might even do something) is still trying to provide “an easy and economical entry into the digital reading channel”; and let’s not forget Flipboard.com…

“We’re all in the sandbox,” Entner commented to The Wrap.  “We’re in the process of stepping out of the sandbox.  Hopefully we don’t stumble over the rim.”

B2B titles are still struggling…

…at least according to the audit agency BPA Worldwide.  It just released its ‘US Consumer Trac Data’ report for the six-month period ending June 30, 2011.  For example, venerable BILLBOARD saw a 100% decrease in circulation.

Newsstand sales reported only two magazines in the gainers’ column: AMERICAN WOODWORKER at 34% up and MARIN at 22% up.

High fashion magazines look to combine editorial content with shopping

VOGUE and other well-known fashion publications are considering a move that would allow online readers to purchase featured fashion items directly from the magazine.  The practice would turn fashion bibles like Vogue and ELLE into e-tailers.  “Do you like the coat or shoes in the photo spread?  Just click on it.”

Hearst Magazines is set to introduce “a series of e-commerce partnerships” this year, and already has partnered with Italian internet fashion retailer, Yoox.  HARPER’S BAZAAR last fall paired with Net-A-Porter to select clothing and accessories.

Magazines, eager to reclaim lost ad revenue in a weak economy, think the strategy will help their bottom lines.  But industry watchers wonder if there’s a price for leveraging readers’ trust.  Will this compromise editorial independence?  What do you think?

Bicycling quietly absorbs Mountain Bike

MOUNTAIN BIKE has been folded into sister magazine BICYCLING.  Its last issue will be November 2010.

Mountain Bike was originally a bimonthly supplement to Bicycling with a circulation of 155,000.  According to foliomag.com, Bicycling.com will now feature a dedicated Mountain Bike channel and Bicycling will feature more content on mountain bikes and biking.

Both Bicycling’s 425,000 circulation and its 11 times per year publication cycle will remain the same.  Mountain Bike editor Lou Mazzante will report to Bicycling editor-in-chief Peter Flax.  The number of layoffs involved has not been divulged.

Fact-based health finally available in local book stores

RADIUS, an independent consumer magazine for health conscious readers of age forty-five and older, will finally be available in bookstores.  Barnes and Noble and Books-A-Million across the US are now carrying the magazine on their shelves.

Every medical article in the publication is written by physicians in laymen terms in an easy-to-read format.  “I was tired of reading headlines that touted losing huge amounts of weight in short amounts of time,” said Dr. Dev Brar, publisher of Radius.  “That type of information is either not factual or harmful to one’s health.  Headlines like those may sell magazines, but we want to sell health…quality health.”  The magazine is packed with lifestyle articles about travel, pets, finances, fitness, recipes, and gardening.

Now, consumers have a choice of health advice in their local Barnes and Noble and Books-A-Million stores.

Paste magazine folds

PASTE music magazine has ceased publication of its print edition.  It will live on online.  Last year the magazine asked for, and received, reader donations to stay afloat, but it appears that only delayed the inevitable.

Wooden Horse Saturday wrap-up

FIRE APPARATUS & EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT magazine was bought by PennWell Corp from co-founder Kathryn Jorgensen.  Foliomag.com reports Fire Apparatus Publisher and Sales Manager Bob Kelly, and Editor-in-Chief Lyn Bixby, will stay with the magazine in their respective roles under PennWell.  PennWell publishes several industry magazines.  It also publishes FIRE ENGINEERING magazine, as well as producing fire-related websites, events and products.  Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment is published monthly and carries a circulation of more than 30,000…

MOUNTAIN GAZETTE has been sold by AIM’s Skram Media unit to Summit Publishing (BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS, ELEVATION OUTDOORS, BREATHE).  According to foliomag.com John Fayhee will continue as editor and the first issue of Mountain Gazette under Summit will be the September 2010 issue.  Monthly publishing and circulation of 45,000 will continue, with distribution in Colorado, as well as parts of Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming…

SPEEDWAY ILLUSTRATED has suspended publication, announced Formula Five Media, a subsidiary of Anthem Media Group.  The magazine was devoted to motorsports…

FABRICATING & METALWORKING has been sold by Steve Smithnus Business Media to Alliance Communications, led by Tony Morrison, a member of F&M’s original launch team, reports minonline.com. Steve Smithnus Business Media has also sold INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY DIGEST to Source360 Media, led by William Strickland.  The sales continue a trend seen earlier this year, when Reed Business Information sold many of its trade titles to the titles’ publishers, who set up new companies to purchase the trade titles…

CONSTRUCTION BULLETIN will be re-launched by MB Media on August 30.  PROFESSIONAL BUILDER and CUSTOM BUILDER will be re-launched by MB Media in September.  MB Media purchased the titles from Reed Business Information…

ADVANCE FOR NURSE PRACTIONERS AND PHYSICIANS ASSISTANTS is the new publication from Merion Publications, set to launch in September.  It combines two of the publisher’s titles: ADVANCE FOR NURSE PRACTIONERS and ADVANCE FOR PHYSICIANS ASSISTANTS.  The new publication will cover up-to-the-minute clinical articles, practice and professional news, health coverage and industry profiles…

AMERICAN NURSERYMAN magazine and its publishing company were bought by Moose River Media.  MRM also publishes TURF, a landscaping magazine, and produces the LawnSite.com and PlowSite.com web communities.  Besides American Nurseryman magazine, the sale included a book publishing division and online properties…

AZURE, Canada’s influential contemporary architecture and design magazine, has a new look.  Known for its innovative graphic design, the magazine has trimmed down its oversize format to a smaller 9 x 11.5 inches.  It’s also sporting a new logo with a modified tagline.  Inside imagery will dominate when appropriate with a focus on delivering content through multiple entry points and creating more connections with readers.  For further information contact Editor Nelda Rodger at 416-203-9674…

New owners for Canadian business-to-business publications

LAW TIMES, CANADIAN LAWYER, CANADIAN LAWYER INHOUSE and CANADIAN LAWYER 4STUDENTS are among the titles included in a massive sell-off of CLB Media by the Canadian company Cartwright Group Ltd.  A number of magazines will shift to new owners.

The lucrative Canada Law Book has been sold to Carswell, a Thomson Reuters business located in Toronto, Canada.  The sale includes four magazine titles:
LAW TIMES, CANADIAN LAWYER, CANADIAN LAWYER INHOUSE and CANADIAN LAWYER 4STUDENTS.

CANADIAN LAWYER is a monthly national magazine for lawyers (CANADIAN LAWYER INHOUSE and CANADIAN LAWYER 4STUDENTS are line extensions).  LAW TIMES is a weekly newspaper for lawyers, published only in Ontario.  Also included in the sale are CLB Media’s legal directories, including the Canadian Law List.  There is no information on whether jobs in this division will be affected or not.

The remaining CLB Media portfolio of over 20 trade magazines and websites serving the industrial/manufacturing, security and automotive sectors are being sold to Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. The deal is expected to close at the end of August.

Titles include AM ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, CANADIAN ELECTRONICS, DESIGN PRODUCT NEWS, ELECTRICAL BUSINESS, MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION, MP&P, PIQ, NETWORK CABLING, CANADIAN SECURITY, SP&T NEWS, CANADIAN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, WORKPLACE, CANADIAN AUTO DEALER, AFFAIRE’S AUTOMOBILES, PLANT ENGINEERING MAINTENANCE, RESOURCE ENGINEERING MAINTENANCE, ENERGY MANAGEMENT, GREEN BUSINESS, LOGGING MANAGEMENT, and MILL PRODUCT NEWS.

Annex said there are no plans for staff changes and CLB Media will remain headquartered in Aurora, Ontario until an assessment is completed.

WOODWORKING and CANADIAN KITCHEN AND BATH magazines are not included in the deal between Annex and CLB Media.  Publisher Bert Kleiser purchased those titles.  Only one job will be affected by that transaction.

Out with the old, in with the…old; four top US magazine publishers announce new CEOs

Up, down, up, flat, down…whatever statistic you want to name has been mostly down in the last month or so.  Or flat.  Take your pick.

Bloomberg News wrote August 9: “US consumer magazine circulation completed two straight years of declines, weighed down by sliding sales of READER’S DIGEST* and PLAYBOY* magazines in the first six months, Audit Bureau of Circulations data show.”

So it’s no wonder that not one, not two, not even three top US magazine publishers, but four, announced new bosses – and new directions.

On June 28, Hearst Magazines named David Carey its new president, succeeding Cathie Black, who has headed upstairs to be chairman.  Carey comes from Conde Nast, where he helped resurrect THE NEW YORKER*, but also was part of the not-so-successful PORTFOLIO launch team.

About a month later, Condé Nast announced that Robert Sauerberg was its new president.  An internal promotion, Sauerberg will now head the company while it is “charting a new strategic course.”  It will no longer be a publisher but a “consumer-centric media and entertainment company.”  The new strategic direction became clear when the company hired its first Chief Technology Officer, Joe Simon.

On August 2, Meredith Corporation said that Tom Harty was appointed president of the national media group succeeding Jack Griffin.  Also an internal hire, Harty has been involved in the company’s expansion into “emerging new consumer platforms such as mobile and eTablets.”

But don’t feel too sorry for Griffin.  He was reported a couple of days later as the new CEO of Time Inc, taking over as CEO from Ann Moore, who is remaining as chairwoman and/or retiring, depending on which news source you read.  Griffin is expected to sprinkle the same digital pixie dust over Time Inc cubicles that he so successfully scattered in Meredith’s corridors and conference rooms.

Wooden Horse Friday Round-Up

MAVERICK is a new tech, film and design magazine that will launch this October on the iPad platform by UK-based Virgin Group, the international conglomerate founded by business tycoon Richard Branson.  With holdings in travel, entertainment and lifestyle, speculation is that Virgin is expanding its empire into the consumer magazine industry, especially as the publication will be led by Richard Branson’s daughter, 28-year-old Holly Branson…

Great news!  Magazines in 2Q recorded year-over-year growth in ad pages for the first time since Q4 2007, per PIB…

THE ECONOMIST is adding 20 new jobs in sales, marketing and other departments…

Publisher Cygnus Business Media (FIREHOUSE, SUPPLY & DEMAND CHAIN, MODERN JEWELER) has announced a new and radically revised “organizational architecture.”  The new structure creates four “affinity networks” for the major categories Cygnus serves: Aviation, Public Safety & Security, Building & Construction and Agriculture.  There are no layoffs or title closures involved in the reorganization plan.  In fact, Cygnus claims the new structure will expand employment opportunities…

Bad news/good news: 90 magazines launched in the first half of this year, down from 187 new titles that launched in 2009 for the same period, according to media directory MediaFinder.  On an up-note: “Only” 87 magazines folded this 1H compared to 279 in 2009; and 16 print magazines converted to online-only formats compared to 43 in 2009…

Publisher Conde Nast (VOGUE, GQ, CONDE NAST TRAVELER) wants to adjust its advertising/consumer revenue split from 70/30% to 50/50% by growing the consumer part.  To that goal, the company is aggressively licensing its brands and among other endeavors will launch Gourmet Live, a food-centered social media app that will be free to download but ultimately will become for-pay…

24% of all new magazine subscriptions are now placed online (and 13% of all subscriptions – new and renewed,) according to the trade organization Magazine Publishers of America.  That’s almost double the 2006 figure of 13%, and up from 17% in 2007, 21% in 2008 and 22% in 2009…