by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released consumer-magazine circulation statistics for the period January–March 2020 (ABC Q1 2020); see our newspaper analysis here.
| While we have your attention, please would you consider taking out a MarkLives membership to help finance our operations? The covid-19 pandemic is having a huge impact on society and industry. With your support, either as a once-off or monthly contribution, we can continue our coverage of its impact on our industry. |
Magazine overview
- Consumer magazine circulations decreased by -13.10% on the prior year.
Business press
All the main general business titles saw declines, with Forbes Africa leading the way, followed by Finweek and Financial Mail (FM). Noseweek made no submission.
Title |
Retail sales |
Single copy subs |
Total paid |
Total free |
Total circ |
Immediate previous period |
Corresponding previous period |
Percentage difference |
| Financial Mail | 4 582 | 3 011 | 13 250 | 0 | 13 250 | 13 379 | 13 798 | -3.97% |
| Finweek | 2 399 | 1 029 | 10 879 | 3 250 | 14 129 | 14 954 | 15 976 | -11.56% |
| Forbes Africa | 4 463 | 101 | 9 764 | 3 126 | 12 890 | 13 330 | 18 610 | -30.74% |
| Noseweek | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No submission | 7 315 | 9 284 |
In the business agri sector, no paid-for title increased circulation. The future of Farmer’s Weekly remains in doubt, following Caxton’s divestment from its magazine division.
Title |
Retail sales |
Single copy subs |
Total paid |
Total free |
Total circ |
Immediate previous period |
Corresponding previous period |
Percentage difference |
| Farmbiz | 433 | 22 | 698 | 3 615 | 4 313 | 3 975 | New Member | |
| Farmer’s Weekly | 7 550 | 760 | 9 910 | 119 | 10 029 | 9 146 | 10 462 | -4.14% |
| Landbouweekblad | 14 010 | 1 633 | 20 314 | 106 | 20 420 | 20 692 | 22 353 | -8.65% |
| Marktoe! | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 749 | 10 749 | 10 482 | 9 850 | 9.13% |
| Veeplaas | 2 630 | 109 | 4 467 | 3 194 | 7 661 | 8 665 | 8 402 | -8.82% |
Entertainment & celeb news
People magazine increased its total circulation, while Drum continued its collapse in circulation (in 2015, it had Q1 circulation of 100 388 — today, it sits at 19 602). Bona and People, both Caxton titles, have been shuttered while the group looks for potential buyers.
Title |
Retail sales |
Single copy subs |
Total paid |
Total free |
Total circ |
Immediate previous period |
Corresponding previous period |
Percentage difference |
| Bona | 35 241 | 24 743 | 62 353 | 2 576 | 64 929 | 50 148 | 75 219 | -13.68% |
| Drum | 16 613 | 351 | 18 910 | 87 | 18 997 | 19 602 | 26 358 | -27.93% |
| Huisgenoot | 128 101 | 8 413 | 153 024 | 5 219 | 158 243 | 162 307 | 174 384 | -9.26% |
| LIG | 11 654 | 1 057 | 17 048 | 156 | 17 204 | 16 906 | 18 061 | -4.75% |
| People | 29 883 | 137 | 31 569 | 808 | 32 377 | 32 303 | 29 052 | 11.44% |
| The Big Issue | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No submission | 6 389 | No Submission | |
| You | 75 044 | 1 511 | 79 423 | 2 774 | 82 197 | 83 214 | 85 402 | -3.75% |
Home, gardening & leisure
The future of Food and Home Entertaining, and SA Garden and Home, like other Caxton titles, remains in the balance. House & Leisure was closed down, alongside Associated Media.
Title |
Retail sales |
Single copy subs |
Total paid |
Total free |
Total circ |
Immediate previous period |
Corresponding previous period |
Percentage difference |
| Conde Nast House & Garden | 9 959 | 818 | 19 219 | 2 008 | 21 227 | 27 060 | 27 867 | -23.83% |
| Easy DIY | 4 601 | 154 | 4 755 | 4 502 | 9 257 | 9 257 | 13 020 | -28.90% |
| Food and Home Entertaining | 8 841 | 786 | 13 794 | 3 338 | 17 132 | 17 828 | 17 240 | -0.63% |
| Habitat | 4 574 | 81 | 6 560 | 653 | 7 213 | 7 213 | 13 290 | -45.73% |
| House & Leisure | 12 528 | 0 | 20 187 | 847 | 21 034 | 21 034 | Changed Frequency | |
| Idees / Ideas | 14 117 | 326 | 14 692 | 279 | 14 971 | 14 971 | 17 593 | -14.90% |
| SA Garden and Home | 27 866 | 2 489 | 34 788 | 3 303 | 38 091 | 37 126 | 38 698 | -1.57% |
| SA Home Owner | 19 456 | 744 | 24 759 | 3 468 | 28 227 | 30 157 | 32 701 | -13.68% |
| The Gardener / Die Tuinier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No submission | 30 434 | 34 564 | |
| Tuis Home | 49 592 | 4 440 | 69 138 | 4 623 | 73 761 | 69 112 | 80 238 | -8.07% |
| Visi | 8 343 | 385 | 14 434 | 251 | 14 685 | 14 685 | 15 257 | -3.75% |
Men’s market
Title |
Retail sales |
Single copy subs |
Total paid |
Total free |
Total circ |
Immediate previous period |
Corresponding previous period |
Percentage difference |
| GQ | 4 872 | 115 | 10 566 | 1 358 | 11 924 | 14 388 | 12 503 | -4.63% |
| Men’s Health | 10 899 | 736 | 14 275 | 802 | 15 077 | 13 518 | 21 336 | -29.34% |
| Popular Mechanics | 7 547 | 3 240 | 17 699 | 5 036 | 22 735 | 21 952 | 31 294 | -27.35% |
| Stuff | 4 626 | 238 | 10 525 | 2 133 | 12 658 | 12 658 | 22 546 | -43.86% |
| Very Interesting | 8 554 | 565 | 12 488 | 5 005 | 17 493 | 17 493 | 17 561 | -0.39% |
Hitting the road
The future of SA Country Life, a Caxton title, remains in the balance.
Title |
Retail sales |
Single copy subs |
Total paid |
Total free |
Total circ |
Immediate previous period |
Corresponding previous period |
Percentage difference |
| Getaway | 13 569 | 3 591 | 29 186 | 3 611 | 32 797 | 30 575 | 41 298 | -20.58% |
| SA Country Life | 12 797 | 3 978 | 21 156 | 2 627 | 23 783 | 25 582 | 27 938 | -14.87% |
| TravelIdeas. | 3 521 | 94 | 3 615 | 810 | 4 425 | 4 425 | 10 353 | -57.26% |
| Weg / Go Platteland | 23 880 | 1 461 | 26 821 | 55 | 26 876 | 26 876 | 29 176 | -7.88% |
| Weg!/Go! | 24 887 | 6 041 | 46 858 | 3 146 | 50 004 | 45 836 | 57 871 | -13.59% |
Woman’s general
Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Essentials, Rooi Rose, Woman & Home Your Family and Vroue Keur have all been affected by the closures of Associated Magazines and Caxton Magazines.
Title |
Retail sales |
Single copy subs |
Total paid |
Total free |
Total circ |
Immediate previous period |
Corresponding previous period |
Percentage difference |
| Cosmopolitan | 12 874 | 6 505 | 32 660 | 2 256 | 34 916 | 34 916 | Changed Frequency | |
| Essentials | 13 585 | 885 | 17 925 | 3 265 | 21 190 | 18 620 | 19 319 | 9.68% |
| Fairlady | 23 115 | 1 042 | 27 884 | 1 644 | 29 528 | 27 062 | 33 999 | -13.15% |
| Glamour | 11 507 | 200 | 20 015 | 1 533 | 21 548 | 28 733 | 34 450 | -37.45% |
| Good Housekeeping | 18 256 | 1 147 | 30 132 | 3 801 | 33 933 | 33 933 | Changed Frequency | |
| Kuier | 70 358 | 1 667 | 77 076 | 125 | 77 201 | 85 949 | 87 891 | -12.16% |
| Move! | 28 437 | 0 | 30 745 | 292 | 31 037 | 32 811 | 51 026 | -39.17% |
| Rooi Rose | 48 676 | 2 483 | 59 342 | 3 535 | 62 877 | 58 532 | 61 685 | 1.93% |
| Sarie | 38 735 | 4 816 | 59 195 | 3 425 | 62 620 | 54 548 | 65 849 | -4.90% |
| True Love | 19 769 | 489 | 23 440 | 3 425 | 26 865 | 22 043 | 31 693 | -15.23% |
| Vroue Keur | 35 996 | 994 | 38 657 | 405 | 39 062 | 38 623 | 44 104 | -11.43% |
| Woman and Home | 45 859 | 3 370 | 58 226 | 3 832 | 62 058 | 64 934 | 56 201 | 10.42% |
| Women’s Health | 21 450 | 601 | 23 866 | 730 | 24 596 | 15 170 | 23 290 | 5.61% |
| Your Family | 14 453 | 2 379 | 20 929 | 3 463 | 24 392 | 23 771 | 23 904 | 2.04% |
The MarkLives’ Big Magazine list — total circulation**
Q1 2020
- Huisgenoot: 158 243
- YOU: 82 197 +1
- Kuier: 77 201 -1
- Tuis/Home: 73 761
- Bona: 64 929 +4
- CAR: 63 509
- Rooi Rose: 62 877
- Sarie: 62 620
- Woman and Home: 62 058 -4
- Weg/Go!: 50 004
The MarkLives’ Big Magazine list — retail copy sales***
- Huisgenoot: 128 101
- YOU: 75 044
- Kuier: 70 358
- Tuis/Home: 49 592
- Rooi Rose: 48 676
- Woman and Home: 45 859
- Sarie: 38 735
- Vroue Keur: 35 996
- Bona: 35 241
- People: 29 883
CAR: 28 998
Move!: 28 437
SA Garden and Home: 27 866
Weg/Go: 24 887
Fair Lady: 23 115
Kick Off: 20 006
*Year on year. Only titles covered in this feature; not all titles in ABC category; excludes titles with recent frequency changes.
**By total circulation. Must have a cover price. Annuals excluded. Movement on the Big Magazine list compared to Q4 2019 data.
***By total circulation. Must have a cover price. Annuals excluded. Single copy retail sales.
See also
- #CircData: ABC Q1 2020 sees more newspaper circ numbers fall
- Circulation Data – ABC Analysis
Herman Manson (@marklives) is the founder and editor of MarkLives.com.
— Sign up now for the MarkLives newsletter, including Ramify.biz headlines and become a MarkLives Member, too, to ensure continued coverage.
The post #CircData: More declines as bad news keeps piling up for mags appeared first on MarkLives.com.
