Web is now largest subscription source for one in five magazines, MPA says

Internet subscription sales among U.S. magazines have almost doubled in three years, according to the president and CEO of the Magazine Publishers of America. In a release Nina Link said “The Web is now the largest subscription source for one in five magazines.”

According to an MPA survey conducted in April reflecting the experience of 62 titles, 24 per cent of subscriptions sold by publishers (as opposed to agents) will be generated from the web. As recently as 2006, it was 13%. Overall, online subscriptions accounted for 22 per cent of sub sales last year in the U.S. and will generate 24% of new business sales among MPA member magazines. [Complete survey results]

The internet will represent 13% of total subscription sales (new and renewal) in 2010. Magazine-branded websites are the leading source of internet subscriptions. 93% of internet subs are sold direct. The leading non-direct sources are agents such as Amazon.com and Magazines.com.