Magazine launches outpace closures more than 3-to-1 in first half of 2014

First half 2014 magazine launches outpaced closures more than 3-to-1, according to the online North American database MediaFinder; 93 launched, 30 closed (about the same as the same period in 2013.)

Top category for new launches was “regional interest” with six new print titles such as 12th & Broad and The Sip. In the “craft” category, new magazine launches include Craft Beer & Brewing and Willow & Sage. Other new titles in the first half of 2014 are Barbecue America and San Francisco Cottages & Gardens. Ceased magazines include Diabetic Cooking, Scene (NY), and 13 specialty automobile titles from TEN: The Enthusiast Network (formerly Source Interlink Media).

 “While it appears that the magazine industry may be stabilizing, it is sad to see that two venerable magazines, Jet and Ladies Home [Journal], have dropped their print editions,” said Trish Hagood, president of MediaFinder.com. “We are seeing continued strength in specialized magazines such as regional and crafts.”

 In the business-to-business magazine sector, 15 new titles launched, such as IEEE Cloud Computing Magazine, compared with 14 new titles in 2013. During the same period, five b-to-b titles closed, including Seafood Business, while nine magazines closed in 2013. In addition, Computerworld and CSO dropped their print editions during the first half of 2014.

MediaFinder maintains information on about 77,000 U.S. and Canadian magazines, journals, newsletters, directories and catalogues.