Canadian Business Media strikes partnership with U.S.-based ABM

Canadian Business Media has announced that it is partnering with the U.S.-based ABM (The Association of Business Information and Media Companies, a division of SIIA), In a release, it said that its business-to-business professional members will now (at the member rate) have access to all ABM events and conferences, regional training sessions, ABM research studies and report and the two organizations will collaborate on networking programs in the Toronto area.  

“We are proud to join forces with SIIA\ABM, and in doing so work towards our goal to build a stronger B2B publishing community. With this strategic partnership, Canadian publishers will gain access to invaluable inside knowledge and resources aimed at helping them prosper and ensure the perennity of their success,” said John Kerr, CBM Chair and CEO of Kerrwil Publications Limited. 

“This strategic partnership with CBM is a wonderful opportunity to share the latest developments in B2B media and information at very exciting time for our industry. We look forward to working together with CBM and getting to know its member companies and teams,” stated Mike Marchesano, Managing Director, ABM of SIIA. (SIIA is an association representing the software and digital content industries.)

For more than 60 years, Canadian Business Media (formerly Canadian Business Press) has produced the Kenneth R. Wilson Awards, a recognition program celebrating outstanding achievements in B2B magazine content. Last spring CBM relaunched with the goal of re-entering the field of members services, expanding its offerings of training and networking. The membership of CBM has shrunk significantly in recent years as multi-title b2b members, including Rogers and Annex, chose to join Magazines Canada's business media division instead.

Related posts:

• Canadian Business Media decides to get back into member services for b2b sector
• American Business Media merges with Software and Information Industry Association
• Canadian Business Press to become a foundation, concentrating on awards program
• Magazines Canada grows by 45 new member magazines, including two b2b groups
• Canadian Business Press discontinues MagsU, becomes a partner in MagNet
• Rogers pullout costs CBP 20% of membership revenue
• Rogers b-to-b titles pull out of Canadian Business Press

Data shows circ declines for subs, sharp declines for singles; digital still insignificant

Canadian magazine circulation declined 5.7% for the six months ended December 31, according to Alliance for Audited Media data. Paid subs were down 5.4%; single copy sales down 12.7%. 

Of 61 reporting titles, the leading publications were Chatelaine (523,942, down 2.3 from the previous year, same period), Canadian Living (520,239, up 1.4%), Reader's Digest (396,692, down 16.1%), Maclean's (295,888, down 5.2%) and Style at Home (237,862, up 2.1%).  

Digital circulation for 50 titles reporting it showed a tripling to about 125,00 circulation or 1.6% of total, paid, verified and analyzed non-paid circulation. Leaders in digital circ were Reader's Digest (34,117), Canadian House & Home (11,045), Maclan's (7,807), Selection Reader's Digest (6,035) and Chatelaine (5,590).

AAM data about the circulation of American magazines in Canada in the first half of 2013 shows National Geographic on top with a total paid and verified circulation of 300,744, down 2.37% from 2012 same period). Other leaders were Cosmopolitan (184,569, down 16.5%),People (134,980, down 8.03%), O the Oprah Magazine (129,356, down 0.29%) and Woman's World (119,485, up 3.29%)

The total circulation of U.S. consumer magazines decreased 1.7% in the second half of 2013 compared with the same period 2012. According to a report from the AAM, the decline was mostly in single-copy sales, which fell 11% from 25.4 million to 22.6 million. Paid subscriptions fell from 264.9 million to 262.8 million. Digital circulation growth pulled the numbers back up by increasing 37% to 10.6 million copies; still, a relatively small (3.4%) of total circulation.

Latest numbers for ad sales of U.S. business-to-business publications are part of a long trend showing almost no rebound from the recession. Data published by the American Business Media shows that ad sales were down 7.5% for the year 2013 to August, the fourth year in a row where paves have not recovered from their zenith. (see graph below). The hardest-hit categories were automotive, aviation, banking and retail, with declines of between 11 and 23%. (There's a good article by D. B. Hebbard of TalkingNewMedia about this.)