Is Kobo e-reader a missed opportunity for magazines?

More than a year after it launched, the Kobo e-reader newsstand still does not carry a single Canadian magazine. While it offers a range of Canadian newspapers, ranging from the Globe and Mail ($15.95 a month or $0.65 an issue) and the Edmonton Journal ($13.99 a month or $0.55 an issue) the only magazines it offers has not changed or grown and all are U.S.-based. For instance, Harvard Business

Major U.S. newsstand distributor tacks on a $50 monthly "service charge"

This is an ominous development for independent publishers. Source Interlink, one of the largest wholesalers in the magazine business in the U.S. has unilaterally announced that it is tacking on a $50 per month charge to all accounts to cover chain solicitation, distribution analysis, allotment management, and online sales tracking. And here we thought that these things were paid by their cut of

Two royal wedding commemoratives rushed out by Rogers Publishing

Depending on your degree of interest in the royals, you'll think it is good news or bad new that Rogers Publishing is hitting Canadians with a double-whammy of hefty newsstand issues about the forthcoming nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton.Maclean's is putting a 132-page, perfect-bound commemorative issue on the newsstands today, priced at $6.95. It will be staff written with special

Style at Home trumpets newsstand performance

Style at Home magazine wants everyone to know that even though its management has changed (a new publisher and new editor-in-chief in the past year) it is achieving record-breaking success in single copy sales. A release from the Transcontinental magazine says that the May 2010 issue was the best performing May issue on record and the July 2010 "white cover" issue (shown) is the second-best

Canadian Newsstand Awards entry deadlines loom

The early-bird deadline for the Canadian Newsstand Awards is this Friday, June 18 and the final entry deadline is Friday, July 9. Winners will be announced at a special reception in the fall. The competition is open to all English and French-language magzines and recognizes excellence in newsstand sales and cover execution. The event is sponsored by HDS Retail/ Great Canadian News/ Maison de la

9th annual newsstand awards launched; early bird entries by June 18

This year's Canadian Newsstand Awards have been launched, with the early bird deadline for entry June 18. Now in its ninth year, the awards have one new category, more prizes, and more prize money. The competition is open to all English and French-language Canadian magazines and recognizes excellence in newsstand sales and cover execution by Canadian magazine publishers. Publishers, circulators,

Quote, unquote: On the benefits of hitting bottom

The newsstand sales decline the last two years has been devastatingly steep, but it may have had a long overdue newsstand cleansing effect. Despite the record sales declines there are several reasons to be, at least partially, optimistic that newsstand sales may have bottomed out in the second half of 2009.-- from a posting on Audience Development

Paid subs up, particularly in women's titles, in latest U.S. data

Most major titles in the women's category in the U.S. have seen moderate increases in paid subscriptions during the second half of 2009, according to a post on Audience Development's website, based on latest Audit Bureau of Circulations data. Total paid and verified circulation remained relatively stable; newsstand sales declined, but at a slower rate than in previous periods.

McNally Robinson booksellers emerges smaller and wiser from bankruptcy protection

McNally Robinson Booksellers, one of Canada's largest magazine and book stores, has emerged from bankrupty protection with two stores instead of four and chastened by business decisions that nearly put them over the edge. The company's bookstores in Saskatoon and Winnipeg's Grant Park shopping centre are open for business and continue to employ about 250 people. Owner Paul McNally said in a story

Study to see if Canadian magazines sell better when grouped together

The Periodical Marketers of Canada are undertaking a three-month study to see whether Canadian magazine titles sell better when grouped together on the newsstand or displayed mixed in with other (largely U.S.) magazines according to different categories.  A story in Mastheadonline says 70 Canadian titles will be displayed in a dedicated space at three International News location in downtown

Cappel's Circulation to be merged into The New Single Copy

One well-known circulation newsletter, Capell's Circulation Report, is being merged into another, The New Single Copy, published by John Harrington. According to a story in Audience Development, Capell subscribers will now receive The New Single Copy. CCR published 20 times a year; TNSC publishes weekly (45 times a year) and costs subscribers US$425 annually.
Dan Capell launched CCR in 1982 and

Increasing clout of The News Group in U.S. magazine distribution is noted

Attention is being paid south of the border to the rapid rise to dominance of Canada's largest wholesaler, the News Group, which last year gained 46% of market share by the acquisition of the Georgia-based Anderson News. According to a story in Audience Development the sheer size of the company now gives it greater leverage with retailers. With the acquisition of 65% of Anderson, it also picked

This mag, The Beaver, The Hockey News & Maclean's win newsstand awards

This Magazine won the small magazine category for the third year in a row in the Canadian Newsstand Awards, which were handed out last night. It won for its July/August 2008 issue with a cover image of Jack Layton.In the mid-sized category, The Beaver: Canada's History Magazine won for its February 2008 issue marking the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec. (That issue marked the first

Digital newsstand allows readers to buy Canadian subs and single copies online

Magazines Canada is today launching the Magazines Canada Digital Newsstand, powered by Zinio. It is a bilingual site where people can subscribe to digital editions of a whole range of Canadian titles.So, for instance, a 56-issue subscription can be purchased to Maclean's magazine for $56.67 or single issues can be purchased for $5.49 each. Or 6 issues of Cottage Life for $29.95 or single issues

Canadian Newsstand Awards to be announed October 7 at CMC reception

The winners of the eighth annual Canadian Newsstand Awards/Grand prix d’excellence en kiosque will be announced on Oct. 7 as part of the annual social of the Circulation Management Association of Canada (CMC). The reception will be held at Spice Route located at 499 King Street West, Toronto, beginning at 5 p.m. and the awards presentation is at 6 p.m. CMC members are free; all others $10 at the

Wal-Marts move magazines to the back of the store

Wal-Mart stores are in the midst of a major and significant remodeling program called "Project Impact" that will shift magazines to the entertainment department at the back of stores. Folio: magazine reports that about 650 stores are adopting the new floor-plan. The chain, best known for discounting titles and often being one of the biggest newsstands in many towns, says the change is the result

The Economist offers custom home delivery with a newsstand price

The Economist has introduced a trial program in New York City that allows people who have signed up for weekly e-mail alerts on their cellphones about what's in the next edition and have it home-delivered overnight at the newsstand price.According to a story in Advertising Age, the approach was tested successfully in Britain two months ago, but with a simpler interface -- people who were

Michael Jackson death coverage a $67 million windfall for U.S. magazine titles

The death of pop star Michael Jackson was worth $67 million to the magazine business, including $55 million from tribute editions alone. This figures reflects only U.S. based titles, so revenues accruing to such Canadian titles as Maclean's and Hello! would add to that figure.The data came from the Magazine Information Network, often called MagNet, which tracks wholesale and retail magazine

Border Crossings magazine launches new size, new face

Border Crossings magazine has launched its September issue with a new, larger format and a new typeface . The Winnipeg-based magazine has increased in size to 9 x 11.75", with the larger size allowing even more latitude for the visuals that the arts magazine is well-known for. The new-look magazine is on the newsstands now. The new look will be celebrated with a launch party at McNally Robinson

Utne Reader hikes sub cost 50%: "pay for the journalism you value"

After 25 years in business, Utne Reader is making the bold move of increasing its prices dramatically. A one-year subscription goes up 50% to $29.95; the single copy price goes up 40% to $6.99."We're asking those who value quality journalism to support it," said Utne Reader's publisher and editorial director Bryan Welch [reported in Audience Development] in a statement, tapping the current