Historical Subscriptions/Single Copy Sales
Magazines Let Consumers Choose
While some consumers prefer the convenience of home or work delivery, others choose to pick up copies of their favorite magazines at newsstands or other retail outlets. The following chart shows the historical relationship between subscription and single copy sales. In 2007, 87% of total circulation was from magazine subscriptions, while single copy sales accounted for the remaining 13%.
| ANNUAL COMBINED PAID AND VERIFIED AVERAGE CIRCULATION PER ISSUE OF ALL ABC MAGAZINES, 1970 - 2007 |
|
|
|
| Year |
Subscription |
Single Copy |
Total |
| 1970 |
174,504,070 |
70,231,003 |
244,735,073 |
| 1975 |
166,048,037 |
83,935,424 |
249,983,461 |
| 1980 |
189,846,505 |
90,895,454 |
280,741,959 |
| 1985 |
242,810,339 |
81,076,776 |
323,887,115 |
| 1990 |
292,444,099 |
73,667,773 |
366,111,872 |
| 1991 |
292,852,615 |
71,894,865 |
364,747,479 |
| 1992 |
291,613,749 |
70,694,310 |
362,308,059 |
| 1993 |
294,905,373 |
69,418,673 |
364,324,046 |
| 1994 |
295,648,763 |
67,917,148 |
363,565,911 |
| 1995 |
299,050,282 |
65,846,048 |
364,896,329 |
| 1996 |
299,532,710 |
65,984,883 |
365,517,593 |
| 1997 |
301,244,640 |
66,133,817 |
367,378,457 |
| 1998 |
303,348,603 |
63,724,643 |
367,073,246 |
| 1999 |
310,074,081 |
62,041,749 |
372,115,830 |
| 2000 |
318,678,718 |
60,240,260 |
378,918,978 |
| 2001 |
305,259,583 |
56,096,430 |
361,356,013 |
| 2002 |
305,438,345 |
52,932,601 |
358,370,946 |
| 2003 |
301,800,237 |
50,800,854 |
352,601,091 |
| 2004 |
311,818,667 |
51,317,183 |
363,135,850 |
| 2005 |
313,992,423 |
48,289,137 |
362,281,559 |
| 2006 |
321,644,445 |
47,975,657 |
369,620,102 |
| 2007 |
322,359,612 |
47,433,976 |
369,793,587 |
Sources: Averages calculated by the MPA from Audit Bureau of Circulations statements for the first and second six months of each year. Domestic titles audited by ABC; annuals, international editions and comics have been excluded. Totals may not add up exactly, due to rounding of averaged numbers.