The Future of Music Magazines? (Cont.)
I recently expressed some personal thoughts on the future of music magazines, as news of the publications Harp and No Depression shutting down operations, caught me a bit by surprise and starting me thinking. I left my thoughts on the subject hoping that my suspicion of a this news being an indication of what is to come of many print magazines, was unbound in any concrete evidence. The blog spot Hypebot has revealed concrete evidence seemingly supports my suspicion, much to my dismay.
From the Hypebot blogspot:
Music Magazine Ad Revenue Drops 28%
ARE MUSIC MAGAZINES DOOMED?
As the fans move online, ad revenue at the top three music magazines slid 28% in the first quarter of 2008.
- Blender $11 million (down 9% from first quarter 2007); 110 pages (down 20%)
- Rolling Stone $31 million (down 27%); 195 (down 33%)
- Spin $8 million (up 27% from 2007); 146 (up 22%)
- Vibe $18 million down 19% from 2007); 185 (down 22%)
Publishers Information Bureau via Crains.
Fortunately for me, I don’t subscribe to either of these publications. That’s the only upside to this that I can muster right now.
It looks like newspapers aren’t the only publications vulnerable to internet competition. It seems though that these music publications can focus more on their online presence and offer affiliate advertisements through Amazon and Itunes.