UK Magazines Market Report 2022

The UK Magazines Market Report examines consumers’ behaviours and attitudes towards print and digital magazines, interest in AR innovation and the impact of the cost of living crisis on the magazine publishing market. This report covers the UK magazine publishing market size, market forecast, market segmentation and magazine industry trends.

Magazine Publishing Market Current Landscape

The cost-of-living crisis will be very tricky for the magazine publishing market to navigate given magazines will likely be considered by many to be a luxury, non-essential item. As of September 2022, the cost of living crisis led 32% of magazine readers to cancel a magazine subscription. Tailored discounts and deals will be an important way to retain subscribers and bring in new ones to the magazine publishing market.

Magazine Publishing Market Size and Magazine Industry Trends

Perhaps the greatest threat to the magazine publishing magazines is the existential question over what exactly a magazine is anymore given the decline of the print format. While magazine publishers have almost limitless exciting avenues to explore, from NFTs to hospitality, maintaining a cohesive brand identity will become increasingly difficult.

Without clear branding with foundations in written content the purpose and definition of a magazine risk losing meaning and value.

• UK magazine market size: Mintel forecasts that there were 700 million print magazines in circulation in 2022.
• 27% of magazine readers think digital magazines should add more AR features.
• 53% of Brits who have read print magazines bought a single issue.
• 64% of consumers purchases their single issue print magazine from a supermarket.

Future Magazine Industry Trends

In the longer-term, technology and more specifically, the metaverse will help sustain the future of the magazine publishing market. Mintel’s consumer research shows that there is interest in incorporating more virtual or augmented reality features into magazines – 47% of 16-34-year-olds think that digital magazines should include more AR or VR features. This level of interest among young digital readers indicates that investment in VR/AR, and likely other virtual content, is worth pursuing.

To discover more about the UK Magazines Market Report 2022, read our UK Books and E-Books Market Report 2022, or take a look at our Media, Books and Stationary Market Research Reports.

Quickly Understand

• Explores the magazine publishing market size and forecast for print magazine circulation.
• The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the magazine publishing market.
• Key launches from magazines and publishers.
• Genre, format and number of magazines read.
• Consumer magazine purchasing habits and reasons for reading magazines.
• Magazine reading behaviour and interest in innovations, such as AR.

Covered in this Report

Brands: ELLE, GQ, Vogue, Deliveroo, WHSmith, M&S, TV Choice, Radion Times, Take a Break, Slimming World, Saga Magazine, BBC Gardeners’ world, Private Eye, BBC Good Food, Take a Break Monthly, Yours, Good Housekeeping, Woman & Home, What’s on TV, The National Trust Magazine, Nature’s Home, Waitrose & Partners Health, The Garden, My VIP, Tesco Magazine, Time Out, Stylist, ES Magazine, The Economist, The Spectator, The Week Junior, The Beano, Pokemon, CBeebies Special, Andy’s Amazing Adventures, Peppa Pig Bag-o-Fun, Take a Break, That’s Life, The People’s Friend, Woman’s Weekly, Hello!, BBC Good Food, Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health.

Expert Analysis from a Specialist in the Media Sector

This report, written by Rebecca McGrath, a leading analyst in the media sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends in the UK magazine publishing market and add expert context to the numbers.

The cost-of-living crisis presents a new challenge for magazine publishers as people look to limit non-essential spending. With magazines considered by many to be a ‘nice to have’ item, effectively tailored and targeted discounts will be crucial to retain and attract budget-conscious subscribers”.

Rebecca McGrath
Associate Director for Media and Technology