AMI, Dow Jones, and IDG among top magazine publishers in the first burst of headlines this year with new numbers, new projects, and new possibilities
While most of us are still ramping up, the early days of 2016 haven’t seen much of a break in the action when it comes to the top magazine publishers’ business moves.
We love seeing this. Along with a projected big year for mergers & acquisitions, it’s a sign of a robust industry with lots of room to maneuver for digital magazines looking to build upon the successes of 2015.
It’s no secret that traditional top magazine publishers like Time Inc., Conde Nast, and Hearst – or, for the purposes of today’s post, AMI, Dow Jones, and IDG (along with Hearst’s Good Housekeeping property) – are doing their best to keep pace with, if not outright mimic, the models of startup, regional, and niche magazines … many of which we count as Mequoda Members.
Why? Because these publishers are nimble, experimental, and scalable – exactly what legacies want to be in this day and age. They want strong content distributed well via unique products, ad packages, events, subscriptions, and social media strategies.
Are they succeeding? Let’s find out: MediaPost’s Publishers Daily has the latest batch of a news from the big boys.
AMI Digital Audience Development Accelerated in 2015
AMI’s digital efforts are paying off in the form of big audience gains to the tune of a 40% increase in 2015, MediaPost’s PublishersDaily reports.
“According to a statement, AMI Chief Digital Officer Brian Kroski attributed the company’s success to a strategy of applying a data-driven approach to AMI’s content, as well as a focus on ‘social media distribution and mobile-first product development,'” Sara Guaglione writes.
“In December, the company released a new mobile smartphone app for one of its tabloid brands, The National Enquirer. The launch followed an increase in both social media traffic and mobile traffic for the publication, at 64% and 108% growth year-on-year, respectively, according to The Association Of Magazine Media’s monthly ‘Magazine Media 360’ report.”
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Dow Jones Launching New Media Business
Dow Jones has created the Dow Jones Media Group in an effort to improve digital and new media efforts, MediaPost’s PublishersDaily reports.
“[Dow Jones CEO Will] Lewis added that the unit seeks to launch new products and ‘assume an increased role in video and will lead on collaboration projects with News Corp.’ [Dow Jones Media Group Publisher Almar] Latour said video is ‘definitely one of our priorities’ and that specific initiatives will be announced soon,” Guaglione writes.
“Latour said the media group will continue to build on existing brands’ current advertisers. ‘The hope is that as we develop we will attract more advertisers for each of these properties,’ he told Publishers Daily.”
Is IDG Up for Sale?
Our Boston neighbors IDG are looking into the possibility of selling the company, and the price could fetch upward of $7 billion, MediaPost’s PublishersDaily reports.
“The announcement by the publisher and producer of conferences like Demo and MacWorld comes nearly two years after the death of IDG founder and chairman Patrick McGovern. … McGovern started IDG in 1964 and launched Computerworld, its first publication, in 1967. IDG has grown worldwide to 460 Web sites, 200 mobile sites and apps and 179 print titles. It produces 700-plus events in 67 countries and employs more than 13,000 people worldwide,” Guaglione writes.
“In 2014, IDG shuttered the print edition of Macworld and turned it into a digital-only brand. Its last print magazine, CIO, was shut down last October and went digital only. However, the company still maintains print magazines in several international markets.”
Good Housekeeping Teams With Innit on Branded Content
Good Housekeeping and Innit make for the latest in a recent streak of publisher-brand partnerships. This one will focus on food and tech, MediaPost’s PublishersDaily reports.
“Under the terms of the deal, Good Housekeeping will develop content for Innit, enabling consumers to optimize flavor and nutrition while simplifying the cooking process,” Erik Sass writes.
“The campaign will also draw on the magazine’s extensive library of recipes. Good Housekeeping’s content will be delivered directly to consumers via Innit’s platform, giving them access to a range of content in their kitchens.”
Looking to join the ranks of top magazine publishers? Multiplatform strategy will get you there, and it turns out we wrote the book on it. Download our free Multiplatform Publishing Strategy Handbook today!
To read more about top magazine publishers in the news, visit MediaPost’s Publishers Daily.
