Historical Subscriptions/Single Copy Sales
The Circulation Mix
While many consumers prefer the convenience of home or work delivery, some 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 2011, 90% of total circulation was from magazine subscriptions, while single copy sales accounted for the remaining 10%.
ANNUAL COMBINED PAID AND VERIFIED AVERAGE CIRCULATION PER ISSUE OF ALL ABC MAGAZINES, 1970 - 2011
| 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 |
| 2008 |
324,818,012 |
43,664,772 |
368,363,773 |
| 2009 |
310,433,396 |
36,138,517 |
346,571,912 |
| 2010 |
292,237,864 |
32,999,207 |
325,237,070 |
| 2011 |
282,919,614 |
29,558,699 |
312,478,313 |
Sources: Averages calculated by the MPA Info Center from each year's first half and last half A.B.C. publishers statements. Comics, annuals and international editions are not included, only magazines with a frequency of quarterly or greater are included. The Audit Bureau of Circulations ruled in 2011 that digital editions would be reported as part of the Fas Fax data; as of March 2011 digital editions make up less than 1% of A.B.C.'s Fas Fax data.
