Mag Bag: Millennials Read Mags on Smartphones

Mobilephone-MagazineWith the American Magazine Conference coming up next week, the MPA (the Association of Magazine Media) has unleashed research showing that magazines are gaining traction and building audiences via digital platforms, including smartphones.
 
In one new study, “Magazine Media Readers and Their Smart Phones,” GfK MRI examined the media consumption habits of adults 18-34 with a focus on their ubiquitous handheld devices, especially Apple iPhones and Android devices, as well as attitudes toward content sharing, advertising, QR codes and e-commerce.
 
Among the study’s main findings: among adults ages 18-34 who read magazines and own a smartphone, 83% have accessed or downloaded a magazine branded app via a digital newsstand, downloading an average of 2.6 magazine apps, while more 35% use a newsreader to view magazine digital content. Eighty-six percent have accessed digital magazine content on their smartphone from home, while 43% read the content at work, and 31% during their commute.
 
In terms of content categories, the most popular magazine apps for smartphones are food, news and sports magazine apps, followed by celebrity/entertainment and science/technology. Seventy-seven percent say that pictures and photo galleries enhance the smartphone magazine reading experience.
 
On the advertising front, 66% read or tap on advertisements appearing in digital magazines on their smartphones, and 65% have snapped QR codes, Microsoft Tags or other links in response to ads. Moving to e-commerce, three out of 10 respondents said they would like to be able to buy products and services directly from articles and features in magazine content on smartphones.
 
In the first week of October, 13 of the 15 highest-grossing iPad lifestyle apps were from magazines.
 
Wine Spectator Launches WineRatings+ App
 
If you’re a wine snob, an aspiring wine snob, or you just like to know what you’re drinking, Wine Spectator has an app for you. WineRatings+, now available at the iTunes App Store, allows users to browse vintages by 55 principal wine regions and grape varieties, and also provides a real-time newsfeed covering wine culture, news, and events. Users can customize wine searches with filters like price, producer, and score, and also share their favorites via Facebook, Twitter, and email.
 
Hartman To Time Inc. Group Publisher of News and Business
 
Jed Hartman, who previously served as group publisher for Fortune, has been named group publisher of news and business by Time Inc., giving him additional responsibilities for Time and Money. Hartman is expected to named vice-presidents of sales for those titles. Money Publisher Brendan Ripp is taking up the role of vice president of sales for Fortune. In the first half of the year Fortune’s ad pages were up 4% to 654, while Money slipped 3.3% to 229, and Time tumbled 19.1% to 539, according to the Publishers Information Bureau.
 
VandenBosch Named SVP, Chief Digital Officer, MXM
 
Meredith Xcelerated Marketing has named Kristi D. VandenBosch to the position of senior vice president and chief digital officer, a new post, which contains Meredith’s marketing services agencies, including data analytics, social and mobile marketing. VandenBosch will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of MXM’s extensive digital practice, with a focus on expanding its client base. Her previous experience includes leading a regional network for TBWA Worldwide; as North American president of digital agency TEQUILA; and managing director stints at both Omnicom’s Direct Partners and Draft Worldwide.

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