• by May 13, 2019

Australia’s magazine readership rose 1.6% in the past year, a modestly positive sign that its publishers can maintain or grow their print and online audiences.

More than 15.2 million Australians ages 14 or older read a magazine during the year-long period ended in March, according to market researcher Roy Morgan.

The Australian Women’s Weekly, published by Bauer Media Group, overtook Better Homes & Gardens to be the top paid title in the country with readership that grew 3.7% to 1.54 million during the period. Women’s Weekly’s total audience including digital rose about 15% to 2.6 million.

Better Homes & Gardens slumped 11% to 1.51 million, but it still reigns as the most-read magazine in the home and garden category.

Bauer’s Good Health boosted its cross-platform audience by 34% to 1.47 million, including readership from Bauer’s online hub, Now to Love, which aggregates its Australian titles on a single website.

Australian Geographic, the bimonthly nature magazine that last year was sold to TV production company Northern Pictures, boosted print readership by 21% to 1.33 million to become Australia’s fifth-most popular title.

Fashion titles also were strong with Vogue Australia rising 21% to 420,000, Marie Claire growing 13% to 289,000 and Harper’s Bazaar gaining 28% to 148,000 readers.

Among free titles, supermarket chain Coles boosted readership of its magazine by 11% to 4.84 million, making it the most-read title in Australia. Store chain Woolworths saw gains of 3.8% to 4.2 million for its Fresh magazine.

“Even in the increasingly competitive marketplace with a proliferation of media choices for consumers, magazines are still offering advertisers a direct line to many valuable Aussie consumers,” Michele Levine, CEO of Roy Morgan, stated.