Ca$h cow
Was in my favorite chain bookstore today and saw there was a new issue of MAKE Magazine.
I liked a few of the articles so went to buy it -- I don't usually.
Was startled to find the price had gone up to $14.95!!!
I don't know if this is still the case but the standard business model for magazines is that the advertising pays for the cost of production (authors fees, printing, shipping). Subscriptions are priced at unit cost plus about 40% (and since unit cost is already paid for, this is a 140% profit). Newsstand prices are wholesaled at 50%.
MAKE is MAKE alright: MAKE MONEY
Needless to say, running a successful magazine is an iffy thing these days. A lot of magazines are failing and once they start sliding down the tubes, there is no real path to recovery as advertisers pull out, the number of pages shrink as the $$$ to pay for good articles dwindles.
Still, there are some trade journals that thrive and are sending copies out for free. I get a few and treasure them.
Posted by DaveH at August 8, 2012 8:18 PM