Heat: Europe’s fastest-growing title
Heat is expected to show a record increase in today’s ABC results with sales in excess of 350,000 and a rise of more than 100 per cent on last year.
Threatened with closure just three years ago, radical repositioning and a £2m investment have seen sales shoot up from 65,000, making it, Emap claims, the fastest-growing magazine in Europe.
Heat editor Mark Frith, who has been at the helm throughout, said: "It has been a heady rise and it shows no sign of stopping." He said its success depended on the news story of the day but Heat’s exclusive interview with Big Brother stars Paul and Helen was the biggest-selling issue of the July to December period.
Cosmopolitan and Glamour are believed to be neck and neck on the news-stands with Glamour reporting a predicted downturn after last year’s successful launch. Company is expected to show a 17 per cent increase on the previous period after slashing its cover price to match Glamour’s £1.50. Insiders say New Woman has shown signs of overtaking Marie Claire on the news-stands.
Vogue, Elle and She are also expected to reveal a decline. Vogue publishing director Stephen Quinn said the magazine had been "buffeted" by the terrorist attacks of 11 September. Its October issue, with Naomi Campbell and Puff Daddy on the cover, went on sale three days after the tragedy and sales dropped by 10 to 12 per cent.
Quinn said people turned to newspapers instead of magazines, although sales have since recovered.
By Ruth Addicott
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