The Scottish Daily Mail and its sister paper the Scottish Mail on Sunday are continuing to enjoy a remarkable success story north of the border.
The ABC’s Scottish actively purchased sales figures for May reveal that both papers decisively increased their year-on-year sales.
The Daily Mail was up by 5.1 per cent to 130,016 – an increase of 6,313 copies on May 2003, while the Scottish Mail on Sunday leapt by 11.1 per cent, selling an extra 13,219 copies to hit the 132,405 mark.
Although both papers were giving away free CDs, so was the Scottish Daily Express, down 1.9 per cent to 78,690, and the Scottish Sunday Express, which marginally increased sales by 2.9 per cent to 54,344.
In the quality market, the compact Independent is increasingly proving a hit with Scottish readers, albeit from a low readership base. It sold 9,041 copies in May – a 90.1 per cent year-on-year increase.
The Times, which went compact in Scotland last week, was down 10.6 per cent to 25,009. The Daily Telegraph and Guardian also recorded lower sales.
In the quality Sunday market, The Sunday Times Scotland consolidated its position as the top-selling quality Sunday with sales up 0.6 per cent to 77,122.
Among the redtops, the Scottish Daily Star’s sale, at 91,559, was up 51.4 per cent on May 2003, while the Scottish Daily Mirror slumped by 33.8 per cent to 59,913.
By Hamish Mackay
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog