Media Sales Today

The magazine industry has had a rough couple of years, with numerous titles closing during that time. New numbers from the Publishers Information Bureau (PIB), however, show that the industry ended 2010 with a 3.1% increase in rate-card-reported revenue year over year. According to the PIB, this is the first full-year revenue increase since 2007.

Can you stand one more advertising revenue forecast? The first quarter has just ended, and revised 2010 forecasts are popping up. A new forecast from Barclays Capital has ad revenue numbers for some traditional media types being revised up instead of down for the first time in several quarters.

More than 48% of U.S. adults believe that a lack of advertising by a retail store, bank or auto dealership during a recession indicates the business must be struggling. Likewise, a vast majority perceives businesses that continue to advertise as being competitive or committed to doing business.

Automakers were among the first to spend big dollars online, and auto Web sites have commanded some of the highest online rates. But The Wall Street Journal reports that while as the industry cuts costs as well as their brands, spending is leveling off. Traffic to these sites – like Edmunds.com and KBB.com – is also down, as consumers put any car buying thoughts on hold.