Periodical Publishers

The 3,600 periodical publishers in the US produce and distribute magazines and other periodicals in print or electronic form. General interest publications focus on a broad topic, such as arts, culture, leisure, entertainment, politics, business, or news. Other types of periodicals cater to a specific market and include trade publications, such as scholarly, medical, or scientific journals.

Competition From Alternative Media

Periodical publishers compete with a variety of alternative forms of media, including television, radio, newspapers, books, and digital media.

Variable Costs

Periodical publishers are exposed to risks associated with the cost of paper and postage.

Sep 11, 2026 - Industry Contraction Continues

• The number of US periodical publishers decreased 46% from 2010 through 2023, according to data from the US Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns. Publishing establishments are concentrated at the lower end of the employee-count spectrum. Small publishers (1 to 9 employees) comprise the bulk of the industry, accounting for 75% of all establishments, with 10–19-employee establishments accounting for 11%, 20–49-employee establishments accounting for 8%, and 50+-employee establishments at 6%.
• Some periodical publishers have sued AI platforms over the unauthorized scraping and use of their content while others have signed agreements with platforms for use of their content, according to the Press Gazette. US News & World Report and Ziff Davis are among the plaintiffs alleging unauthorized use. Time and Hearst are among the organizations that have made agreements. Some organizations, like News/Media Alliance and The New York Times, have sued some AI platforms but signed use agreements with others.
• More magazine publishers are relaunching print editions. Magazines including The Onion, Sports Illustrated, and Field & Stream have relaunched print editions in the past year, driven primarily by demand from millennials, according to Quill Magazine. Revenue growth for print has been slow and steady since plummeting in 2020 but remains negative, according to Quill Magazine. The audience for print magazines consists largely of elder millennials and just plain elders, according to Quill.
• Periodical publishing industry employment decreased slightly and average wages for nonsupervisory employees increased slightly during the first seven months of 2026, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Periodical publishers decreased prices slightly during the first eight months of 2026, according to the BLS. Periodical publisher sales are forecast to decrease at a 0.71% compounded annual rate from 2026 to 2030, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc.

Industry size & Structure

The average periodical publisher operates out of a single location, employs about 16 workers, and generates about $5.5 million annually.

• The periodical publishing industry consists of about 3,600 companies that employ about 57,000 workers and generate $20 billion annually.
• The industry is concentrated at the top and fragmented at the bottom; the top 50 companies account for 64% of industry revenue.
• Large publishing houses include RELX Group, International Data Group, and Meredith Corporation. Large firms typically hold portfolios with multiple titles and may also operate in related categories, such as broadcast (TV) media and book publishing.
• Small companies include city and regional magazines and highly targeted trade publications. Many markets can only support one subscription-based lifestyle publication, according to Folio Magazine.