Dragon Magazine Circulation

[dquinn]

Hey guys, my name is Daniel Quinn and I'm doing some graduate research on Dragon at Emerson College in Boston.

I'm looking for the circulation numbers posted in the issues for every year after 1998. I have the old Dragon CD archive with the first 250 issues, so getting circulation numbers from those issues isn't my problem; I also got the SRDS information for 2007 before it was removed with the close of the magazine, but I didn't subscribe to Dragon after the transition to 3rd edition, and so I need circulation numbers from the issues after 1998 (post-issue #250).

I would seek out these issues myself, but inter-library loans don't share periodicals, and no library physically near me has all the issues.

If any of you happen to have an issue citing the circulation after 1998 (I only need the one from each year after 1998 that cites the circulation, so 9 issues), could you please post it here and let me know what issue it was? I'll be eternally in your debt!

Best,
Daniel Quinn

P.S. I've done a search on the forum for this information, but due to the lack of users citing specific issues, I can't use that information.

[Tars Tarkas]

dquinn wrote:

If any of you happen to have an issue citing the circulation after 1998 (I only need the one from each year after 1998 that cites the circulation, so 9 issues), could you please post it here and let me know what issue it was? I'll be eternally in your debt!

Here are the issues that I had easy access to where I could find circulation statements:

Dragon 278, Dec 2000, p. 32, 10/1/2000 filing date
Dragon 290, Dec 2001, p. 20, 10/1/2001 filing date
Dragon 327, Jan 2005, p. 57, 10/6/2004 filing date
Dragon 339, Jan 2006, p. 81, 10/25/2005 filing date
Dragon 351, Jan 2007, p. 83, 9/29/2006 filing date

You can order PDFs or printed copies here.

You might look at issue 302 or 303 for the 10/2002 filing info and 314 or 315 for 10/2003 filing info -- but these are only guesses based on the pattern I found above.

[Erik Mona]

I'll pull this information for you tomorrow at work.

Did you know that I graduated from Emerson in 1996?

--Erik Mona
Editor-in-Chief
Dragon 326-359

[Aberzombie]

dquinn wrote:

Hey guys, my name is Daniel Quinn and I'm doing some graduate research on Dragon at Emerson College in Boston.

Dude, bad timing!

[dquinn]

Tars Tarkas wrote:

dquinn wrote:

If any of you happen to have an issue citing the circulation after 1998 (I only need the one from each year after 1998 that cites the circulation, so 9 issues), could you please post it here and let me know what issue it was? I'll be eternally in your debt!

Here are the issues that I had easy access to where I could find circulation statements:

Dragon 278, Dec 2000, p. 32, 10/1/2000 filing date
Dragon 290, Dec 2001, p. 20, 10/1/2001 filing date
Dragon 327, Jan 2005, p. 57, 10/6/2004 filing date
Dragon 339, Jan 2006, p. 81, 10/25/2005 filing date
Dragon 351, Jan 2007, p. 83, 9/29/2006 filing date

You can order PDFs or printed copies here.

You might look at issue 302 or 303 for the 10/2002 filing info and 314 or 315 for 10/2003 filing info -- but these are only guesses based on the pattern I found above.

Thank you so much for this information and the advice. I'm sorry I didn't mention this specifically, but can you also post what the circulation was?

I REALLY wanted to order the .pdfs to complete my archive, but I live off ham sandwiches these days. Maybe when I get a real job!

[dquinn]

Erik Mona wrote:

I'll pull this information for you tomorrow at work.

Did you know that I graduated from Emerson in 1996?

--Erik Mona
Editor-in-Chief
Dragon 326-359

Hmmm... you know that means I have to interview you. As I've been going over Dragon's history for the past couple of weeks, I've been mulling over who to talk to. If you have the time and are interested, I'd love to send some questions via email your way.

[dquinn]

Aberzombie wrote:

dquinn wrote:

Hey guys, my name is Daniel Quinn and I'm doing some graduate research on Dragon at Emerson College in Boston.

Dude, bad timing!

ha! That's true - though for my research, it's perfect timing, because I get to see the Dragon as a whole, from its start as The Strategic Review to what it had evolved into before last month. Plus I love Dragon, so this is going to be lots of fun.

[Erik Mona]

dquinn wrote:

Erik Mona wrote:

I'll pull this information for you tomorrow at work.

Did you know that I graduated from Emerson in 1996?

--Erik Mona
Editor-in-Chief
Dragon 326-359

Hmmm... you know that means I have to interview you. As I've been going over Dragon's history for the past couple of weeks, I've been mulling over who to talk to. If you have the time and are interested, I'd love to send some questions via email your way.

Sure. Shoot me an email and I'll be happy to answer your questions.

--Erik

[Marc Radle]

So, when this research paper is finished, especially if you do in fact interview Eric, would you consider letting us read it? Make it a PDF or something ...

Just curious ...

[Majuba]

Marc Radle 81 wrote:

So, when this research paper is finished, especially if you do in fact interview Eric, would you consider letting us read it? Make it a PDF or something ...

Just curious ...

Most definitely - I've always been intensely curious about the circulation.

[Sharoth]

I would be interested in reading it too.

[Turin the Mad]

Oh yes, and it could prove especially enlightening if, for instance, the circulation numbers reveal a significant increase under Paizo's stewardship... ^_^

[ericthecleric]

Well, I imagine the answer's yes and no. The hayday for D&D in terms of numbers playing/buying was the early mid-80s. So just now, I went to have a look at some of the issues from that era. Lo-and-behold, the first issue I grab (#80), was the December issue for that year 1983. Paid distribution was over 100,000 for that year. I didn't do an intensive search for 1984/85 (I couldn't find circulation figures in the Dec issues of those years, but only flicked through them), but I imagine the figures were similar.

However, I imagine that the general trend was one of decline after the mid-80s, and through the 90s and early 00s. It is probably the effect of the Erik Mona/James Jacobs/Jason Bulmahn team and the adventure paths that probably did improve sales a lot in the last few years, in comparison to the period 98-04, say.

Now I’ve made the above reasoned points, here’s some mischievous speculation for the reasons for decline in sales/circulation:
Numbers of the magazines probably started declining around the time that the FR was probably released. Therefore, it’s all the Forgotten Realms fault! ;-) (Or perhaps the fact that Gygax had been kicked out of TSR, who was the true visionary).
The growth of electronic entertainment (computers and games consoles) and other entertainment choices probably led to fewer readers in their teens/twenties.
The lower educational standards and reduced expectation of reading in society (yeh, blame the frickin’ lefties with their messed up ideas that bring everyone down, except those rich enough to afford proper education)
The fact that D&D (during the 3E years) has been aimed more at teenagers rather than people in their twenties. While the costs of producing magazines has gone up, teenagers earn a lot less than people in their twenties; but the magazines have followed the targeted age group, who have less disposable income (and more choices for their limited funds).

[dquinn]

Marc Radle 81 wrote:

So, when this research paper is finished, especially if you do in fact interview Eric, would you consider letting us read it? Make it a PDF or something ...

Just curious ...

Sure! The article is due the 30th and then has to go through editing and revision. I've got a former employee from WOTC and a freelance writer who contributed a number of articles to weigh in as well, but I'm shooting for some thoughts from the big G himself if I can manage to get in contact with him.

[dquinn]

ericthecleric wrote:

Well, I imagine the answer's yes and no. The hayday for D&D in terms of numbers playing/buying was the early mid-80s. So just now, I went to have a look at some of the issues from that era. Lo-and-behold, the first issue I grab (#80), was the December issue for that year 1983. Paid distribution was over 100,000 for that year. I didn't do an intensive search for 1984/85 (I couldn't find circulation figures in the Dec issues of those years, but only flicked through them), but I imagine the figures were similar.

Interesting speculations. I'm probably going to end up having to rely on the magazine's statement of circulation per annual issue, but I'd much rather get my numbers from SRDS, which is reported to advertisers. I may end up calling a number of libraries who have print copies of old SRDS issues to get more relevant numbers though.

[Brent Stroh]

ericthecleric wrote:

Now I’ve made the above reasoned points, here’s some mischievous speculation for the reasons for decline in sales/circulation:

Numbers of the magazines probably started declining around the time that the FR was probably released. Therefore, it’s all the Forgotten Realms fault! ;-) (Or perhaps the fact that Gygax had been kicked out of TSR, who was the true visionary).

Consider the fairly slow trickle of product in the early days - gamers subscribed to the mags in an effort to get content - ANY content. Contrast that to the period when FR and the other 200 settings were active - a pile of new products hit every month, making the magazines a less necessary item. Add in the growth of online discussions, etc, and the shared experience of gaming changed focus.