Harvard Business Review reports 10% circulation growth, highest in its 95-year history

Harvard Business Review posted record-breaking circulation growth in the first half of 2017, according to a recently released report from the Alliance for Audited Media (AAM).

In the past six months, HBR’s overall paid circulation increased from 276,428 to 304,680 – a 10.2% gain. (As filed with AAM. Subject to audit.) This achievement reflects all-time high renewal rates, strong production of new subscriptions through digital marketing efforts, and strong performance of HBR’s January-February and March-April issues on the newsstand.

2017 has been a transformative year for HBR. In January, it introduced a bold new magazine design that delivers a more premium reading experience. As part of the redesign, HBR changed its frequency from 10 to six issues a year while expanding its array of digital, subscriber-only content. It also introduced The Big Idea, a new interactive approach to launching long form features with authors. Other efforts include HBR Bot, a Slack bot that delivers workplace advice; regular shows on Facebook Live; HBR’s Management Tip on Alexa; and HBR Ascend, a mobile-first digital product for young professionals in India.

“The Harvard Business Review brand has never been stronger,” said Josh Macht, Executive Vice President, Product Innovation, and HBR Group Publisher. “Our new products – from the redesigned magazine to the Big Idea – are delivering increasing value to an audience that has expanded enormously in just the past few years. Our most loyal fans are clearly pleased with the changes, and we’re bringing many new readers into the mix as well.”

“Our goal is to publish ideas that improve how companies operate and how people manage their careers,” said Adi Ignatius, Harvard Business Review Editor in Chief. “Every day, we push ourselves to find ever greater ways to expand our impact, to make sure these ideas have the greatest possible reach and influence.”

Along with its 300,000+ paid circulation, HBR receives an average of 6.5 million unique visitors each month to HBR.org and has more than 11 million social media followers.

Since last year, advertising has increased 5%, with double-digit growth in webinars, analytic services, mobile, sponsored content, and podcasts.