EMAP picks The Designers Republic for Q relaunch ads

EMAP’s Q magazine has appointed Sheffield-based agency The Designers Republic to create a television and press advertising campaign to coincide with the relaunch of the music title.

The agency’s brief will be to create a national campaign to promote the magazine’s “market-leading” position in the rock music market.

According to the July-December 2003 figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC), the magazine is the top-selling title in the sector.

The relaunched Q magazine, which will hit newsstands on August 1, will be increased in size slightly and has been editorially revamped to stem circulation and advertising revenue declines. Media planning and buying will be through Starcom Motive.

Q has suffered a massive decline in circulation. Its recent circulation fell by 10.3 per cent year on year and 6.3 per cent period on period to 161,634 copies. The rock music magazine sector, which includes Uncut, Mojo and NME, experienced a decline of 2.8 per cent year on year and 2.2 per cent period on period.

In a separate move, EMAP is also ploughing investment behind its men’s magazine FHM, which is also being relaunched on August 1. The revamped title will carry a new logo and include new editorial sections in the magazine.

FHM’s circulation has also been struggling in the tough men’s magazines sector, with sales falling by 3.1 per cent year on year to 601,166.

Last week, rival Dennis Publishing announced the closure of Jack, which it bought from James Brown-owned I Feel Good last June. The magazine was closed because it was no longer “commercially viable”.

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