Cosmo clings to top slot just ahead of Marie Claire

Cosmopolitan has just held onto the top spot in the latest round of ABCs after posting a circulation figure 1,022 copies ahead of Marie Claire.

Marie Claire publishing director Heather Love claims the title will take the number-one slot in the July-December ABCs.

Cosmopolitan posted a circulation of 456,131 for January-June 1995, a 9.5 per cent increase on the same period last year, when the title slumped to 417,014.

Marie Claire’s a circulation was 455,109 for the same period, a growth of 14.3 per cent.

Former Cosmo editor Marcelle d’Argy Smith was replaced by Company’s editor, Mandi Norwood, last month. Company increased its circulation by 14 per cent to 305,829.

EMAP Elan’s Elle and New Woman remained static during the same period with circulations of 222,876 and 261,629 respectively. Elan managing director Sue Hawken says the company has plans to launch new titles.

In the teenage market, the newcomer Sugar posted a first ABC of 262,477 taking share from EMAP Elan’s Just Seventeen which fell six per cent to 244,573. EMAP’s More! continues to dominate the market with a five per cent rise to 416,167.

IPC Magazines yesterday (Tuesday) settled a libel award involving Yachting World. It was ordered to pay 1.49m damages to shipbuilder Walker Wingsail over an article published in January 1993. But after an appeal IPC will now pay 760,000 in an out of court settlement.