Heavy Metal Magazine Sales History

The information on this page is fully up to date, as of: May, 2012


Here is the sales history for Heavy Metal magazine. Although these numbers might look a little deceiving, because it is only the total for issues sold through subscriptions or stores when they initially come out and does not include online sales, or back issues sold, etc. Also 2007 to 2010 includes Special / Theme issues.

The pattern of dropping sales has a lot to do with the effect of a changing world since the late 1990's. The entertainment business is stretching more then it ever has. Movies, games, Internet, television, music, radio, books, comics, and magazines are all fighting for attention. Piracy is also a problem with most forms of entertainment. Along with this, some comic shops are struggling to stay open. This also affects the initial sales of Heavy Metal because it's getting harder to find in the stores. However, online sales are easy, but that doesn't count towards the initial sales total.

In each January issue (or December for older issues) there is a "Statement Of Ownership" printed. The number to look for is the "Total Paid Distribution" or "Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation" or "Total Paid Circulation" or something to that effect. This is the average number of initial sales for the year per issue.

The pre-1994 dates listed may not be exact, and may be an issue or two off, as the information in the Statement Of Ownership doesn't define exactly what the "preceding 12 months" are.

  • Circulation - Issue Dates; Notes Of Interest
  • 144,232 ------ Apr 1977 to Aug 1977; The magazine is born
  • 202,818 ------ Sep 1977 to Aug 1978
  • 204,015 ------ Sep 1978 to Aug 1979
  • 183,886 ------ Sep 1979 to Aug 1980; Ted White is hired as Editor
  • 172,116 ------ Sep 1980 to Aug 1981; Ted White is fired as Editor
  • 234,106 ------ Sep 1981 to Aug 1982; Heavy Metal: The Movie is released in theaters
  • 205,856 ------ Sep 1982 to Aug 1983
  • 171,970 ------ Sep 1983 to Aug 1984
  • 147,870 ------ Sep 1984 to Aug 1985
  • 122,475 ------ Sep 1985 to Sum 1986; Magazine goes quarterly and slightly changes style
  • 112,457 ------ Fall 1986 to Sum 1987; The original Métal Hurlant is discontinued
  • 114,923 ------ Fall 1987 to Sum 1988
  • 111,479 ------ Fall 1988 to July 1989; Magazine goes bi-monthly
  • 115,883 ------ Sep 1989 to July 1990; Magazine sold to Tim Matheson and Dan Grodnik
  • 114,856 ------ Sep 1990 to July 1991; Magazine sold to J2 Communications
  • 114,887 ------ Sep 1991 to July 1992; Magazine sold to Kevin Eastman
  • 130,263 ------ Sep 1992 to July 1993
  • 142,958 ------ Sep 1993 to July 1994
  • 141,827 ------ Sep 1994 to July 1995
  • 127,917 ------ Sep 1995 to July 1996; Heavy Metal: The Movie is released on video
  • 115,011 ------ Sep 1996 to July 1997
  • 104,866 ----- July 1997 to May 1998
  • 96,536 ------- Sep 1998 to July 1999
  • 92,034 ------- July 1999 to May 2000
  • 89,164 ------- July 2000 to May 2001; Heavy Metal 2000 movie and F.A.K.K.² game are released
  • 82,636 ------- May 2001 to Mar 2002; Heavy Metal: Geomatrix game is released
  • 72,264 ------- May 2002 to Mar 2003
  • 66,360 ------- May 2003 to Mar 2004
  • 64,038 ------- Mar 2004 to Jan 2005
  • 60,148 ------- Mar 2005 to Jan 2006
  • 57,101 ------- Mar 2006 to Jan 2007
  • 52,417 ------- May 2007 to Spr 2008
  • 50,049 ------- Sep 2007 to Sum 2008
  • 43,212 ------- Sep 2008 to Sum 2009
  • 37,128 ------- Sep 2009 to Sum 2010
  • 19,324 ------- July 2011 to May 2012; Magazine stops Special / Theme issues