Michigan biz publication to begin charging for content

After 28 years as a free publication, regional business newspaper MiBiz will begin charging an annual subscription fee in 2016.

The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based business fortnightly said it plans to invest in expanded editorial coverage, as well as new digital products, reader events and marketing programs that will benefit readers and advertisers.

MiBiz, which is mailed to 10,400 business readers every other week, will begin charging an annual subscription fee of $59 in January 2016. The publication’s goal is to double its print circulation to 20,000 subscribers by 2018.

As part of the move to paid circulation, MiBiz plans to reduce the amount of free content it shares on its MiBiz.com website. Instead, MiBiz intends to give subscribers “ahead of the curve” access to breaking news and in-depth reporting, analysis and data on the industry sectors that drive the West Michigan region’s economy.

The publication also plans to launch an upgraded website in 2016 that will provide subscribers with exclusive access to a variety of proprietary databases and business intelligence tools.

“Our goal is to be a subscriber-first publication,” MiBiz Publisher Brian Edwards said in a statement. “We intend to give our paid subscribers an edge by providing them valuable business information ahead of the curve as well as exclusive research and data they won’t find elsewhere.”