Magazine publishers are increasingly launching membership programmes to build on the growing subscription numbers many have seen during the coronavirus pandemic.

Both Bauer, one of the UK’s biggest magazine groups, and Bath-based specialist health and wellbeing publisher Anthem launched membership schemes in January.

At Bauer, film magazine Empire has launched a VIP subscriber club that combines subscriptions to the print title and its Spoiler Special podcast (previously a separate paid-for option) with access to live events with Empire staff and a Picturehouse membership, which will be activated once cinemas reopen and includes free cinema tickets..