Salon sent subscribers a notice this morning that prices will be going up as of March 1: ad-free subscriptions will go to $45 from $35 while ad-supported subscriptions will rise to $29 from $22.50. Charter subscribers can continue to pay $30. As the notice points out, it’s only the second increase since Salon introduced the premium product. Current subs are being given the option to renew now at the current rate and have 12 months tacked on to their subscription. The online magazine plays the political card—election coverage is ramping up—and pulls the indie media heartstrings. 
When Salon reported earnings last November, the company said premium subscriptions had been declining since Dec. 31, 2004, when they peaked at 89,100. As of Sept. 31, 2006, premium subs numbered about 54,600 with a renewal rate of 59 percent; the renewal rate also had declined. Meanwhile, Salon’s reliance on advertising dollars has increased as has traffic to the site now in its second decade.
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