According to MediaFinder, which claims to be the largest online database of U.S. and Canadian publications, 90 magazines were launched in the first half of 2010. That is way down from 187 titles launched during the same period in 2009.

However, despite the significant drop in new titles launched, there have also been a great deal less to die. Only 87 magazines went under during the first half of this year, compared to 279 in the first half of 2009. Additionally, 16 print magazines converted to online-only formats, compared to 43 in 2009.

"More magazine titles would have ceased publication but fortunately were acquired and continued publication," says Trish Hagood, President of MediaFinder publisher Oxbridge Communications. "Smaller companies took advantage of the opportunity to buy magazines from Reed Business Information and Nielsen Business Media, who were struggling to divest themselves quickly of many b-to-b titles."

The food category led new magazine launches with 10, while the home category led shutdowns, losing 10 titles. However, the home category also gained 5.

In the B2B space, 35 titles were lost, while 17 were launched. Hat tip to AdAge for pointing to MediaFinder’s release.