Emap's market leaders Q and Mojo both compounded the losses of the previous set of results. Q alone has lost more than 28,000 readers in the past year.
In the weekly market, bitter rivals Kerrang! and New Musical Express both lost ground.
But the direct competition between the two, which only a few years ago would systematically tip in NME's favour, now sees the advantage firmly in the hands of the rockers.
Some of the music sector's declines are potentially mitigated by brand extension activity on other platforms.
NME, in particular, now operates as a genuine multimedia brand, with 1.2 million unique users of its NME.com site and a profitable sideline in live events and mobile products.
Eric Fuller, managing director of IPC Ignite!, pointed out: "If you add up print, online, mobile, live events, tours and retail CDs, that is a really rich multi-platform offering, and for a brand like the NME that is really where the power of the brand lies."
The success story among the music press is the Future stable, where Classic Rock has added 11,000 readers - 20% - in the past year. Metal Hammer grew 0.3%, period on period, though its 8.3% increase on last year was a hard act to follow.
Chris Ingham, publisher of both titles, said: "There is no secret formula. They are both products people really like, made with a lot of care and attention and a lot of feedback mechanisms to their readership.
He continued: "We know what our readers want and we pay very close attention to getting the basics right."
In the film sector, the news was better, with a 2% circulation growth period on period, though Total Film dropped 0.5% in the latest six-month timespan.
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