Most females who took part in my survey were between 16 and 20, however I do not know there exact age because this is a four year gap but I believe music magazines have young aged readers, around 16 years, so for my music magazine my target audience age will be around 16-18 years of age.
Most read magazines related to the R&B and HipHop genres, I know this is what type of genre my music magazine will be on. I also lsiten to these genres of music and so I can include artists or bands that I know people are listening to now, I can also look on chart hit television channels and websites so I know who is currently number one and who has stayed number one for many weeks, then this could be an idea of what I could include as a story for my double page spread.
Most magazines cost between £2.01 and £2.50 and this what also what the most people were prepared to pay for a music magazine. I think £2.50 for a magazine suggests it includes more than just information on music, artists, bands, gigs, etc, I think it would include other things, like freebies. I have chosen my magazine cost about £2, as I think this is neither too expensive or too cheap that it might put people off as they might think the magazine doesn't include interesting stories, freebies or good quality information about artists/bands.
Most people who took part in my survey expected magazines to include interviews, news on celebrities and reviews, therefore when I create my magazine these are the things I know people want. I may also add more things in my magazines so it will be interesting for everyone. I will include what the majority of people want, but I will also include poster(s), information on gigs and perhaps freebies.
When asked what will make them more inclined to buy a magazine the results were similar in numbers, so I know to include discount offers, freebies, posters and reviews. I may try including more things, as then it will cater for different people's needs, this may increase the number of people wanting to read the magazine.
The people who took my survey also said they prefer magazines that use informal language rather than formal, so when I create my magazine the writing will be informal. I think if I was to go against the majority of people and do formal language the magazine won't get many readers. I think it will put people off reading the magazine as it will sound more like a newspaper, rather than a teenage magazine.
They also want writing to be in black lower case, except for the headline, which they wanted in bold. My magazine font will be in black lower case, to look sophisticated rather than have in colours and look more appealing to a much younger age, rather than 16 year olds - who are going to be my target audience's age. The headline will be in bold and this is so it can grab the readers attention and encourage them to buy an read my magazine.
The people said they want about four headlines and three pictures on the front page, so when I create my magazine I will know what people want. I know if there a four main headings on the front cover it will look like my magazine covers a good range of stories, or a lot of information if, for example, my heading was on a band/artist who are doing tours.
The people who took my survey said there should also be five pictures on a double page spread. Although people said five pictures, I may be inclined to do three smaller pictures and two bigger pictures. I want there to be enough text to be a good story (like on Vibe's double page spread) rather than too many pictures and a little story (like on Kerrang's double page spread).
For the text there was an even result for lower case and italics. I will include lower case, otherwise it will seem very shouty, rather than an engaging story. I think i'll include italics as it will bring something fresh and new to music magazines. Most music magazines are lower case text, however I'm going to break this code and convention of a contemporary music magazine and include italics.
For what type of stories they want headlined on the front page there was an equal result for information on freebies and on interviews. People said they wanted four headlines, so I may include freebies, interviews, gigs and celebrity news as headlines, this way it will appeal to a mass audience and look like I have included many stories or interviews rather than just a few.
 |
| Kerrang front cover |
 |
| Kerrang contents page |
 |
| Kerrang double page spread |
 |
| Top of the Pops content page |
 |
| Top of the Pops contents pages |
 |
| Top of the Pops double page spread |
 |
| Vibe front cover |
 |
| Vibe contents page |
 |
| Vibe double page spread |
So, what is a music magazine?
Wikipedia describes a music magazine as a magazine dedicated to music and to the culture of music.
Music magazines are mainly based around the music industry, however some may include things like fashion. Most magazines are specific on types of genre, particular artist or band. Music magazines are owned by publishing companies, some publishing companies include: IPC, Bauer, Wenner Media and Vibe media. Publishers are there to make the music magazines available to the public. They are also the funders of the music magazines.
These types of magazines typically include: music news, interviews, photoshoots and concert reviews. Music magazies were a big thing in the United Kingdom with NME (New Musical Express). The current music magazines in the UK include: Q, Kerrang! and Mojo (these are all published by EMAP).
Magazines usually have a pop music focus rather than rock and they are aimed at a younger target audience, such as Smash Hits and Top of the Pops magazines. There are different magazines for different genres, for example Kerrang and Metal Hammer are for the rock or metal genre. Examples of pop music magazines include Smash Hits and Top of the Pops. Target audiences differ but in general most music magazines have a typical audience of teenage males, although my survey found it was the majority of females who were the ones who read music magazines. Kerrang, for example, only attracts a certain group in society, those who listen to rock, this is because they break society's norms and values by occassionally using swear words.
Music magazines follow some codes and conventions which the audience expects to see across different music magazines. However, these codes and conventions vary slightly depending on which genre they're about, but most magazines are similar in their codes and conventions. Usually the mast head is at the top, there may be a sell line aswell, for example Kerrang's sell line is 'Life is Loud'. Also magazines have a barcode, issue number and a date, these are usually small as no one cares about them, these are usually at the bottom which follows the 'Z' code and convention. The cover star is nearly always in the centre of the front page, this is to show who is the main story, this cover photo can either be a location or a studio shot. Other stories and freebies are usually at the bottom and this is called the plug. There are often only three colours on the front page of a music magazine and this is to make it seem less cluttered, also there aren't many small pictures for the same reason.
Music magazines aren't generally advertised in the same way as usual magazines. For instance, Closer may be advertised on television, whereas Top of the Pops may not (seeing as the TV show is not longer aired). Some magazines may be advertised on TV if they're part of a television channel. Some music magazines may be advetised on social networking sites, such as Facebook, or have there own twitter account to promote themselves.
IPC
IPC is a Time Warner Company.
IPC is the UK’s leading consumer in magazine and digital publisher. IPC has more than sixty iconic media brands, including: NME, Woman’s weekly and Marie Claire. IPC creates content for different platforms across: print, online, mobile, tablets and events. They engage with a total of twenty-sex million UK adults, which include almost two thirds of women and over forty per cent of men.
The IPC have three publishing divisions: IPC Connect, IPC Inspire and IPC Southbank.
IPC Connect is a women’s market that works with women’s papers including: Now and Chat and women’s TV entertainment including: What’s on TV and TVTimes. Connect’s magazines are read by 9.4 women, this is 49% of all mass market women. IPC Connect serves its consumers in the following key sectors: celebrity and fashion, lifestyle, traditional, TV and entertainment, real life and casual gaming.
IPC Inspire is a men’s portfolio that includes leisure brands including: Country Life and Rugby World. It also includes lifestyle brands such as: Nuts and Mousebreaker.
IPC Southbank is an upmarket women’s market that is about luxury fashion brands including: Marie Claire and InStyle. It also includes lifestyle brands including: woman&home and Essentials. It also features home interests such as: Ideal Home and housetohome.
Alongside the three publishing divisions is the IPC advertising. This allows clients and agencies to purchase personalised advertising solutions across all of their brands and across a variety of platforms and Marketforce. The IPC Advertising is the UK’s leading newstrade sales and Distribution Company.
Bauer Media
Bauer Media is a sister company of H Bauer Publishing, publisher of UK's bigest TV listings, including: Take a Break and Bella.
Bauer Media is a division of the Bauer Media Groups, which is Europe’s largest privately owned publishing group. Although the group is large in Europe it is a worldwide media domain offering over three hundred magazines in fifteen countries, they also offer online, TV and radio stations. Bauer Media joined the Bauer Media Group in January 2008 and is now a specialist in magazines, radio, TV, online and digital business.
Bauer Media is a multi-platform UK based media Group consisting of many companies collected around two main divisions: magazines and radio
Bauer media influences nineteen million UK adults every week. They have more than eighty influential media brands. The media brands covering a wide range of interests. The different types of media brands include: heat, Closer, Magic Kiss 100 and 4Music.
Bauer magazine started in 1953 with the launch of Angling Times and then they bought Motor Cycle News in 1956, both of the magazines are still iconic brands within their portfolio. In 1994, the company bought a small magazine called For Him Magazine, which is now the best-selling international multi-platform brand FHM.
Wenner Media
Wenner Media is a publishing company, based in New York, formally known as Straight Arrow Publisers. The company produces radio and television programs. The company, also, operates websites for its magazines, such as: Men's Journal; Rolling Stone and US Weekly.
Wenner Media was founded by Jann Wenner in 1967. It was orginally foundd in San Fransico, but in 1977 it moved to New York.
In 2006, circulation was at al all-time high of 1.5 million copies sold every fortnight.
Vibe Media
Vibe media is a content and advertising network which represents over 25 websites; several publication, TV shows and media platforms. They receive over 19 million consumers a month. They specialise in urban entertainment and media. Vibe Media creates solutions for advertising looking to engage with consumers though music, entertainment, culture and lifestyle. Publishers use Vibe Media's technology and content platfrom to create, cofigure and distribute custom-branded, local online and mobile applications.
No comments:
Post a Comment