Researching target audiences
- 1. Researching target audiences OF MUSIC MAGAZINES
- 2. Founded by Mark Ellen and David Hepworth, with publishing the first ever issue in October of 1986. The aim for them was to reconnect the music press to the older generation of who were buying CD’s at that time. This magazine differentiated as at the time they sold a new issue per month. The technology of CD’s was just brought in, so the older generation was least expected to purchase it therefore there was no other magazines which were targeting to older customers. The magazine provided high standards of photography and printing. The main changes of the magazine from the first ever sold issues is the masthead, as it originally was called ‘cue’ , but a confusion was caused as people thought they meant a snooker cue rather than a cuing record. This also ensured that the magazine was very easy to recognise and remember. Also, the magazine used to be subtitled 'The modern guide to music and more' which has changed to 'Discover great music'. Q magazine Statistics of Q;
- 3. Kerrang! Magazine Kerrang magazine is mostly a UK based music magazine. The publishers of it are the Bauer Media Group but the original owner of it are United Newspapers. First issue off the magazine was published on June 6th 1981 as a one off-supplement in the sounds newspaper. The magazine started by selling monthly issues, which then turned in to an issue per fortnight, then eventually in 1987 started to release an issue every week. The selling price of the magazine was set at £2.20. The magazine was specifically developed for a new wave of British heavy metal and hard rock acts. The name of the magazine is meant to reflect the sound a power chord on the guitar makes when it’s being played. The circulation of the magazine is over 43 thousand. In the early 2000s the magazine received a lot of recognition causing it to become the bestselling music magazine in the UK. The main target audience of Kerrang are 14-21 year old rock/heavy metal lovers, which is most likely to be predominately male. Statistics of Kerrang!;
- 4. Billboard magazine Billboard is a news weekly magazine devoted to music and the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world; the first issue was published in 1894. The magazine is sold internationally. There is a large focus on the on the charts and what it the most popular songs, bands and artist at the time the magazine are issued. The magazine does not focus on only one genre of music. Billboard is made by Prometheus Global Media which is a media company in the U.S. When Billboard was first issued, the target audience was not a big deal but as time has gone on, we see the changes have been made to look more eye-catching and also relating to the target audience more with the colours, bands, artists and information which is on the front cover and is more likely to interest the target audience of the magazine. The age range of this magazine varies from 16-26 as it provides information on different genres of music. The magazines font suggests that the audience of this as it’s not overcrowded with gossip and has a professional mature outlook with consistent colour schemes and a continues updates on the same information (music charts).
- 5. My target audience I have decided that I will aim my magazine at 16-25 year olds, my target audience will be both male and female instead of just focusing on just one gender. I ma going to make it look professional and mature, so it is clear of what type of audience it is aimed at. I will yet decide on a colour scheme but I am certain that white and black will be my main base colours, whick also will bring maturity to the magazine.