Main Task- Print Main Task- Print

Music Magazine Research Music Magazine Research and Planningand Planning

Josh RobinsonJosh Robinson

My Music Magazine- BasicsMy Music Magazine- Basics

My music magazine is going to be called ‘The My music magazine is going to be called ‘The Middle-Mag’. My magazine is going to be an Middle-Mag’. My magazine is going to be an alternative rock magazine. alternative rock magazine. This magazine will feature bands who a lot of This magazine will feature bands who a lot of people like and the good thing about this genre people like and the good thing about this genre of music is that it isn’t aimed at a minority. The of music is that it isn’t aimed at a minority. The bands that may be featured are MGMT, Two bands that may be featured are MGMT, Two Door Cinema Club, The Script and maybe Door Cinema Club, The Script and maybe others. Most of those bands have at least 1 of others. Most of those bands have at least 1 of their songs that almost everyone likes, so they their songs that almost everyone likes, so they might be interested in reading some of the cover might be interested in reading some of the cover stories on them, so therefore buy the magazine.stories on them, so therefore buy the magazine.

Research of other Research of other magazinesmagazines

Music Magazine 1: NMEMusic Magazine 1: NMEBackground infoBackground info

By 1973 By 1973 NMENME was selling almost 300,000 copies a week, ahead of was selling almost 300,000 copies a week, ahead of weekly rivals, weekly rivals, Melody Maker, Disc, Record Mirror Melody Maker, Disc, Record Mirror and and SoundsSounds. .

The NME is described as the biggest selling and most respected music The NME is described as the biggest selling and most respected music weekly in the world, which means it’s very popular.weekly in the world, which means it’s very popular.

Their total circulation is around 33 thousand. Their total circulation is around 33 thousand.

Target AudienceTarget Audience

Their audience is more general than other music magazines but is Their audience is more general than other music magazines but is mostly rock band/pop. This means that boy band fans and lovers of mostly rock band/pop. This means that boy band fans and lovers of rock would be the main audience that NME attracts. However, the rock would be the main audience that NME attracts. However, the genre of music magazine NME is, means that it appeals to a wider genre of music magazine NME is, means that it appeals to a wider audience of both genders.audience of both genders.

NME- Front CoverNME- Front Cover

The front cover of NME follows a certain pattern and style. It has The front cover of NME follows a certain pattern and style. It has an image of a band member/music artist near the middle of the an image of a band member/music artist near the middle of the cover with ‘NME’ written in red in the top left hand side. cover with ‘NME’ written in red in the top left hand side.

The main cover lines are usually an interview with an artist and/or The main cover lines are usually an interview with an artist and/or a quote from an artist in other media or the exclusive interview. All a quote from an artist in other media or the exclusive interview. All these features and patterns that NME do on the front cover of their these features and patterns that NME do on the front cover of their magazine makes it distinct from other magazines. magazine makes it distinct from other magazines.

Music Magazine 2: Top of the PopsMusic Magazine 2: Top of the Pops

BackgroundBackground

BBC Worldwide, London. Fortnightly. March 1995-BBC Worldwide, London. Fortnightly. March 1995-Brand extension from the long-running television series, launched Brand extension from the long-running television series, launched with Peter Loraine as editor.with Peter Loraine as editor.

Six months later, BBC TV announced the end of Six months later, BBC TV announced the end of Top of the PopsTop of the Pops, , the world's longest running weekly music show (started in January the world's longest running weekly music show (started in January 1964). The closure cast doubt over the magazine spin-off, whose 1964). The closure cast doubt over the magazine spin-off, whose sales had dropped to 96,576. However, with the demise of sales had dropped to 96,576. However, with the demise of Smash Smash HitsHits, , TotPTotP's sales recovered to 105,025 by 2007.'s sales recovered to 105,025 by 2007.

Their total circulation is around 98 thousand. Their total circulation is around 98 thousand.

Target AudienceTarget Audience Their audience is fans of boy bands or singers and is aimed at the Their audience is fans of boy bands or singers and is aimed at the

fans of pop music, which is obvious considering the name of the fans of pop music, which is obvious considering the name of the magazine.magazine.

Top of the Pops- Front CoverTop of the Pops- Front Cover

The front cover of Top of the pops also follows a certain pattern and style to The front cover of Top of the pops also follows a certain pattern and style to make it distinct and suitable for their audience. make it distinct and suitable for their audience.

The writing of ‘top of the pops’ is always in bright pink and aims generally The writing of ‘top of the pops’ is always in bright pink and aims generally towards the female market. Pink is a more feminine colour and so it is used towards the female market. Pink is a more feminine colour and so it is used to appeal to their target audience. There is usually someone like Justin to appeal to their target audience. There is usually someone like Justin Bieber as the main image due to him being very popular with the mass Bieber as the main image due to him being very popular with the mass female market. ‘top of the pops’ is written at the top in the centre which is female market. ‘top of the pops’ is written at the top in the centre which is quite ordinary and doesn't stand out. This is done deliberately to focus the quite ordinary and doesn't stand out. This is done deliberately to focus the attention on and emphasise the main image as it is the aspect of the front attention on and emphasise the main image as it is the aspect of the front cover that will entice the audience want to buy it the most .cover that will entice the audience want to buy it the most .

Front Cover ComparisonFront Cover Comparison

The character in the NME image is central The character in the NME image is central and looking directly at the camera which is and looking directly at the camera which is similar to the Top of the Pops magazine. similar to the Top of the Pops magazine.

Both magazines main image bleed in to Both magazines main image bleed in to the title of the magazine. The image on the title of the magazine. The image on ‘NME’ bleeds over the ‘E’ and the main ‘NME’ bleeds over the ‘E’ and the main image on ‘TOTP’ usually bleeds over ‘the’. image on ‘TOTP’ usually bleeds over ‘the’.

Front Cover ComparisonFront Cover Comparison

The NME magazine image is an image of a music The NME magazine image is an image of a music artist with a serious expression on their face whereas artist with a serious expression on their face whereas on the cover of the Top of the Pops magazine the on the cover of the Top of the Pops magazine the person in the image is relaxed and smiling. These person in the image is relaxed and smiling. These images are different as both magazines are trying to images are different as both magazines are trying to aim towards different target audiences, so they need aim towards different target audiences, so they need to have an image that is suitable for the magazine’s to have an image that is suitable for the magazine’s target audience.target audience.

My Music Magazine- ResearchMy Music Magazine- Research

I researched 2 or 3 magazines covers and I researched 2 or 3 magazines covers and what audience they are aimed at, to get a what audience they are aimed at, to get a few ideas. few ideas.

I found out that people are really I found out that people are really interested in bands and artists if they get interested in bands and artists if they get interviewed because the audience want to interviewed because the audience want to find out more about their character; find out more about their character; especially younger females.especially younger females.

My Music Magazine- Target My Music Magazine- Target AudienceAudience

I have set my target audience to teenagers I have set my target audience to teenagers mostly or people in their early 20s,(14-23 year mostly or people in their early 20s,(14-23 year olds), as my research showed me that this age olds), as my research showed me that this age group are more defined by music, and are most group are more defined by music, and are most interested in the music life and private life of interested in the music life and private life of their favourite artists/bands. their favourite artists/bands. This age group like to use slang and This age group like to use slang and abbreviations, so calling my magazine ‘The abbreviations, so calling my magazine ‘The Middle-Mag’ is good because it rolls of the Middle-Mag’ is good because it rolls of the tongue easily and could be named and tongue easily and could be named and abbreviated as ‘T.M.M’.abbreviated as ‘T.M.M’.