{Researching the Market Place

These are some existing magazines of the same genre that my magazine will focus on. These would later be the competitors of my magazines.

Kerrang• Kerrang is a popular music magazine that is based in the UK

which focuses on the rock genre. Its audience would vary from 16 to late 20's as its content can appeal to may different people interested in this genre. It looks at popular, existing bands and also well established names in rock (easily recognised).

• The price of the magazine is £2.20. This includes the magazine and free posters imbedded in the content. It rarely contains free-bees but free download links may be

available on the inside. If free-bees are issued in the magazine the price increases for that issue.

• The frequency of publication is weekly. The magazine comes out on Wednesday of every week.

• The issue size itself is average A4 and consists of 60-100 pages (including the front and back cover).

• The regular content consists of 'News', 'Feedback', 'Shots'

(posters), 'Lives' (live gigs both coming up and reviews), 'Albums' (new albums, ratings, overviews and reviews) and 'Gig Guide'. Other features also consist of a message from the editor and regular advertisements that link into the theme.

• The feature articles in this issue include 'Bring Me The Horizon', 'The Ultimate Rockstar Test' and (as this issue was

released near Halloween) 'Halloween Special' which consisted of several Halloween themed special interviews with bands such as Fall Out Boy and Slash.

• Website Address: http://www.kerrang.com/• Publishers Website: http://www.bauermedia.com/• Media Pack:

http://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/magazines/d

etail/kerrang

Kerrang issue no 1490 (issue I used for analysis)

NME

• NME (meaning New Musical Express) is another popular

English music magazine. It focuses on the rock, pop and

punk genre of music. Its audience would vary depending

on the star or artist involved, but mostly late teens to 30's

would be the target audience.

• The price of the magazine is £2.20. This also includes added

extras such as free CD's, posters and downloads as well as

the content in the magazine.

• The frequency of publication is weekly. The magazine

comes out on Wednesday of every week.

• The magazine is usually an average A4 size and contains

around 100-150 pages. This includes feature articles, regular

content, posters (if in particular issue) and advertisements).

• NME's regular content is under the headings of

'News', 'Radar', 'Reviews' and 'Live'. Each section contains

similar content in each issue however the page titles will

change depending on the content. For example the 'Live'

and 'Reviews' section will always contain the same type of

content but the actual features will be different, such as

changing the artists or gigs looked at. The regular content

also consist of the 'Band Index' which takes up a column

down the side of the contents page. This simply states

which bands will feature in the issue (even if it is just a small

paragraph or image) and states which page they are on.

• The feature content in NME magazine usually consists of

articles or interviews about different bands. It also contains

specialist articles that record stories or events. These are all

present under the 'Features' title on the contents page.

• Website Address: http://www.nme.com/magazine

• Publishers Website: http://www.ipcmedia.com/

• Media Pack:

http://www.ipcadvertising.com/resource/g9fgogb7yus90v

pvbnh0ef7m.pdf

Rock Sound• Rock Sound is a popular English music magazine that

has been created in the past 20 years. Although it is fairly new compared to others in the same genre it has become very popular amongst 15 to 25 year olds, setting a younger target audience. Its genre looks at pop, punk, pop-punk, emo, hardcode, post-hardcore, heavy metal and extreme metal genres of

rock music.• Rock Sound costs £3.40 as it is not as frequent as other

magazines.• The frequency of the magazine is every four weeks

which totals up to 13 times a year. • The issue size is A4 and consists of 80-100 pages. This

includes all its content, such as free posters, feature articles and regular content.

• The regular content in Rock Sound magazine are double page spreads (that link to the front cover, however the content itself is a feature article), tour dates, new albums and artists, posters, 'Exclusive Information', letter from the editor and 'Plus' section.

• Its feature articles consist of main double page spreads

which link to the from cover (both the main artist advertised and what is advertised on the cover lines).

• Website Address: http://www.rocksound.tv/• Publishers Website: Freeway Press Inc.• Media Pack:

http://www.slideshare.net/CrudgeRockSound/rock-sound-2012-media-pack

Metal Hammer• Metal Hammer is an English music magazine published by

Team Rock. It focuses on the rock genre but specifically looking at heavy metal rock. The average buyer of Metal Hammer is 22 so its target audience would be 18 to 28. This would however depend on the issue being released as some are feature magazines on a certain band or artist

such as Iron Maiden.• Metal Hammer has an average price of £4 but this has

been known to change to different prices for special additions, such as the Ozzy Osborn feature addition which cost £7.99.

• The frequency of publication is every month, making it 12 per year.

• The issue size is A4 and can consist of 100-200 pages. It is a

fairly big magazine as it is only released monthly therefore a lot of content is featured in it.

• The regular content in Metal Hammer consists of 'Loaded', a life story from an artist/ band, a story behind an album, information and reviews about albums, gig guides and advertisements.

• Metal Hammers feature content consists of mostly special

band interviews. Most issues of Metal Hammer are themed to one specific band, such as my example of Iron Maiden. This means that the featured content in the magazines are linked to the over all theme. This will usually take up 3-4 double page spreads and most of the cover and contents page. Other featured content is specific band interviews of featured gig reviews and competitions.

• Website Address: http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/• Publishers Website: http://weareteamrock.com/

Q Magazine• Q magazine is an English Magazine published by

Bauer media. It was first published in 1986 and looks at classic Rock 'n' Roll. The target audience for Q magazine is 15-24 year olds. This would however depend on the individual issue and the

cover star (feature article).• The magazine costs £3.90 and this can vary

depending if it is a special edition or not.• The frequency of publication is once a

month, meaning there are 12 editions per year.• The issue size is A4 and consists of 150-200 pages

depending if it is a special edition or not.

• The regular content in Q magazine consists of 'Q Mail', 'Q50', 'Subscriptions', 'Crosswords' and '10 Commandments'. These all feature under the 'Regular' title on the contents page.

• The feature content in Q magazine consists of 'New!', 'Where are they now?', 'A round with...', 'Ticket Touting' and 'The Q List'. These feature alongside other main articles such as band

interviews and album features. These are not feature articles but the content changes weekly therefore it is not regular.

• Website Address: http://www.qthemusic.com/• Publishers Website: http://www.bauer.co.uk/• Media Pack:

http://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/ma

gazines/detail/Q

Classic Rock• Classic Rock is a British magazine published by

team rock. It looks at the classic rock genre. It is published alongside Metal Hammer and a 'lighter version' therefore looking at bands from a 'lighter' rock genre.

• The price of Classic Rock magazine is £3.99 and retails in most stores and news agents.

• The frequency of publication is monthly making 12 annually.

• The average size of the issue is A4 and ranges from 100-200 pages. This includes any added in posters and the front and back covers.

• The regular content in Classic Rock magazine are general music articles, band interviews, a

message from the editor, posters, latest news and feature stories.

• The feature articles in Classic Rock magazine are mainly double page spreads (or more) on certain bands, artists or events. These usually are very detailed and take up a lot of space.

• Website Address:

http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/• Publishers Website:

http://weareteamrock.com/

Revolver• The Revolver magazine is a hard rock and metal

magazine which takes a very 'in-your-face

approach'.• Its audience is mainly male 21-35 year olds.• The magazine is priced at £6 to £15 depending on

the individual issue.• Revolver magazine is a bi-monthly magazine

which means it is published once every two months, resulting in 6 per year.

• As Revolver is a bi-monthly magazine its average issue size is A4 but varying from 150-300 pages.

• Revolver's regular content consists of news in that particular genre, band interviews and album updates.

• The featured content in Revolver includes exclusive interviews or articles on bands or

individual artists. This is often linked to the cover.• Website Address: http://www.revolvermag.com/• Publishers Website:

http://www.newbaymedia.com/• Media Pack:

http://www.revolvermag.com/files/RevolverMediaKit2011.pdf

Rolling StoneRolling Stone magazine is an American magazine which looks at popular culture. Its target audience

would be male aged 18- 24.The Rolling Stone magazine retails at £5.28.The magazine is published bi-weekly (once every two weeks) totalling in 26 times per year.As the magazine is bi-weekly it means when is released there is more content then in a weekly magazine. This means that the average size is A4

with 150-200 pages depending on the features.The regular content in the magazine consist of 'Q&A (question and answer)', 'Letters', 'Rock and Roll', 'National Affairs', 'Reviews' and 'Charts'. A message from the editor is also included.The feature content in the magazine consists mainly of feature/ exclusive articles and interviews

with popular icons (bands, individual artists or politicians). These take up a main section of the magazine as each issue contains around 3-5.Website Address: http://www.rollingstone.com/Media Pack: http://www.srds.com/mediakits/rollingstone/demographics.html