Audience Survey Research:
I have carried out an audience research survey to give me a clear conclusion of who buy's magazines and their interest's within the magazine. By doing this it gives me a solid starting point on which I can base my product, also it will back up my reasoning for the tasks I hav completed.
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| It is clear that solo artists have a bigger majority in the preference, so when creating my final product I will use a solo artist on my front cover to increase interest. |
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| From my research it shows that pop and RnB are the most popular genre with the partcipants who took the survey, it was followed by Indie. So when focussing on my target audience I will use either Pop or RnB as my main focus genre. |
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The data collected in my survey showed that the majority of participants were in the 15-18 age bracket, this could be because they are the group of people who have the most free time. However for my target audience I would like to extend this age bracket to around 27 because research has shown that these are the consumers who have the most disposable income. Audience Profile: From the research I have collected, I have discovered that my magazine will have the following characteristics: Sex: My magazine will be unisex as the data I collected had a direct split between males and females, therefore the product will contain pictures of both genders to increase interest resulting in bigger sales. Age: The majority of people who took part in the survey were in the 15-18 age bracket and the rest were in the 24-28 age bracket. As a result of this the magazine will be aimed at a age bracket of 15-27 as it has been proven that they are the consumers with the most free time and disposable income. Type of music: The most popular types of music collected from the survey is the pop and RnB genres, and so the magazine will be aimed at the lovers of these genres of music. It is also clear to see that this links in with the age bracket because these two genres are already aimed at and are popular with the younger generation. Audience Research: |
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Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology, proposed by Abraham Maslow. The hierarchy of needs is often portrayed in the shape of a pyramid, with the largest and most fundamental levels of needs at the bottom, and the need for self-actualization at the top. The most fundamental and basic four layers of the pyramid contain what Maslow called "deficiency needs", friendship and love, security, and physical needs. Maslow's theory suggests that the most basic level of needs must be met before the individual will strongly desire (or focus motivation upon) the secondary or higher level needs. Maslows hierachy of needs theory links in with research for my music magazine because it will help me to focus on a particular type of audience to connect with. When creating my music magazine I will think about the audiences self-actualization needs and psychological needs because these are the needs that are most appealing to an audience of my style. |
VALS (Values, Attitudes and Lifestyles):
According to the VALS Framework, groups of people are arranged in a rectangle and are based on two dimensions. Marketing classes use this tool to determine the placement of a given product to a certain niche in an industry.
- Innovator. These consumers are on the leading edge of change, have the highest incomes, and such high self-esteem and abundant resources that they can induldge in any or all self-orientations. They are located above the rectangle. Image is important to them as an expression of taste, independence, and character. Their consumer choices are directed toward the "finer things in life."
- Thinkers. These consumers are the high-resource group of those who are motivated by ideals. They are mature, responsible, well-educated professionals. Their leisure activities center on their homes, but they are well informed about what goes on in the world and are open to new ideas and social change. They have high incomes but are practical consumers and rational decision makers.
- Believers. These consumers are the low-resource group of those who are motivated by ideals. They are conservative and predictable consumers who favor established brands. Their lives are centered on family, church, community, and the country. They have modest incomes.
- Achievers. These consumers are the high-resource group of those who are motivated by achievement. They are successful work-oriented people who get their satisfaction from their jobs and families. They are politically conservative and respect authority and the status quo. They favor established products and services that show off their success to their peers.
- Strivers. These consumers are the low-resource group of those who are motivated by achievements. They have values very similar to achievers but have fewer economic, social, and psychological resources. Style is extremely important to them as they strive to emulate people they admire.
- Experiencers. These consumers are the high-resource group of those who are motivated by self-expression. They are the youngest of all the segments, with a median age of 25. They have a lot of energy, which they pour into physical exercise and social activities. They are avid consumers, spending heavily on clothing, fast-foods, music, and other youthful favorites, with particular emphasis on new products and services.
- Makers. These consumers are the low-resource group of those who are motivated by self-expression. They are practical people who value self-sufficiency. They are focused on the familiar-family, work, and physical recreation-and have little interest in the broader world. As consumers, they appreciate practical and functional products.
- Survivors. These consumers have the lowest incomes. They have too few resources to be included in any consumer self-orientation and are thus located below the rectangle. They are the oldest of all the segments, with a median age of 61. Within their limited means, they tend to be brand-loyal consumers.
Magazine Analysis:
I have analysed two front covers, a contents page and a double page spread in order to give me an idea of what to do with my magazine. This also sets me in the direction of the proccesses I need to undertake in oreder to create a successful music magazine.
Front Cover Analysis:
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This front cover is successful because the colour the star is wearing stands out from the background, this shows tha she is the main feature in this issue of the magazine. Also her head is partly over the title bock showing that this is a well known magazine, to add to this the title block is cracked suggesting this magazine is for those not afraid to break out of the normality of everyday life. Her outifit is a symbol of sexuality, she is also in a striking pose because the term 'sex sells' is playing a part in this magazines sales. The puffs around the primary image interests the reader as to whats inside and so will encourage them to buy this magazine. In this studio shot she is using direct mode of address to connect with the consumer. |
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The magazine 'Vibe' has used a well known artist for their primary image, this is successful because the star has many fans who are likely to but this issue just because he in on the front cover, which in return boosts sales for the magazines industry. The title block is partly covered because it is a brand of magazine that is well known, and the cover star's name is the same colour as the title block showing its importance to the issue. The cover star is in direct mode of address to connect with the consumer and he is in a pose that gives him connotations of being a strong and independent man which will be appealing to many of his male and female fans. Puffs around the outside such as '50 hottest raps' gives the magazine exclusivity and will encourage the consumer to purchase the magazine just so they can be in the know. |
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This contents page is successful because of its simple layout, having the text on the left hand side means that the reader looks to that first, this is known as 'the left side third' and so they instantly know where everything is located in the magazine. The colour connotations are kept the same as the front cover to ensure it stays in its particular genre, the magazine is also split into sections such as 'reviews' so that the reader can easily locate what they want to read. The template of this front cover makes it feel at ease with the reader because it plain and also the cover band are in direct mode of address so that they connect with the readers. |
Double Page Spread Analysis:
Camera shots and angles:
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On the front cover of this issue of 'Q' magazine the cover star (Lady Gaga) is in a striking pose which will catch the attention of many consumers when they are browsing in the music section. The star is well known for her minumal flesh covering outfits and sexual behaviour ,which reflects back on the music magazine, something that is likely to boost sales for the magazines industry. Her hands which have been made to look animalistic are covering up her female features, suggesting that there is a barrier on how much she will show. The pose she is holding is of a sexual nature to attract attention of that kind, also her body is leaning to one side to show off a more figurative body shape. Her trousers have spikes coming out of them to show she is of a 'wild kind', something that may attract readers to her. Also her hair is very big and crazy which reflects the personality of her, again this is something that attracts fans to her because she has stepped outside of the box. She in a direct mode of address to connect with the reader which makes the whole experience of wanting to read the article more personal. Media issues that could be raised about this image is the amount of flesh she has on show and how this will effect the person buying it, for example if they are young then the question would be how will it influence them to dress themselves. Another issue that could be raised is about gender, some women may feel that the cover star could be percieved as representing what all modern women are like. |
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On the front cover of this issue of 'Vibe' the cover star (Chris Brown) is in a pose that reflects his status, for example he is leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets and his cap to one side which reminds you of the gangsta look. His facial expression makes him look like he's a hard nut, and the connotations of his red T-shirt suggests he isnt one to mess with. You can see that he is wearing expensive jewellery and a nice watch which mirrors the lifestyle that he has, this will attract readers because it gives them a sense of fantasy as they would also like to have a life like him. However his right hand is in a position that suggests that he is from the East because his fingers are in the shape of an E, this could cause issues because it suggests the idea of gangs. This could raise a media issue on youth because many young people will be influenced by him and of course gangs are seen as a negative thing, especially when they fight using knives and guns. A issue of ethinicty could be raised because the Logo is in white behind the cover stars head who is black, some people may see this as being racists because they could have chosen another colour to use. |
Media Institutions Analysis:
Media Independent study- Magazine institutions.
Bauer Media Group
Bauer Media is a section of the Bauer Media group, which is the biggest privately owned publishing group in Europe. The group is a worldwide media empire made up of three hundred magazines in over fifteen countries, the group also has a series of radio, tv and online platforms. In January two thousand and eight Bauer Media joined the Bauer media group following acquisition of Emap Plc’s consumer and specialist magazines businesses. All together the group employs around six thousand four hundred people and turns over a profit of around two point eight billion euro’s.
Bauer Media is made up of multiple platforms and its base is in the UK, Its two main features that the company is based around is magazines and radio. Bauer media is widely recognised and rewarded for being an innovated industry that has changed the lifestyles of many of its readers. A speaker on behalf of the Bauer Media group has said ‘Our business is built on influential media brands with millions of personal relationships with engaged readers and listeners. Our strategy is to connect audiences with excellent content through our broad multi-touch point brand platforms, wherever and whenever and however they want. Our wide portfolio of influential brands gives us advantages over pure play magazine or radio competitors.’
Bauer medias heritage goes right back to 1953 where the well-known Anglian Times was first brought to the shelves in news agents, Bauer believes this brand is still iconic in its portfolio today. In more up to date terms Bauer Media produce some of the bestselling magazines such as Q, MOJO and KERRANG! All of which are music magazines. Bauer Media has a wide range of brands such as women’s magazines like Heat and Men’s magazines FHM, this helps the institution to broaden their horizon. FHM was previously called the ‘For Him’ magazine but in 1994 Bauer brought the rights to the magazine and changed it into a worldwide best-seller.
Today Bauer Media is selling over eighty Magazines in the UK alone which can find on the shelves of any good news agents, it is also the sister group of H Bauer publishing. They are the publisher of the UK’s biggest TV listings and Magazines like Bella, which are popular with the mainstream female audience.
IPC MEDIA
IPC Media produces over 60 iconic media brands, with print alone reaching almost two thirds of UK women and 42% of UK men – almost 26 million UK adults – while their websites collectively reach over 14 million users every month.
IPC's diverse print and digital portfolio offers something for everyone, with a focus on three core audiences: men, mass market women and upmarket women.
Some of the wll known brands they produce are Rugby World, NME, Look, Now, TV Times and Ideal Home.
Some of the wll known brands they produce are Rugby World, NME, Look, Now, TV Times and Ideal Home.
Brand logos and identity:
