The Magazine Industry Essay
The European magazine industry is currently dominated by two conglomerates; IPC and Bauer media. In this essay,
I shall look at case studies from both Bauer and IPC media and discuss some of their magazines, and how they target their audiences. I will also discuss the use of synergy in promoting their products.
Bauer
Bauer is a German company that grew from a printing house and now publishes 282 different magazine brands in 15 different countries. Bauer currently has an overall circulation figure of 38 million magazines a week, and as well as magazines, owns various TV and radio stations such as Q TV and Kerrang! TV. Bauer caters for both mainstream and niche audiences in its magazines, such as Kerrang! and Q. However they cover a far wider area than music magazines, publishing lifestyle magazines such as FHM, to television magazines like TV choice. The many other subgenres that Bauer cater to include: Women’s, Men’s Entertainment, Men’s Lifestyle, Equine, Gardening, Transport, Football, Golf, Pets, Angling, Motorcycling, Motoring, Automotive B2B, Outdoor, Photography and National Broadcast. I shall however only look at case studies from their music magazines, Kerrang! and Q.
Kerrang!
Kerrang! was the first niche magazine to be made in the UK, first appearing in Sounds magazine in 1981 as a supplement. Kerrang!’s target audience is described as “Individually minded, independent of thought and musically experienced, an audience defined by attitude, passion and loyalty”. This is often idealized as males with a particular taste in rock and metal music with a like for the edgy scene. This is often characterized by the magazine’s layout and colour scheme being dark and crude looking. A good example of this is Kerrang!’s masthead which is made to look like cracked glass. Kerrang! Currently has an circulation figure of 52, 2762 and remains the best weekly music magazine with devoted rock fans. Kerrang! Also has a music channel which plays music videos, a Kerrang! Radio station, and a Kerrang! Tour in which they send bands signed to them around the world playing live gigs.
Q
Q is a mainstream magazine produced by Bauer media, as it does not focus on anyone one individual genre of music. Q describe their target audience as ‘Open minded experience seekers, the Q audience don’t define themselves by the music they listen to. Music is an important passion, but their love of music will never be to the detriment of their other passions, such as film, sport and comedy.’ Q caters to a very broad spectrum of audience due to its mainstream musical coverage in its magazines. Q is very noticeable due to its large use of the colour red and the instantly recognizable masthead. Q is the most popular monthly brand music magazine in the UK and Europe. Q is not just a magazine however, it has a music channel, a radio station, an award ceremony and partially sponsors the Glastonbury Festival.
IPC
IPC Media is the leading magazine conglomerate in the UK. Statistics show that two in every three women, and 44% of men read an IPC magazine, which is over 26 million people. IPC is owned by Time Inc, which is the publishing division of Time Warner Inc and currently employs over 2,200 people and publishes 80 different magazines, including Nuts, NME, Look, Marie Claire and Pick me up.
NME
NME stands for New Musical Express and was first released in 1952 as the first British newspaper with a singles chart included. NME changed to a magazine in 1970 and is produced weekly. NME features the UK’s most comprehensive gig guide. Responsible for bringing the Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys and Oasis, NME has a readership of 56, 786 and a circulation figure of 2446. NME describes it’s audience as , “NME's audiences are fast-moving music fans who live at the cutting edge of media culture and media development. As such it's vital the NME continues to develop with them and produce the magazine that's completely right for the time. This refresh allows us to further focus on the content of the paper our readers love most as well as introduce a fresh, clean design that shows off the best of NME's iconic photography and music journalism.” NME caters to its audience by including up to date musical news, as well as gossip about musical artists and celebrities.
The European magazine industry is currently dominated by two conglomerates; IPC and Bauer media. In this essay,
I shall look at case studies from both Bauer and IPC media and discuss some of their magazines, and how they target their audiences. I will also discuss the use of synergy in promoting their products.
Bauer
Bauer is a German company that grew from a printing house and now publishes 282 different magazine brands in 15 different countries. Bauer currently has an overall circulation figure of 38 million magazines a week, and as well as magazines, owns various TV and radio stations such as Q TV and Kerrang! TV. Bauer caters for both mainstream and niche audiences in its magazines, such as Kerrang! and Q. However they cover a far wider area than music magazines, publishing lifestyle magazines such as FHM, to television magazines like TV choice. The many other subgenres that Bauer cater to include: Women’s, Men’s Entertainment, Men’s Lifestyle, Equine, Gardening, Transport, Football, Golf, Pets, Angling, Motorcycling, Motoring, Automotive B2B, Outdoor, Photography and National Broadcast. I shall however only look at case studies from their music magazines, Kerrang! and Q.
Kerrang!
Kerrang! was the first niche magazine to be made in the UK, first appearing in Sounds magazine in 1981 as a supplement. Kerrang!’s target audience is described as “Individually minded, independent of thought and musically experienced, an audience defined by attitude, passion and loyalty”. This is often idealized as males with a particular taste in rock and metal music with a like for the edgy scene. This is often characterized by the magazine’s layout and colour scheme being dark and crude looking. A good example of this is Kerrang!’s masthead which is made to look like cracked glass. Kerrang! Currently has an circulation figure of 52, 2762 and remains the best weekly music magazine with devoted rock fans. Kerrang! Also has a music channel which plays music videos, a Kerrang! Radio station, and a Kerrang! Tour in which they send bands signed to them around the world playing live gigs.
Q
Q is a mainstream magazine produced by Bauer media, as it does not focus on anyone one individual genre of music. Q describe their target audience as ‘Open minded experience seekers, the Q audience don’t define themselves by the music they listen to. Music is an important passion, but their love of music will never be to the detriment of their other passions, such as film, sport and comedy.’ Q caters to a very broad spectrum of audience due to its mainstream musical coverage in its magazines. Q is very noticeable due to its large use of the colour red and the instantly recognizable masthead. Q is the most popular monthly brand music magazine in the UK and Europe. Q is not just a magazine however, it has a music channel, a radio station, an award ceremony and partially sponsors the Glastonbury Festival.
IPC
IPC Media is the leading magazine conglomerate in the UK. Statistics show that two in every three women, and 44% of men read an IPC magazine, which is over 26 million people. IPC is owned by Time Inc, which is the publishing division of Time Warner Inc and currently employs over 2,200 people and publishes 80 different magazines, including Nuts, NME, Look, Marie Claire and Pick me up.
NME
NME stands for New Musical Express and was first released in 1952 as the first British newspaper with a singles chart included. NME changed to a magazine in 1970 and is produced weekly. NME features the UK’s most comprehensive gig guide. Responsible for bringing the Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys and Oasis, NME has a readership of 56, 786 and a circulation figure of 2446. NME describes it’s audience as , “NME's audiences are fast-moving music fans who live at the cutting edge of media culture and media development. As such it's vital the NME continues to develop with them and produce the magazine that's completely right for the time. This refresh allows us to further focus on the content of the paper our readers love most as well as introduce a fresh, clean design that shows off the best of NME's iconic photography and music journalism.” NME caters to its audience by including up to date musical news, as well as gossip about musical artists and celebrities.
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