Research into Magazine Institutions/Companies

The main players within the music magazine industry are IPC Media, Bauer and EMAP. IPC Media being the leading company with 60 recognisable magazines one of those being NME, a leading mainstream magazine.

Bauer was formed in 1875.EMAP was formed in 1947.IPC Media was formed in 1963.

Bauer produces, Kerrang and Q IPC Media produces NME

IPC Media is a British company that produces 60 iconic brands; including NME. As a whole the company reaches two thirds of woman on print alone and 42% of UK men. Their websites collectively reach over 20 million media users every month. NME is the longest published music weekly magazine in the world and reaches over one million music fan every week. It offers users a variety of up to date features relating to contemporary/mainstream music; it include new bands, gigs, current popular artists, reviews and much more. NME continues to grow and is now Europe’s most successful music website, with over 4 million user around the world. NME is a mainstream magazines. H.Bauer is one of the largest magazine publishing houses in Europe. The company has a private ownership and has been managed by the Bauer family since Yvonne Bauer, representing the fifth generation of private ownership. Bauer's headquarters is in Hamburg and is the largest publisher in Germany with 54 magazines. This worldwide media company has over 300 magazines in 15 countries. Kerrang and Q are two of Bauers most known magazines. Q being the UK’s biggest selling monthly music magazine with a cross-platform brand that discovers great music. Kerrang is the worlds biggest selling weekly music magazine; it is rock related and is aimed at a young target audience. Kerrang and Q are both niche magazines.

Smash hits is Emap’s music magazne, it is focused primarily on pop music making it a niche market. The language and content indicates instantly that the magazine is aimed at a young teenage audience. Emap is the least sucessful out of IPC and Bauer and on the 29th January 2008, Bauer Media brought the radio, television and consumer media business of EMAP in a £1.4billion pound deal.

Emap produces Smash Hits

After looking at these three companies IPC seems like the best player to own my magazine as it owns NME which is a mainstream magazine and is an inspiration for my magazine. Possibly targeting more of a indie audience yet overall connecting to a mainstream audience. IPC media is also owns 60 iconic brands and is very successful therefore if IPC was to own my magazine, it would be more likely that it would be noticed and iconic.