Music Magazines in the UKTo begin my research I began by googling ‘music magazines.’ This was a starting point for me to

clarify what music magazines are out there, and to find the most popular ones. Using popular and well-known magazines in my research makes them more efficient for my research as there is lots of

detail for them, and it allows me to see what the public are wanting in magazines and why they’re popular. However, I want my research to focus on UK magazines. This means that popular magazines

like the Rolling stones and Billboard are not appropriate for my research as they’re American magazines and I am focusing on UK based magazines, so American magazines could slightly differ

and would not given the appropriate audience. Using this allows my research to be more clarified and specific at what needs to be researched. Before suing the internet, I used a local supermarket to see the music magazines that the supermarket sells, to see what I should be researching. When looking

it’s clear to see that there is a variation of magazines to see from. These popular magazines including: Q Magazine, Mojo, Kerrang, NME,Uncut, Classical Rock, Oasis and many more. From the small

selection of magazines seen I can already see how magazine covers rely on a base image to create the atmosphere. As although it is about music, musicians are the focal point. Another interesting factor

is that they’re all photographic images, meaning I can already see that no drawn imagery will be relevant as a cover of a magazine as it is seemingly unpopular with the public. When using the

internet to carry out a general clarification of research it’s clear that there are many different genres of music magazines, however they seem to have similar structures of text and focal points. However,

some magazines seem more chaotic and have more interesting items on the cover rather than others. It is clear however that they differ from the genre of gossip magazines in the UK as there is only really

one base image on the cover. When we look at these UK music magazines it’s also clear to see that these musicians are not just based in the UK they’re usually from all different countries. This is quite

interesting as it seems that UK magazines are open to not just British musicians but world-wide music. Bring forth this idea it’s about the music itself not the nationality of the musicians. The magazines also

use base colours suiting their genre. When on Wikipedia it is clear that there are hundreds of music magazines in the UK which are unheard of. To further my research I will be focusing on 5 magazines

that are popular in the UK. I believe this will show how different magazines are portrayed and how popular they’re in the UK. I will use a variety of magazines to show my research, I will do this as it will

give me a broad idea of what different genre of magazine there are and how they differ, it will also allow me to see what music genre I would like to focus upon. Further it will give me further insight into

how different genre of music present themselves, or if they’re very similar in what they do.

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When using Google to research music magazines in the UK it shows that Q Magazine is the most popular magazine as it came up first on the Google search. Q Magazine is the UK’s biggest music magazine. The magazine doesn’t have a particular music genre that it covers, it focuses more on the generation of music we’re in. Focusing on popular music. Q Magazine primarily focuses on music of substance across all platforms and was once subtitled as “The modern guide to music and more.” Q Magazine is published by Bauer Media Group, a large European-based media company that covers a variation of magazines including rivals of Q magazine like Kerrang and Mojo. These are large competing magazines again Q magazine meaning the monthly based magazine has to cover a variation with it’s competitors. The magazine itself has the circulation of: 89,450 and the readership of 550,000. These statistics are a very large, meaning it has lots of popularity with the public. 97% of Q’s readers rates Q as a quality magazine, with it’s better performance against competitors on it’s interviews, writing and even it’s award winning photography. Q lies on the basis that although it is situated on a younger and more affluent audience than other magazine ranging at: 29. This is particularly young, yet old enough for the audience to buy their magazines. Q magazine costs around £3.50 in the UK. Although in comparison to some magazines this could be seen to be cheap as the magazine is only monthly and not weekly. The magazine also has the mission statement: ‘Q is a bastian for music of substance – guiding its readers through just the good stuff in all forms of music each month via its unparalleled access and Q Review, the world’s biggest and best music guide.’ Paul Rees – Editor-in-Chief. This shows that Q Magazine situations on itself being current and new for all their readers. This reinforces the typical Q reader for the magazine to use Q magazine as a basis to find new interests and different music genres using knowledge to make conversation about music with their peers. The Q reader typically is said to have love a live music experience, with a mixture of different gigs of different genres. They’re usually said to attend music festivals like Leeds festival. This is why Q magazine advertises one of Europe's biggest music events in their advertisement to engage their typically reader. As Q readers are said to have the strongest influence in their social groups and gives a great standing for Q’s advertising. Q Magazine tries to situate for both genders, however it is shown statistically 68% of male are readers which is significantly higher than 32% male. This shows that although Q is for both genders, their target audience more so for the male gender rather than females, it statically seems.

This was a smooth, polished and superbly branded piece of work incorporating radio, magazines and digital. Bauer really took on board what we wanted to achieve and delivered unique, well-branded content ‘FEEDBACK:Jack Starks, Advertising Manager, Orange UK

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From researching Q Magazine, I wanted to see what different music magazines Bauer media group produces. When researching I found that Bauer media group produces some of the best known, and

popular brands of music magazine out there. Mojo is the world’s largest UK magazine, like Q Magazine Mojo is produced monthly giving the audience a professional standing magazine with journalism, iconic photography. Mojo is said to be branded for those ‘truly obsessed with music.’ The music genre varies

from classic and modern rock, soul, country to reggae, electronic and experimental. Mojo prides itself on the quality of music itself not the popularity. This allows the median range of 37 to really enjoy Mojo as it

covers all these genres, allowing them to familiarise with their favourite music types and allow them to follow something new experimenting with different tastes in music. The circulation of Mojo is 91,678 and the readership of the magazine is 218,000. Although the readership of the magazine is not as high as Q

magazine it seems that tit gives more circulation for the audience. Mojo’s prices ranges around £3.00 suiting the target audience of the magazine. As it’s an older audience, it means they can afford to spend this amount. Although in ways there ‘older audience’ seems to make their be less magazines purchased,

as these people may possibly not have time to buy these magazines, however Mojo does offer monthly subscriptions suiting the target audience as it means they don’t have to go out of their way to buy it. The typical reader of Mojo is said to be a passionate music fan, who have a high disposable income. They’re

usually said to be having a variation of music they listen to including: prog to nu-folk, Motown to 60’s garbage, blues and psychedelia. With this, it shows how a Mojo reader is really open to their music taste. Although as an older audience they would rather enjoy smaller scale festivals like Latitude or Green man festival. There is this more calmer edge to the reader as they still love their music but in a mature manner,

this means that Mojo readers are likely to invest in CD’s, mixtures of vinyls, when they have a spare moment looking after their young children and partner. It’s clear the audience for Mojo is seemed to be

more mature, settling down yet still loving their music that makes them feel alive. Mojo tries to accomplish this throughout their magazines and in their mission statement they call their magazine an ‘educator, a

living achieve and a trusted source of musical excellence. Mojo provides its audience with an authentic, independent, and emotional connection to the music.’ Mojo’s mission as a magazine is to not only engage

their audience on the subject they love the most but also influence the music industry and musicians as Mojo wants to be the magazine that creates this immersive experience, going to a deeper level of music giving us the view on what’s good, timeless and where the next direction of music should be heading to next. It is a loved music magazine by all even Paul Weller asks: ‘When are you going to put me on the

cover of my favourite magazine?’ Mojo is constantly switching between different music tastes to really give you a sensation in the magazine going from the Beatles to Battles and The Ramones to Radiohead.

Mojo’s mission is to make musicians fell that if they’re in Mojo they matter. It’s cutting edge style really emphasising this love for music in a book-like cover feature, with it’s editorially themed cover mounted CD

it gives it really something different for the industry with it’s 30 page plus reviews section giving you the best in music that month, every month.

‘MOJO searches for soul and realness, that’s why I love that magazine so much’FEEDBACK:Jack White, The White Stripes

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The genre of Kerrang differs from my previous research and includes different elements of rock music, Kerrang is sold for £2.20 and is the biggest music weekly in the world. This is quite interesting as it’s clear that this magazine may not have a clear layout as it is made weekly unlike the other magazines meaning the presentation might be slightly less clear and interesting as Q and Mojo. Kerrang’s readership is 421,000 this is very high considering the target audience set for this magazine is the younger age of 22. This is very young to have a magazine set at, however Kerrang uses complexity in it’s design to make more appealing to a younger audience and a slightly inexpensive prices allows them to appeal to this audience more efficiently. Kerrang states that it is always trying to appeal to their spectrum of readers including their teenage readers to more older readers. Kerrang’s mission is to appeal to a variation of rock music from emo to thrash. It’s always tying to include a balance of bands and scenes so that their audience can not only look at their favourite bands but they can see a variety of music that they’re most likely to enjoy introducing them to new musicians. This means that 87% of Kerrang readers buy their issues every week as Kerrang promises in their mission statement that they will always focus on the biggest things in music going on each week so it gives all their readers chance to enjoy the topics of older, harder and newer bands in their magazine, giving them something new and fresh all the time! The circulation of the magazine is 44,013. This means that Kerrang is a big hit within the community as a typical Kerrang reader is usually one on the heaviest music consumers on the market. They're more likely to buy more albums, go to gigs than others in the community. This is great for Kerrang as they know that their fans are engaged with their music 24/7 meaning they’re wanting to buy the magazine. The readers are explained to be listening to music the minute they fall asleep. Furthermore, their readers are said to be individualist in society, meaning their clothing reflects who they’re as a person but usually are heavily influenced by their musical icons and scenes they enjoy. Kerrang allows their audience to really get into what they love best. Kerrang demonstrates how sometimes using a limited audience in what they’re publishing in some ways is better as it allows the audience read about what they enjoy and not what they don’t enjoy. This further showing how effective it is for having a key target audience not varying from genres. I really like this idea of having a focused genre and I feel that this is an interesting concept as it means the audience are already engaged to the magazine before even reading it as they know it will appeal to them.

“Kerrang is the only music magazine I feel comfortable reading, it introduces me to new and better music all the time that suits what I like! It’s not made up and it’s true to my music taste.”FEEDBACK:Reader of Kerrang!

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Researching this once again specific genre of music magazine. Metal Hammer is shown to be Britain's only monthly music magazine covering traditional and

contemporary metal, hardcore, gothic rock, punk and alternative bands. This is really a magazine specified for a particular audience. The use of this specific audience is perhaps why Metal Hammer has the large readership of 91,909 since it’s launch in

1994. Metal hammer explains it’s audience as hard to please. The magazine targets the age range of 22, 85% of the audience being male. This means the magazine leans

more towards a mal direction, allowing the magazine producers future plc. to really give the magazine a more darker edge as it will appeal to this age range more.

However on the downside, this gives metal hammer only the circulation statistic of 41,777. This shows it isn’t as popular as some magazines. Metal Hammer provides it’s

readers with in-depth interviews, comprehensive news and reviews sections. This allows the target audience to really get into the music they enjoy as it is said half the

audience see live music once a month and Metal Hammer describes them as the music scene. The audience of young male readers means they’re even in education or are in employment. In ways this means the targeted audience doesn’t have the money to spend £4.25 per month for just one magazine, this is a down effect of the pricing of

magazine putting younger people off. However Metal Hammer is said to be an influential magazine as 93% of it’s readers are talking about music with their friends

and family really giving it that much more popularity and wanted to guide giving these music lovers what they really want. Metal Hammer really allows it’s readers to really

get into their personal genre of music. Metal Hammer doesn’t have a specific mission statement as such however it’s clear that Metal Hammer thrives to give the audience good quality music articles, the magazine is obviously great at what they’re doing by

selling over ¼ million magazines per month. However, a key thing that metal Hammer wants to achieve is get the latest on their music, including lots of British music scene.

This is an important element of the magazine as including the British scene as well as the stateside music scene around the world shows that this is a British magazine. This

helps the audience familiarise itself with the magazine as it is for British people. It’s clear that Metal Hammer wants it’s audience to really feel their connection of music in

this magazine this is way £200 million was spent in 2007 to provide this for the audience. Using this money provides the audience with a good magazine to read as

76% of them feel that they’re the first to know about new music meaning Metal Hammer’s mission is to keep their audience on the latest topics making it a modern

and current magazine.

“Keep it heavy, other magazines have sold their souls to the mainstream. I rely on Metal Hammer for all things Metallic”FEEDBACK:Reader of Metal Hammer

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I really liked this idea of a specific genre of music but branching to different aspects of music in that one genre. It’s interesting as these magazines seemed to be second popular next to magazines like Q and Mojo. Rock Sound targets the young median age of 21. This allows Rock Sound to really produce more complex and interesting items in their magazine. The magazine situates around the music genre Rock. Hence the name of the magazine. The magazine was the first to have articles of musicians: Paramore, Bring Me The Horizon, My Chemical Romance etc. This is important for the audience and is something they’re interested in giving the magazine a readership of 48,914. With a total circulation of 1,378,000. These are large numbers as Rock Sound says their audience are music fans who want immediate and meaningful access to new musicians. This is why Rock Sound- published by Freeway Press Inc. are less commercial, while also giving coverage to more well-known acts as they want their audience to have the best experience while reading and is why their magazine has been around for 14 years. Rock Sound is very dependant on the music they display as their audience is said to spend £546million on music per year. This is a huge amount of money for the 30% of musicians and 35% gig attender audience. This means the articles have to be worthy to the audience. Rock Sound is well known for including every magazine with a free CD and always new music in every issue. This means the audience really get the joy from the magazine and is why 85% of the audience use it as a basis to learn about new music and trends. The magazine itself has the mission statement of giving the audience what they want: music. Rock Sound tries to give their audience everything they want in their magazines. This includes giving the audience advertisement on live music events, good musical knowledge and creating an atmosphere unlike any other magazine. As it is a younger audience Rock Sound can use social media to interact with the audience and 21 is the perfect age for this. The audience spend £611 million per year on fashion. This is interesting as it shows that the magazine has to be on trend for music as well as fashion meaning this magazine uses costume as a huge part of it. Rock Sound costs around £3.99 this seems quite pricey against other magazines as it is for younger people. However, using this expensive price shows the Rock Sound has lots of coverage as it is a monthly magazine meaning it’s worthy of it’s price as it has lot’s of content within the magazine which Rock Sound prides itself on.

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“Rock Sound lives and breathes live music. It therefore provides the ideal audience for advertising events and the opportunities by which to reach it. When we collaborate I do so knowing that the finished product will be nothing short of professionally executed.”FEEDBACK:Mark Walker, Promoter