How does my magazine represent particular social groups?

AGE

• 18-44• There is a very wide age range for this magazine as the mode of address is relevant

to Rock as a whole and therefore the audience is subsequently very diverse in itself. • Research into the festivals such as Download and Sonisphere, as well as other rock

festivals illustrate that the Rock music audience spans a great age range, from the elderly hairy bikers, to rebellious middle aged bankers and the troublesome teens too.

• Therefore it is clear that Rock does not really have an age limit as it has been around since the early 60s in The Who and The Beatles to a certain extent, unlike our contemporary mainstream who’s artists can only be traced back 15 years at most.

• There will be enough relevant information about artist’s backgrounds, dates, figures and facts to attract the elder more serious readership, however humorous photographs and captions relate to the younger readership.

Gender

• My magazine is aimed at a stereotypically more male audience, reflected by the fonts, colours and layout used in it however this certainly does not disallow a female minority readership.

• This is because it is clear to me that Kerrang have taken the 50/50 gender balance and are well established in that market, I would prefer my magazine to be competing with the likes of Mojo.

Social class

• Social class is just not important…• This is Rock and it does not matter whether you have come from wealth,

poverty, built yourself into success or fluffed it down the drain. If you like Rock, you belong here.

• The Price of the magazine is intended to be £1 less than the price of Guitarist Magazine, to appeal to those at the lower end of the metaphorical ‘food chain’ but the high intended production quality and all inclusive mode of address hopes to appeal to all.

• The main artist Johnny Punk reflects the all inclusive social class as he is wearing a leather jacket, plain white t-shirt and plain looking jeans to illustrate that the importance is not on money or designer labels, however later on in the contents page, Flynn is seen to be wearing a suit. This shows the width of the spectrum.

Ethnicity?

• Obviously ethnicity is absolutely irrelevant to my magazine.

• There are obviously certain ethnic groups who will not appreciate Rock culture or it’s message but no exclusions are made.

Heavy Gain

• My magazine does not really represent social groups defined by the previous categories, it represents people who like the sound of a roaring guitar solo or those who work in a boring, authoritarian school each week and wish to be free from the grips of society. Rock represents freedom and a lack of conformity to the boring world.

• Tattoos, Piercings, crazy hair and big beards are a stereotypical ‘Finger’ to the system. At the end of the day, Rock is big, its loud, its offensive and for the pople who like that, this magazine is theirs.

The Readership

• Heavy Gain represents people who like just that. • The young men and women who love rock and it’s

messages. • Golden Oldies of rock and the very subtle rock lovers

who see it as a guilty pleasure to be hidden from view of their compatriots.

• Heavy Gain is just for the love of the music. If you like it, buy it. Their will be a representation in their for you somewhere.

Rock lovers

• In the opinion of many, to love or even understand Rock ‘n’ Roll, a certain level of emotional intelligence is essential. Contemporary mainstream music is just a bit too straight forward and plain for the Heavy Gain reader.

• Searching for the subtlety of the lyrics, the melancholic, reflective melodies and the uplifting powerful Rock ballads, all of this will be covered in Heavy Gain.